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

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

Actually had to contact their technical service, they were great and able to help with the reeds I needed. You are right, the part isn't listed on the website.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

I imagine this has been out there before but a friend is looking for replacement seals for the vent window on a mid-90's 400 Express. Can anyone help me with this?
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Hey, guys. I'm looking to replace the white rubber/vinyl trim that wraps around the bottom of the swim platform. Does anyone know who manufactures that and what model # I may be looking for? Thanks!
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Bryan -

There was a thread on it earlier - The OP found it at his Sea Ray dealer for $3 a foot as I recall...
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Bryank said:
Hey, guys. I'm looking to replace the white rubber/vinyl trim that wraps around the bottom of the swim platform. Does anyone know who manufactures that and what model # I may be looking for? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Here's the stuff- Flounder Pounder stocks it. Give them a call and they will let you know whether its the same stuff on yours. But I believe it is.
http://www.searay-parts.com/U-shaped-motorbox-trim-p/uchannel trim pltfrm mtrbox wh.htm
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Bill - the OP on his 280 (I can't find the thread) found it for half that price at his Sea Ray dealer...go figure!
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Bryank said:
Hey, guys. I'm looking to replace the white rubber/vinyl trim that wraps around the bottom of the swim platform. Does anyone know who manufactures that and what model # I may be looking for? Thanks!
Click to expand...

How on earth do you remove the old stuff? I tried to test the corner and I couldn't get it off to save my life.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Z - Mine has holes and screws on the inside...about every 6 inches as I recall.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

carterchapman said:
Z - Mine has holes and screws on the inside...about every 6 inches as I recall.
Click to expand...

Absolutely correct!
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Hello guys I'm new here and by the time spring hits I'm hoping to be a 400 Sundancer owner. I just sold my 310 and now I have been looking at 400's in the 1997 to 2000 range. It is definitely the model I'm getting, love the layout. I have a few picked out that I'm trying to decide on. I was just curious what some of you that already have this boat are seeing. What kind of MPG are you seeing with the Cat 3116's, what about the 7.4's and then if you have any opinion on MPG of one that was repowered with brand new 496 mags H.O. 425hp each. I sure I will have more questions later if you don't mind, but right now I'm try to figure out fuel cost. TIA.
 
Welcome to CSR! We have quite a few people who have 400 Sundancers and would be happy to answer any questions you have. I have a 400 express and to give my 2 cents, the only thing I wish is that I got a boat with diesels. Don't get me wrong, I love my boat and the gas engines are simple for me because I know them, but I would love the range and torque the diesels would offer.


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

Welcome aboard! That model with diesels will get right around 1MPG on flat water. Climbing 6 footers on the Pacific dropped it to about .8MPG for me! If there is a choice, stay with diesels in that boat. If there is a great deal on gassers, think about it since you are on a lake. Be ready to replace engines though! (Right Mistercomputerman?)
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Been there, done that. Have 6 years and 1,000 hours on them. Changed prop pitch to run at 3600 rpm, replaced exhausts, oil and trans coolers this year along with heat exchangers. Should be good for another 1,000.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Sweet!
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

I've had mine for over 16 years and 1,300 hours. Clearly, this boat has suited my needs!

Last month I took a 100 mile trip. I had 4 footers hitting me on the stbd beam for the first half. It wasn't comfortable, but they weren't knocking me around. The east winds also helped slow the current that I would normally have to fight up the Detroit River. At the end I averaged .8 sMPG. I was taking it slow though. My typical consumption is .72 - .75 sMPG. I strive for .75 because my Garmin fuel flow meters will round that up to a happy-looking .8. I cruise anywhere between 17 and 26 MPH. I reference my fuel meters constantly and highly recommend them.

If you've done much reading on the 400DA, you know to look for a few of her Achilles heals. Deck hardware, the infamously crack-prone L-shaped water tank, the 7.0 BCG Westerbeke that won't prime from the remote panel, and the largely unloved Norcold fridge usually top the short list.

On a lighter note, she performs well in both gas and diesel. The cockpit and salon, berths and fwd head/shower are all nicely sized and comfortable. The galley is huge for boat this size. There's plenty of storage and the ER is well layed-out.
 
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Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Thanks everyone so far. The (as you guys have called it) Nevercold has already been replaced. I just found out today that my favorite one I've looked at so far is still available. It's a 97 with the 3116 Cats. You would think it just rolled out of the factory as clean as it is. I think from what I have read and learned so far I want the diesels. The thing that scares me the most is the cost of the repairs on a diesel compared to the gas, but I figure no matter which one you get if you take care of it then it will take care of you and if you don't well neither will it. I have learned a lot from CSR. I can't believe I haven't joined before now. I bought my first SeaRay in 2000, a 2000 190 Sundeck, then a 2006 220 Sundeck, in 2013 I bought a 1998 310 Sundancer and probably soon the 400 Sundancer. Thanks again for the input you have gave so far and I would appreciate any other info that you pros are willing to share.
Rollercoastr I'm out of Beacon Cove.........
 
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Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Very astute observation regarding maintenance. Take care of the engines and they will treat you right. Small stuff like hoses, fluids & filters, aftercooler and heat exchanger maintenance and whatnot are basic and affordable to take care of. Buy it, take care of it and enjoy the hell out of it!
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

I did a little snooping - that diesel looks barely used! The re-powered gasser also looks good in pics. I don't think I've ever seen a fresh-water 400 with new gas engines before. I was wondering why until I saw the "cruise speed" listed at 28 knots. Yeah heck why not - there's still throttle left! He killed the first set in 600 hours, so this new set is only 1/3 dead after 200 hours?

There's overspray on the diesel's filters - clear evidence of a recent "rattle can tune-up". That's by no means a deal-killer, but that would make me go looking for further evidence that the current state of cleanliness is a recent state.

I saw very few updates, but the dash looks good. You can have some fun getting new TV's and new sound. The pics I saw show the OEM Norcold DE561. That's been out of production for quite a while now, but if it's ~6 years old, there could still be a lot of life in it. The good thing about that model (I chose to have mine rebuilt) is that they hold quite a bit more than the replacement model.
 
Re: 410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread

Any well maintained boat will have some touch up paint on the engines because the owner will sand and repaint any surface rust that shows up. I clean and touch up my engines every year as a part of my annual service. I do it before changing filters so I don't have to mask off the fuel and oil filters. So, the touch up paint isn't a "rattle can tune up" to hide anything, but more likely signs of a careful previous owner.

As far as maintenance costs go, I owned a gas 390EC for 10 years before I sold it and found the 450DA. I'm now into the 18th year with Cat diesels in the 45. I spent far more $$ in keeping the gas engines running than I have on the Cat diesels. To complete the picture, I am on the Gulf coast and we cruise the boat long distances in open water. I do not plan to paddle home, so I have and will not skimp on engine maintenance since I believe that is a foolish way to save money.
 
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