420/44 DB Owners Club

[z28jimi]

Planning on removing the engine air intake from the port side to see if I can source the water I'm finding under the engine. I see that there are several screws holding the vent to the hull side...is that it? After I remove those, will the vent come right out, or are there other tricks I need to know to get it out? Any suggestions or warnings before I get started?

 

[bbwhitejr]

Planning on removing the engine air intake from the port side to see if I can source the water I'm finding under the engine. I see that there are several screws holding the vent to the hull side...is that it? After I remove those, will the vent come right out, or are there other tricks I need to know to get it out? Any suggestions or warnings before I get started?

I was going to remove my vents...removed the screws only to find mine are caulked with something fairly strong. I wanted to remove to replace/install led lights in the grills. I decided that I could do what I needed to do without removing the vents.

Good luck!

Bennett

 

[z28jimi]

Not what I wanted to hear.

 

[Irie308]

Hello all, newly minted owner of an 04 420DB. Still have tons of questions i'm researching however I've read through this thread about 4 times and i find new answers each time. I'm sure i'll have a ton. I told myself that I would get used to her for the first season and get a good sense of what i would like to change however the bridge enclosure is not clear enough for my liking. I want to go with the polycarbonate panels however wanted to hear some feedback from those that have the rigid panels but no bridge air. From what i can tell the front panel won't have the clearance to fold up towards the arch. So for those with the rigid panels and no bridge air whats your setup/process? Likes and dislikes? Is it hot up there without the ability to roll up the front, side and aft panels? Was thinking of adding vents to the top of the front 1 or all 3 panels to provide some airflow.

 

[bbwhitejr]

I cannot imagine not having the ability to roll up the front, aft, and sides with or w/o AC on the bridge. We do not have AC up there, but can roll up all 4 sides. Still don't like it in the summer. I just had seat covers made for all seating on the bridge. Our plan next spring as soon as the pollen season is over, is to remove the complete bridge enclosure and leave it off all summer. It is no easy feat to remove or to replace and looking so forward to not having it on for the summer. The seat covers will keep them nice and clean.

Bennett

 

[Tomco]

Hello all, newly minted owner of an 04 420DB. Still have tons of questions i'm researching however I've read through this thread about 4 times and i find new answers each time. I'm sure i'll have a ton. I told myself that I would get used to her for the first season and get a good sense of what i would like to change however the bridge enclosure is not clear enough for my liking. I want to go with the polycarbonate panels however wanted to hear some feedback from those that have the rigid panels but no bridge air. From what i can tell the front panel won't have the clearance to fold up towards the arch. So for those with the rigid panels and no bridge air whats your setup/process? Likes and dislikes? Is it hot up there without the ability to roll up the front, side and aft panels? Was thinking of adding vents to the top of the front 1 or all 3 panels to provide some airflow.

Congrats on the new boat! We just purchased an 04 as well and will be going thru the same learning curve ... tucked away for the winter but anxiously awaiting spring. We have an upgrade list that will take us over the next 3-4 seasons and will evolve as we settle into the boat - we plan to do some longer range cruising.

The aft upper enclosure is in rough shape and we cannot really see thru it. Since the rest of the enclosure is in very good condition we decided to just replace those panels. I much prefer it being open than closed up - like the wind coming thru. I would prefer to take them all off, as Bennett is planning, but it not practical where we boat.

A complete electronic upgrade is on our list as well so I look forward to seeing your thought process and what you decide.

Tom

 

[SeasNT]

I'm going to post this in the general discussion area also, hoping to find an answer.
My '06 44 DB seems to be making water.
I keep getting an accumulation of water under the starboard engine. The stringers and crossmembers form a sump of sorts under the engines, and there is a recurring accumulation of water in this area, only under the starboard engine. It looks and tastes like fresh water, has no odd smell, no color. Has anyone else found the same issue? I'm wondering if it might be related to the fresh water tank, either the fill or vent line leaking somehow. The fresh water pump doesn't cycle, so it isn't a leak in the pressurized system. It's not an insignificant amount either, today, I vacuumed out about eight gallons. I'm going to check again in a few days to see if it is back. The previous owner claims it's from the engine vent and has been doing this for a long time. I've looked, and I don't see how the engine vent could be the culprit. Any ideas or suggestions, or even better, solutions, will be appreciated.

