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

[Gingerly]

Anyone happen to know the tool size for the rudder packing nuts? I'll need to find a crows foot or something to get in there and it's past due. Bilge pump running daily isn't a comfortable feeling! TIA.

(And yes, I know I'll probably have to replace the packing, but hoping to limp through summer.)

Just a follow up FYI. I finally had a chance to get in there with a caliper to measure the packing nut. It's 2.90" so I bought a 3" tool. I presume the DA has the same shafts/nuts as the EC.

 

[Strecker25]

I need to pull our cabin door lock and get a new key, do you guys know if it's like the smaller models and SR used one of only a few key patterns? I'm hoping we can order one from FP

 

[Stee6043]

I need to pull our cabin door lock and get a new key, do you guys know if it's like the smaller models and SR used one of only a few key patterns? I'm hoping we can order one from FP

I ordered keys from FP for my 400 several years back. Definitely...

 

[dtfeld]

I ordered keys from FP for my 400 several years back. Definitely...

I had some keys cut by a locksmith. He had to order 10 blanks and only about 3 of them actually worked.

Now I just leave it unlocked and hope somebody steals all the crap...I'll buy new crap.

 

[Strecker25]

I had some keys cut by a locksmith. He had to order 10 blanks and only about 3 of them actually worked.

Now I just leave it unlocked and hope somebody steals all the crap...I'll buy new crap.

we do lock it but I have a janky system without the key, I won't share the details on a public forum...

this is all coming up because we had 3 people break into the marina and board our boat. Security cam scared them off but it's still disturbing, the cabin door was locked so thankfully they didn't go down below

 

[dtfeld]

Unfortunately, all the real $$$ is at the helm and hard to lock up.

 

[Strecker25]

Unfortunately, all the real $$$ is at the helm and hard to lock up.

not for crackheads, they couldn't even get into the fridge cabinet to take beer!

 

[dtfeld]

Put a sign up

"This Boat Protected by Claymore"

 

[Strecker25]

She’s a beaut Clark

 

[Stee6043]

She’s a beaut Clark
View attachment 145725

Nice! My Nova Kool arrived Wednesday, still all wrapped up in my garage.

You'll appreciate that not 2 hours after I ordered the all-black Nova Kool my wife asked me "couldn't you find anything in stainless?". The finish was the only reason I didn't pull the trigger on the Isotherm, I didn't think the SS would look good with the new flooring. That's what I get for thinking.

I guess I also saved a few dollars, so there's that

I look forward to comparing who has the more painful install. I plan to work to get my Norcold out of the boat this Sunday...

 

[Strecker25]

Nice! My Nova Kool arrived Wednesday, still all wrapped up in my garage.

You'll appreciate that not 2 hours after I ordered the all-black Nova Kool my wife asked me "couldn't you find anything in stainless?". The finish was the only reason I didn't pull the trigger on the Isotherm, I didn't think the SS would look good with the new flooring. That's what I get for thinking.

I guess I also saved a few dollars, so there's that

I look forward to comparing who has the more painful install. I plan to work to get my Norcold out of the boat this Sunday...

haha yeah, I’ll have some trim work to do as this is slightly narrower than the original and now I’m less motivated since the old one is working again

 

[dtfeld]

Nice! My Nova Kool arrived Wednesday, still all wrapped up in my garage.

You'll appreciate that not 2 hours after I ordered the all-black Nova Kool my wife asked me "couldn't you find anything in stainless?". The finish was the only reason I didn't pull the trigger on the Isotherm, I didn't think the SS would look good with the new flooring. That's what I get for thinking.

I guess I also saved a few dollars, so there's that

Good news is you can switch out the panels in about 30 minutes. Just need to have a local shop cut your panels. Nova Kool has a video of how to on their website.

I look forward to comparing who has the more painful install. I plan to work to get my Norcold out of the boat this Sunday...

 

[Ted Russell]

Hey everyone, has anyone ever replaced a vacuflush motor? My aft head stopped flushing, originally I thought it was plugged but that wasn’t the case. If I tap the motor with a boat hook it starts pumping so sounds like the brushes are going. I looked online and the motors are pricey little suckers even by boat buck standards. Lol.

 

[Strecker25]

Hey everyone, has anyone ever replaced a vacuflush motor? My aft head stopped flushing, originally I thought it was plugged but that wasn’t the case. If I tap the motor with a boat hook it starts pumping so sounds like the brushes are going. I looked online and the motors are pricey little suckers even by boat buck standards. Lol.

swap it with the macerator one if you don’t use it, they should be the same

 

[Ted Russell]

swap it with the macerator one if you don’t use it, they should be the same

I don’t have the macerator, just two vacuum pumps. Been looking at how the system works and starting to wonder if it’s the vacuum switch not the motor. Maybe it’s sticking and not making contact when the vacuum drops. I will jump the switch that will tell me for sure.

 

[Strecker25]

I don’t have the macerator, just two vacuum pumps. Been looking at how the system works and starting to wonder if it’s the vacuum switch not the motor. Maybe it’s sticking and not making contact when the vacuum drops. I will jump the switch that will tell me for sure.

that’s a good place to start. Everyone says the switches never fail but I’ve had two go bad so they most certainly do.

 

[Sgrochow]

I don’t have the macerator, just two vacuum pumps. Been looking at how the system works and starting to wonder if it’s the vacuum switch not the motor. Maybe it’s sticking and not making contact when the vacuum drops. I will jump the switch that will tell me

that’s a good place to start. Everyone says the switches never fail but I’ve had two go bad so they most certainly do.

Ditto, replaced one 3 years ago.

 

[Sgrochow]

If it ends up being the motor, may be a good idea to replace the bellows at the same time if it hasn’t ever been done.

My experience is that the new motor will pump faster and draw less DC amps than the original.

Also, when you have the bellows out, inspect the pump body for any hairline cracks. If it has some, replace that too, don’t cheap out like I did. (Used epoxy) it lasted less than a season.

 

[Sgrochow]

we do lock it but I have a janky system without the key, I won't share the details on a public forum...

this is all coming up because we had 3 people break into the marina and board our boat. Security cam scared them off but it's still disturbing, the cabin door was locked so thankfully they didn't go down below

My 2 cents on locking or leaving open. My opinion is that most thefts today are carried out by opportunists, they will try many boats/cars and enter the easy ones so they don’t have to spend the extra time, If it’s locked, it’s likely they will move on. I always lock my cars and my wife now uses a steering wheel lock on her KIA. I have plenty of insurance, but I don’t want some crackhead spending even 5 seconds in my cars or boat. Boat has an alarm system installed by the previous owner, I arm it when leaving and I still lock it.

 

[Strecker25]

Or splurge for the newer “super quiet” model. They really are way better - quiet and get to vacuum much quicker