410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread**

Initially when I bought this boat, I really didn't like the Seawise davit setup on the back and fully intended on replacing it with a Hurley or something else. Once I actually used it, I love it. A large bonus for me is being able to still use the entire swim platform with the dinghy on the back. Pull one pin, and use the crank on top to lower the dinghy, once down in place you tighten a nut with a handle on it to secure the motor and you're done.

Lifting it, unscrew that lever on the engine mount, attach the cable to the motor bracket and start cranking. The boat and motor come up together and lock into place.

This is an 10' AB Aluminum hull with a 15 Merc but soon to have a white 20 hp Suzuki 4-stroke.

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Carver370, Do you have struts under the platform to help support the weight?
 
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I am going to go and look at this particular boat a second time tomorrow and bringing the wife and kids. Already told them they need to look through the bath, compound, wax and vacuuming the boat needs.

The 04 340 we had looked awesome, bright white gelcoat, black canvas and the "modern" look. This 99 isn't as WOW upon initial looking at it but there is absolutely no substitute for LOA. Boats grow in cubes and this 40 could swallow the 340! Diesels are a total bonus yet a must at this size for us.
 
Lots of great info on this thread. Contemplating a 98/99 400 with 3116 Cats. Sure is a lot of boat for the neighborhood price of 100k. The price essentially more than doubles for an 02-04. Wow!

Any major concerns with these years and models before I go and read all 156 pages in this thread?

I think the big price jump happens when you get into the hardtops @ 2004+, which I believe also coincides with the 410 moving into the 420. 2002/2003 410's should be in the same ballpark sell price as the 97-99 400's all else being equal.
 
Yes I do, there are two mounted basically directly under the mounting points for the dinghy.
Good, I thought that would help support the weight. Any idea who did the install? If you have any pictures of the aft out of the water I would appreciate that. It looks like a great system I am considering having one installed as well.

Thanks!
 
Had a chance to see 3 different 99 40's today all at the same marina, only one was for sale but the other two were great reference points. We are going to pass on this particular 40 and continue the search. Never bought a boat during the winter but there is always a first!

I have a feeling a few road trips are coming up. Good thing my wife and I enjoy the search.
 
SERF is Merritt Island, FL. My 2002 410 was built there and is not cored but I don’t know if that would also be true for that year 400. Let us know what you find out

by the way, coring isn’t necessarily a bad thing as long as it’s dry so I wouldn’t walk from a boat just because it’s cored.

The guys at Merritt Island knew how to build fiberglass boats, so hull coring isn't where you will find a wet core. The deck assembly is fully cored and you need to have your surveyor check all the oval ports and hatches as all will leak over time. The windlass mount is also prone to leak as it is poorly sealed and cored with 2 plys or plywood, not balsa. Furthermore, wet or not, have the port lights, hatches and windlass removed and rebedded as soon as you own the boat.

Last points.......1.)The 400 has a transom/swimplatofrm design much like the 450DA where you can enter the boat from a side pier, walk across and enter the cockpit from the upper swim platform. It is a much easier access for older folks and kids and when you are carrying a bunch of the usual boat junk in your hands/arms.

2.) We looked at the first 400DA delivered to NW Fla in about 1997. I do a lot of my own maintenance and as soon as I saw the linear actuator mount for raising the cockpit deck, I decided the 400 wasn't for me. The lower actuator mount position prevents an average sized human person from walking around the mount without removing it. We did like the cabin layout, but when we boarded a 450DA the next morning, our decision was made. The 450DA is so much more boat and is well planned and executed and even handles better but is a tad bit slower with 350hp 3116's.
 
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SeaRay got back to me very quickly regarding the hull of the initial boat I was interested in....

Records indicate your boat 1999 400DA 543 SERFxxxxH899 has balsa core in the hull sides. Hull bottom sold fiberglass.

We are really impressed with the 400DA given the current value. Of course the newer style with hardtop doesn't look dated at all but at 2.5x the price of a 99 it better look modern.

Anyway, onto the one up north. Working out the schedule and we will make the 6hr drive to go and check it out.
 
SeaRay got back to me very quickly regarding the hull of the initial boat I was interested in....

Records indicate your boat 1999 400DA 543 SERFxxxxH899 has balsa core in the hull sides. Hull bottom sold fiberglass.

We are really impressed with the 400DA given the current value. Of course the newer style with hardtop doesn't look dated at all but at 2.5x the price of a 99 it better look modern.

Anyway, onto the one up north. Working out the schedule and we will make the 6hr drive to go and check it out.

what contact email did you use? I’d like all the drawings for our new boat (I had them for my 290) but they’ve not been responsive.

good luck with the search!
 
Just as data point... a lot of 99-2004 380 and 410 owners around here put a new camper top on with a higher top, minimal rear supports (really cantilevered with a curve mid support) and wrap around isinglass. Looks great and comparable to a 2004+ is a relative bargain. Front is about $5K, back is about $7K.

There are options and a budget for all...

Here's a pic

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Our previous owner changed ours to be a little sportier as well. Made it less boxy, I like the look


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The ones around here are very similar, but the aft is longer and the curtains more vertical. Lets you use the rear bench year round.

Ill grab a pic next time up
 
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The one around here are very similar, but the aft is longer and the curtains more vertical. Lets you use the rear bench year round.

Yeah, that’s my only complaint - with the aft curtain down you can’t sit totally upright. The positive is that seat gets full sun without the curtain.
 
Yeah, that’s my only complaint - with the aft curtain down you can’t sit totally upright. The positive is that seat gets full sun without the curtain.

It looks great!!!

That's why you need more than one boat!!! Gotta over come the "negatives"!!
 
The squareness/boxy look is something the 99 has compared to the 04 340 we previously had. The camper canvas definitely adds to the boxy look but the usefulness of the cockpit can't be denied! The one I am most interested in has new camper canvas and front eisenglass. Huge bonus if all else checks out OK.
 
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I love the Camper they installed on the back of mine. At first I was going to remove it and put the slant back on it. After living with it, I wouldn’t have it any other way. They raised the top from the arch back and raised the forward canvas as well which I think makes it look more proportionate.
 
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Here’s another shot of mine, they took the vertical supports out which makes it much easier to get to the side decks and I think makes the back look nicer with the glass down.

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2.) We looked at the first 400DA delivered to NW Fla in about 1997. I do a lot of my own maintenance and as soon as I saw the linear actuator mount for raising the cockpit deck, I decided the 400 wasn't for me. The lower actuator mount position prevents an average sized human person from walking around the mount without removing it.

On the contrary I find the actuator placement to be ideal. The tighter it gets as I work back there over winter layup, the more motivation I have to eat/drink less before spring rolls around :)
 
Wow, those boats look awesome! Did they change the gelcoat color for the 02? Looks brighter and whiter to me. Or is it just the lighting?

If I found a boat that looked as good as the two above showing the canvas work I would buy them immediately. Very, very impressive and now shows me what a well cared for 40/41 should look like.
 

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