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

[ttmott]

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

Apologize in advance if this topic has been discussed, but has anyone replaced the water heater on a 400DA?

I have the 11 Gal stbd aft of the Westerbeake Genie and I'd like to replace it with the same model... Thoughts?

Can you get them in and out with just removing the side bilge hatch and the big exhaust tube or is this a bigger deal?

Replaced - Had to remove the generator lift muffler, the deck supports behind the engines, alternator, Stbd engine exhaust system, some of the stbd engine fuel system and stbd engine heat exchanger. I had someone do the work....

 

[hakunamatata]

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

Replaced - Had to remove the generator lift muffler, the deck supports behind the engines, alternator, Stbd engine exhaust system, some of the stbd engine fuel system and stbd engine heat exchanger. I had someone do the work....

Good God I hope that I never have to replace this. What a cluster! I feel they should make the designers/engineers of these boats own, maintain, and take apart a vessel after their design/concept becomes reality as I'm certain the designer of my last boat was either a sadistic jerk, or Tm Thumb as where they placed access to some of the mechanicals, etc.

 

[JVM225]

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

The previous owner of my 410 had the water heater replaced within the last few years. I've only been in the bilge a couple of times while checking the boat out and then on the day of the survey, but I'm pretty sure the 11 gallon water heater is on the port side of the 2002 410 somewhere near the batteries. Maybe the 410 is different than the 400.

 

[TNT8808]

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

The previous owner of my 410 had the water heater replaced within the last few years. I've only been in the bilge a couple of times while checking the boat out and then on the day of the survey, but I'm pretty sure the 11 gallon water heater is on the port side of the 2002 410 somewhere near the batteries. Maybe the 410 is different than the 400.

JVM225: You are correct. The water heater is located on the port side next to the bulk head, and the batteries are located just aft from there.

-Tom

 

[Boat Guy]

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

Replaced - Had to remove the generator lift muffler, the deck supports behind the engines, alternator, Stbd engine exhaust system, some of the stbd engine fuel system and stbd engine heat exchanger. I had someone do the work....

Wow....

Did you bring it up through the middle? Not enough room bringing it up on the stbd side of the engine? I'm wondering if I can just remove the housing around the tank and fit the parts through and reassemble?

 

[JVM225]

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

JVM225: You are correct. The water heater is located on the port side next to the bulk head, and the batteries are located just aft from there.

-Tom

Thanks Tom. I thought so, but I do remember looking at the fairly new how water heater and thinking that I was happy that I wouldn't have to be maneuvering it out of there any time soon. It still looked like kind of a tight fit.

 

[TNT8808]

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

Thanks Tom. I thought so, but I do remember looking at the fairly new how water heater and thinking that I was happy that I wouldn't have to be maneuvering it out of there any time soon. It still looked like kind of a tight fit.

Anytime John. I'm dreading having to replace mine someday. When I had the thruster installed, I had them add a custom battery tray over the top of the hot water heater that's going to make it even worse unfortunately. The positive thing though was the extra weight of the batteries eliminated most of the slight starboard list these 410's are known for.

-Tom

 

[ttmott]

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

Wow....

Did you bring it up through the middle? Not enough room bringing it up on the stbd side of the engine? I'm wondering if I can just remove the housing around the tank and fit the parts through and reassemble?

They did bring it up through the middle; I wasn't there so much of the detail I can't give other than what they told me. They were done in 4 hours.

As it ends up the tank rusted from the bottom. When you put the new one in put it on four Starboard blocks to get it up off the fiberglass flat mounting area so any water under it can dry and won't soak the tank's insulation.

 

[Z-Worthy]

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

I'm looking for a way to install a milk crate or similar container somewhere in the bilge of my '97 400DA to keep bottles of coolant, fluids, extra impellers, filters, parts, etc. Basically an "maintenance" kit in case I need to top off fluids or replace an impeller when I'm away from home. But I can't for the life of me come up with a good solution to where and how. How anyone else come up with a good solution for storage in the bilge?!?

