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

[Stee6043]

My hopes for finishing waxing yesterday were dashed by a random power outage two hours into my day.

I had never really noticed that there were ZERO windows in my storage building until the lights went out I'm just glad that one of the three emergency lights in the entire building is right behind my boat.

What a way to abruptly end my otherwise productive boat work day...

 

[Strecker25]

My hopes for finishing waxing yesterday were dashed by a random power outage two hours into my day.

I had never really noticed that there were ZERO windows in my storage building until the lights went out I'm just glad that one of the three emergency lights in the entire building is right behind my boat.

What a way to abruptly end my otherwise productive boat work day...

that must have been a bit of a surprise

I see you’re using 3M’s newer perfect-it? Is that the medium cut with wax?

I’m substituting their heavy cut in place of my all time favorite imperial finishing material because they discontinued it

I tested a small spot yesterday with a wool pad and it seemed to cut quickly but I have a high standard after many years of imperial. Hopeful for good results

 

[dtfeld]

I've been using 3M Perfect-it Medium and Light along with their wax, with pretty good results.

 

[Strecker25]

One side mostly done with the eraser wheel today, Pulling all boot stripes off. Both were beat up and we’re eliminating the final gold accents. I’m not necessarily against the black but I’m going to leave it off and raise the waterline. We did that on our 290 and loved the clean look

 

[Ezsteps]

I've gotten many of the rubber and seal replacements from Steel Rubber Products https://www.steelerubber.com/marine-home-hatch-seals-edge-trim

Thank, I ended up going to the TaylorMade site and found what I needed. My wife put the part #'s in Amazon and everything showed up today.

 

[knotonduty]

Well spent all day scrubbing Knot on Duty to get her ready for her Maiden family cruise, the twins each started an engine Jonathan def did rudder swing checks at 20 knots LOL. My better half did some spying on her ship USS Whidbey Island LSD-41(she is the Commanding Officer) it was a Beautiful evening.

Tried running both engines on the tank that was feeding the port engine, stbd still dropped off about 10 min into running at 2400 rpm. On travel now in San Diego, will check priming valves when i get back, prob just going to have a tech come out and groom both engines since im gone for 2 weeks and just dont have time to deal with it. i see a lot of people wrapping up winter projects, Hope everyone gets on the water soon. its about that time.

 

[Strecker25]

Well spent all day scrubbing Knot on Duty to get her ready for her Maiden family cruise, the twins each started an engine Jonathan def did rudder swing checks at 20 knots LOL. My better half did some spying on her ship USS Whidbey Island LSD-41(she is the Commanding Officer) it was a Beautiful evening.

Tried running both engines on the tank that was feeding the port engine, stbd still dropped off about 10 min into running at 2400 rpm. On travel now in San Diego, will check priming valves when i get back, prob just going to have a tech come out and groom both engines since im gone for 2 weeks and just dont have time to deal with it. i see a lot of people wrapping up winter projects, Hope everyone gets on the water soon. its about that time.

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awesome. My 3 year old loves “driving” with the autopilot engaged. He can mess around as much as he wants and we stay the course. I just have to watch like a hawk because I have nightmares of him pulling it out of gear with his wandering hands

hoping you get the rev loss thing sorted out ASAP. Sure sounds like a starvation issue and should be something simple

 

[Strecker25]

I emailed SR today to see if I could get design drawings like I had for our old boat and no luck, but they did provide this screenshot. Interesting info including the options added. If you guys want similar for yours you can send a note to customer service and they’ll get back to you. He also confirmed that our 410 is solid glass on both the bottom and hull sides.

 

[Xplicitlnck]

Does anybody know about the hull build of a 94 400ec? Anything cored? Performance with 3116's? Any general comments on the boat is welcomed.. thanks!

 

[Strecker25]

Does anybody know about the hull build of a 94 400ec? Anything cored? Performance with 3116's? Any general comments on the boat is welcomed.. thanks!

Ive been on a gas powered of that era. They ride amazing with straight drives, very level.

SR corporate will definitely answer the core question. If you can live without the aft cabin they’re awesome boats

 

[Stee6043]

I emailed SR today to see if I could get design drawings like I had for our old boat and no luck, but they did provide this screenshot. Interesting info including the options added. If you guys want similar for yours you can send a note to customer service and they’ll get back to you. He also confirmed that our 410 is solid glass on both the bottom and hull sides.

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Ohh man that post made me chuckle. That looks like a screen shot from a 1980/1990's version of a Mapics ERP system. Holy smokes...if Sea Ray is actually running this in any of their plants...wow, not hard to imagine why they may be struggling with their platforms. Yikes!

Cool info though!

 

[Stee6043]

that must have been a bit of a surprise

I see you’re using 3M’s newer perfect-it? Is that the medium cut with wax?

I’m substituting their heavy cut in place of my all time favorite imperial finishing material because they discontinued it

I tested a small spot yesterday with a wool pad and it seemed to cut quickly but I have a high standard after many years of imperial. Hopeful for good results

For me the jury is still out on the 3M. I really struggle with the lighting on the topside of my boat (even when the power is on ). I'm using the medium compound "by feel", doing it by hand on the topside, but I can't see it nearly as well as the sides.

