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

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.

there might be a slight gelcoat difference but most of them just need a major compound job. As an example, here’s my old boat before and after I put hours of elbow grease into it.

this boat was a 1998



1CD4F919-710A-4517-835E-7F41610355E4.jpeg
EADFE695-DCBA-42CA-ADEC-9CB0C455983E.jpeg
 
Last edited:
63592DCD-AD9B-4B56-9976-877F216034D9.jpeg
One of the winter projects is to replace the boot stripe. Drove me nuts that the prior owner bottom painted up to the black boot stripe.
I just changed it from gold to silver and had Hullstripes.com make me an entire new set. Totally changed the look.
 
I'm looking forward to talking to the owner and planning the road trip to see the boat. Once I see the maintenance records and the survey done recently I will have a much better feeling about things.

Assuming all the important stuff checks out OK the mental wishlist has begun with the help of wife and kids.

Compound and wax
SeaDek or something similar for cockpit area
Stereo upgrade with multiple zones, amps and subwoofers
Vinyl, teak and holly or similar flooring for the cabin
Dingy boat with small motor
 
I'm looking forward to talking to the owner and planning the road trip to see the boat. Once I see the maintenance records and the survey done recently I will have a much better feeling about things.

Assuming all the important stuff checks out OK the mental wishlist has begun with the help of wife and kids.

Compound and wax
SeaDek or something similar for cockpit area
Stereo upgrade with multiple zones, amps and subwoofers
Vinyl, teak and holly or similar flooring for the cabin
Dingy boat with small motor

we have aquamarine in the cockpit and on the platform and love it




5AC682FB-2FA0-4CD3-BD8D-E6AC2D7DF391.jpeg
F41C90A7-6A24-4D45-810F-EB63F057CF60.jpeg
 
Can't seem to find the height spec anywhere online for a 99 400 Dancer. I'd like to get a shipping estimate just to see what that might run vs waiting till March/April to run it down by water.

Anyone know the height for these boats? Would the arch need to be removed for trailering?
 
Can't seem to find the height spec anywhere online for a 99 400 Dancer. I'd like to get a shipping estimate just to see what that might run vs waiting till March/April to run it down by water.

Anyone know the height for these boats? Would the arch need to be removed for trailering?

Probably, what’s the start and end points? I got quotes from maryland to western NY in the 10-15k range
 
10-15k? Ouch. I'd much rather wait till the weather breaks and run it down by water. Would be from MA to DE. 370 miles by land.

By water looking at a chart it appears to be west in the LI sound, down to NYC then down the NJ coast to Cape May, hang a right and head up the Delaware Bay. Broken into segments its a pretty simple voyage. I'd just need to know where the marinas are with diesel fuel. About 300nm to Cape May then 65 to the marina up the Delaware Bay.
 
10-15k? Ouch. I'd much rather wait till the weather breaks and run it down by water. Would be from MA to DE. 370 miles by land.

By water looking at a chart it appears to be west in the LI sound, down to NYC then down the NJ coast to Cape May, hang a right and head up the Delaware Bay. Broken into segments its a pretty simple voyage. I'd just need to know where the marinas are with diesel fuel. About 300nm to Cape May then 65 to the marina up the Delaware Bay.
Here in the Midwest, I had my 380 hauled - little over 300 miles for $3k cash. Only 2 states to travel through (missouri and Illinois)

with the arch up but nothing on it, boat was 14’5” tall (on the trailer)
 
Can't seem to find the height spec anywhere online for a 99 400 Dancer. I'd like to get a shipping estimate just to see what that might run vs waiting till March/April to run it down by water.

Anyone know the height for these boats? Would the arch need to be removed for trailering?
Can’t find 1999, but this is the 1998, probably pretty close

42707A9B-29CF-4430-A1CB-D72B70059C8A.png
 
10-15k? Ouch. I'd much rather wait till the weather breaks and run it down by water. Would be from MA to DE. 370 miles by land.