 

[ttmott]

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

I'm looking for a way to install a milk crate or similar container somewhere in the bilge of my '97 400DA to keep bottles of coolant, fluids, extra impellers, filters, parts, etc. Basically an "maintenance" kit in case I need to top off fluids or replace an impeller when I'm away from home. But I can't for the life of me come up with a good solution to where and how. How anyone else come up with a good solution for storage in the bilge?!?

Yes - When the boat was changed over to AGM batteries all that space above the batteries was turned into storage. There now is a removable shelf where oil, filters, and the like are stored. It really is great and frees up the storage space under the cabin floor. I'll get a pic next time at the boat.

 

[tolater]

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

Bryank, tried PMing you but your inbox is full. Send me a message please, I'm interested in your 410.​

 

[Bryank]

Bryank, tried PMing you but your inbox is full. Send me a message please, I'm interested in your 410.​

Just PM'd you...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Z-Worthy]

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

Yes - When the boat was changed over to AGM batteries all that space above the batteries was turned into storage. There now is a removable shelf where oil, filters, and the like are stored. It really is great and frees up the storage space under the cabin floor. I'll get a pic next time at the boat.

This is EXACTLY the plan I was imagining. Did you do it yourself, or pay someone? Where did you get the support from the aft without putting pressure on the waste tank?

 

[HUMPH]

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

I'm looking for a way to install a milk crate or similar container somewhere in the bilge of my '97 400DA to keep bottles of coolant, fluids, extra impellers, filters, parts, etc. Basically an "maintenance" kit in case I need to top off fluids or replace an impeller when I'm away from home. But I can't for the life of me come up with a good solution to where and how. How anyone else come up with a good solution for storage in the bilge?!?

I keep a milk crate on top of the water heater which is easy to access for me. If I do change to AGM's I will probably add a shelf above the batteries.

 

[TNT8808]

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

I keep a milk crate on top of the water heater which is easy to access for me. If I do change to AGM's I will probably add a shelf above the batteries.

Ken- I guess I never noticed if anyone else has one, but my 410 has a diamond plate step between the engines just aft of the a/c pump, strainer, bilge. It came with a milk crate underneath it, and I just assumed they all did. The milk crate fits perfectly.

-Tom

 

[ttmott]

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

This is EXACTLY the plan I was imagining. Did you do it yourself, or pay someone? Where did you get the support from the aft without putting pressure on the waste tank?

I have six batteries so the arrangement is different with stainless battery racks. The fuel filters were upgraded to Racor 900MA's so the filter support is fabricated from aluminum. There is an aluminum shelf mount that is part of that Racor support that allows the aft part of the shelf to attach. I did all of this myself.

 

[Z-Worthy]

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

That's a NICE setup! I still have the original wooden Racor support, but it should be strong enough to do the same thing. How did you get your support on the forward and outboard bulkheads?

 

[ttmott]

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

The Racor filters are moved about 4 inches closer to the engine and out from under the deck; needed more room above them to remove the taller filter elements yet they still needed to be above the fuel level in the fuel tanks. But, moving the Racors out cleared more room for that shelf to be quite a bit deeper. The shelf is held on three sides with 1 1/4 inch aluminum angle which is screwed to the plywood on the bulkhead and vent annulus on the port side. There is a 4" X 4" notch in the shelf corner to allow all of the battery cables to pass through.

 

[Z-Worthy]

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

The shelf is held on three sides with 1 1/4 inch aluminum angle which is screwed to the plywood on the bulkhead and vent annulus on the port side. There is a 4" X 4" notch in the shelf corner to allow all of the battery cables to pass through.

I'm basically planning on doing that exact same project, except I'll do it with Starboard and without moving the Racors. Thanks!!

 

[ttmott]

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

I'm basically planning on doing that exact same project, except I'll do it with Starboard and without moving the Racors. Thanks!!

You are welcome- Good Luck.
FYI - I think you will find starboard not structurally stable or strong enough and a lot heavier than wood. Over time it will sag and become problematic. I used Cyprus for the sides and 1/2" Mahogany marine grade plywood for the tray, Stainless fasteners, glued with polyurethane glue then three coats of Interlux Bilgekote.