The section of deck immediately forward of my windshield is probably the most viseable at the moment. My initial reaction to that area was "meh" after I went over it. I think it needs a heavier compound. But no way is that happening this year!

 

[Carver370]

For me the jury is still out on the 3M. I really struggle with the lighting on the topside of my boat (even when the power is on ). I'm using the medium compound "by feel", doing it by hand on the topside, but I can't see it nearly as well as the sides.

The section of deck immediately forward of my windshield is probably the most viseable at the moment. My initial reaction to that area was "meh" after I went over it. I think it needs a heavier compound. But no way is that happening this year!

If you’re using that product by hand, you’re kind of wasting your time if you want some shine.
There’s a large detailer in the Michigan and Chicagoland area who uses the 3M medium compound and wax on tons of boats. It’s good for boats that are in excellent condition to begin with but there isn’t much protection in an all in one product. Ive tried them all, I used to own a marine detailing company.

I’m working mine over with a four step process since this is a new to me boat last summer. It was really nice to begin with but wasn’t up to my standards.

1. Starke Restructure with a white wool pad on a rotary.
2. Starke Elevate with a white wool pad on a rotary.
3. Starke Ignition with a foamed wool pad on a dual action polisher.
4. Starke Hybrid Marine sealant applied with a foam pad on the dual action and removed with a bunch of fluffy micro fibers.

 

[Stee6043]

If you’re using that product by hand, you’re kind of wasting your time if you want some shine.
There’s a large detailer in the Michigan and Chicagoland area who uses the 3M medium compound and wax on tons of boats. It’s good for boats that are in excellent condition to begin with but there isn’t much protection in an all in one product. Ive tried them all, I used to own a marine detailing company.

I’m working mine over with a four step process since this is a new to me boat last summer. It was really nice to begin with but wasn’t up to my standards.

1. Starke Restructure with a white wool pad on a rotary.
2. Starke Elevate with a white wool pad on a rotary.
3. Starke Ignition with a foamed wool pad on a dual action polisher.
4. Starke Hybrid Marine sealant applied with a foam pad on the dual action and removed with a bunch of fluffy micro fibers. View attachment 101347

Yeah...that photo really helps me feel better about the hours I've put into my boat this winter

 

[Carver370]

Yeah...that photo really helps me feel better about the hours I've put into my boat this winter

If it helps you any, I'll probably have around 100 hours in just buffing and polishing!

Don't get me started on all of the old caulk that I removed from the rub rail and seams on the boat.....

 

[ttmott]

Well spent all day scrubbing Knot on Duty to get her ready for her Maiden family cruise, the twins each started an engine Jonathan def did rudder swing checks at 20 knots LOL. My better half did some spying on her ship USS Whidbey Island LSD-41(she is the Commanding Officer) it was a Beautiful evening.

Tried running both engines on the tank that was feeding the port engine, stbd still dropped off about 10 min into running at 2400 rpm. On travel now in San Diego, will check priming valves when i get back, prob just going to have a tech come out and groom both engines since im gone for 2 weeks and just dont have time to deal with it. i see a lot of people wrapping up winter projects, Hope everyone gets on the water soon. its about that time.

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Looks like an amazing family! Sometimes we, in this forum, get wrapped around the axle and tend to miss the fact that owning, using and caring for our boats is really about family and friends....

 

[Nauti 97]

I have a couple of questions for the 410 owners with 7.4 Gas engines.
I have already, reached out to Stee6043 with these questions. But was wanting to hear feed back from other 410 owners with 7.4 Horizons.
1) Do you all like the performance?
2) Do they seem to be underpowered?

Thanks in advance

 

[Stee6043]

If it helps you any, I'll probably have around 100 hours in just buffing and polishing!

Don't get me started on all of the old caulk that I removed from the rub rail and seams on the boat.....

I actually have hot glue in places on my boat from a prior owner. Some of it I'm still leaving in place as it's a bit nostalgic. I feel like the boat will be angry if I remove all of it...

 

[Strecker25]

I have a couple of questions for the 410 owners with 7.4 Gas engines.
I have already, reached out to Stee6043 with these questions. But was wanting to hear feed back from other 410 owners with 7.4 Horizons.
1) Do you all like the performance?
2) Do they seem to be underpowered?

Thanks in advance

I'm a diesel owner but have been on gas powered 400's. I did not think they were underpowered for the conditions we typically see on Lake Ontario (I see you're on Lake Michigan). They burned more fuel during the trip than the diesel counterpart and had to run at a higher RPM but that's the design of the engine and not necessarily a bad thing.

I think the diesel vs gas comes down to how and where you will use the boat.

with gas there is more room in the engine room, you'll probably find more local mechanics willing and able to work on them (although CAT has a heck of a dealer network), and the purchase price should be lower than a similar condition diesel boat

I wanted diesel and local inventory for the 410 was nonexistent regardless of fuel type so when our boat came up we jumped on it. I would have likely considered a gas 410 if available

But, you asked for an gas owners account and that I am not - so someone else will have to give you first hand experience

 

[Nauti 97]

Thanks for the Info.