By water looking at a chart it appears to be west in the LI sound, down to NYC then down the NJ coast to Cape May, hang a right and head up the Delaware Bay. Broken into segments its a pretty simple voyage. I'd just need to know where the marinas are with diesel fuel. About 300nm to Cape May then 65 to the marina up the Delaware Bay.

I think it should be less than that,
The top of that range is basically what I spent to haul my 50 DA from Pensacola, FL, to NJ.
You may want to consider bringing it to NJ and have it shipped from there, just crossing the bridges adds a few k to the bill.

There are additional costs, disassembly/reassembly and shrink wrap most notable.
Call lighthouse boat transport

http://www.lighthouseboattransport.com/

They moved mine and I would recommend.
 
I had my 98 400 DA shipped from Pompano Beach Fl to Northern Illinois. $8500 + haul and launch. I prepped the boat myself. Took everything off the arch, but didnt need to take the arch down.
 
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 :)

You just wait, your time is coming! ..........I figure I've got about 20 years on you and you are gonna get real tired of climbing around that acuator before its over with. When I service my 450, I just take my lunch and a couple of Coke Zeros with me and sit on a swivel mechanics stool and I don't come out until I'm done.
 
You guys are right on the shipping, I had my wires crossed. My 10-15k estimate was from when we were looking at 400/420 DB’s
 
I still think that if it is 5k or so its much less expensive to just run it down. About 370 miles by water from taking a quick look at a chart. Hiring a captain is probably $500 or so a day plus expenses. If they go slow and only did 100 miles a day the price is still attractive. All speculation at this point as I am trying to set up a time to go and check out the boat.

Other option is grab a few seasoned friends, take a long weekend and bring it down myself.
 
General cost to add a camper canvas setup on one of these boats? Some have it and some don't, trying to get an idea of cost should we need to have one installed.
 
I still think that if it is 5k or so its much less expensive to just run it down. About 370 miles by water from taking a quick look at a chart. Hiring a captain is probably $500 or so a day plus expenses. If they go slow and only did 100 miles a day the price is still attractive. All speculation at this point as I am trying to set up a time to go and check out the boat.

Other option is grab a few seasoned friends, take a long weekend and bring it down myself.
BTW @SeaNile I saw your post over on THT, and you are getting some misinformed advice over there. People like to act like they are experts because they read someone else's post once. You will get much better advice from the people who actually own these boats and engines.

For example, someone commented that the Cat 3116's are underpowered for these Sea Rays. My 400DA is 44' 4"LOA, and it runs at 25-26 mph at the recommended 2400 RPM. It runs about 30mph at WOT of 2800 RPMs. No problem at all getting up on plane. If you search this board you will find many people with the 400DA and SB, and 3116s getting real world better than 1mpg.

Bad information => bad decisions. Stick with people who know what they are talking about.
 
General cost to add a camper canvas setup on one of these boats? Some have it and some don't, trying to get an idea of cost should we need to have one installed.
It depends on your location and the supports you already have. New custom camper canvas can be $6-8k, depending on quality. Something to keep in mind when considering that expense is that canvas doesn't last forever, so you end up replacing at some point anyway. Many people overlook the age and condition of the canvas when considering a boat. We have camper canvas, and it makes that aft bench usable with the canvas up. for me, that starboard rear corner is one of the most comfortable places on the boat to sit. I know some people have opinions on the style, but for me the function of camper canvas is a must have.
 
General cost to add a camper canvas setup on one of these boats? Some have it and some don't, trying to get an idea of cost should we need to have one installed.

that’s usually very region dependent but I believe ours was about 9-10k when the owner had it done. That was all strataglass for the front, zippers everywhere for screens, modifying the frame, and a completely redesigned rear Bimini
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,945
Messages
1,422,736
Members
60,927
Latest member
Jaguar65
Back
Top