Leak between the hull to deck joint, under the rub rail.
I had the same problem, persistent water under starboard engine and general bilge water. I had always looked while at the dock. The port rudder had always dripped a little but it's a long way from the starboard engine. The engine was not leaking cooling water, nor was the hot water tank.

I was lucky to find it. Two years ago, miles off Rocky River the high water alarm goes off. Reduce speed and lift the hatch, lots of bilge water. I grab a light and finally see water running down the inside of the starboard hull roughly behind the hot water tank. The lower aft pump had just failed and the high water pump took over. Changed the pump on that trip, always carry a spare, and had the joint resealed over the winter. Dry since that fix. On a calm day at cruise look over the aft quarter, water blasts straight up at the rub rail like a power washer.

 

[z28jimi]

Leak between the hull to deck joint, under the rub rail.
I had the same problem, persistent water under starboard engine and general bilge water. I had always looked while at the dock. The port rudder had always dripped a little but it's a long way from the starboard engine. The engine was not leaking cooling water, nor was the hot water tank.

I was lucky to find it. Two years ago, miles off Rocky River the high water alarm goes off. Reduce speed and lift the hatch, lots of bilge water. I grab a light and finally see water running down the inside of the starboard hull roughly behind the hot water tank. The lower aft pump had just failed and the high water pump took over. Changed the pump on that trip, always carry a spare, and had the joint resealed over the winter. Dry since that fix. On a calm day at cruise look over the aft quarter, water blasts straight up at the rub rail like a power washer.

Thanks, I'll sure check it out, but I'm finding very clean, clear water that tastes fresh, not the tannin-stained water I boat in. Still, I appreciate the tip, and will certainly do as you suggest.

 

[Irie308]

I thought I would share this installation of master BR TV. The fabricator was very smart. It's a 28" smart TV, he created the "right" hole, then finished with a black backing board inside, fabricated the frames for both TV and blue-ray for access and matched the wood perfect. The key to this whole install is that he embedded 8 magnets on both sides of the large frame and 4 on the small one instead of gluing or snapping anything for incredible and seamless access. I thought it was genius.

View attachment 63030

Got excited but then noticed it was on an 05 DA. There is more room on your model to put in a decent flat screen.

 

[Irie308]

Happy New Years eve everyone....I was opening up some hatches to familiarize myself with the boat this weekend and noticed 2 things.
1. It seems the forward condensation pan for the AC has over flowed in the past based on the rust stains in the AC compartment under the bed. I noticed that the drain hole is off to the side. Based on the angle of the the pan the water would only drain into the hose when the boat is at rest with at least an inch or two of water in it. Wondering if moving the hose to one of the other knockouts out would help since the water would be forced aft while underway.

2. Noticed the sump box in the hallway bilge is labeled with 3 AC unit drainage hose. Since there is only 2 units on board i'm assuming the 3rd one is the washer unit?

 

[Carpediem44DB]

The washer on my 44DB has its own overboard thruhull. The third I’d probably for the optional flybridge ac unit.
I’m going to check my forward ac unit pan I like your idea of moving the drain aft.
Have a HAPPY NYE!

 

[bbwhitejr]

The washer on my 44DB has its own overboard thruhull. The third I’d probably for the optional flybridge ac unit.
I’m going to check my forward ac unit pan I like your idea of moving the drain aft.
Have a HAPPY NYE!

My washer also has its own thru hull. The labeling on my shower sump is also incorrect. I need to bring my label maker and correct it. My drain pan for the forward AC under the bed is also rusty. Am planning to slightly shim the pan to make it drain more efficiently.

Bennett

 

[Irie308]

Interesting, wondering where the hose dies if it was meant for the bridge air. Well here is my next question. Where do most prefer to mount the tv on the bridge? I was thinking on top of the storage unit but to have it face the aft seating area you'd have to mount it closer to the captains chair. Seems like mounting it on the starboard arch would also restrict a 3rd of the seating while viewing. Any pics of current installs?

 

[bbwhitejr]

Mine came factory mounted on the starboard arch. I believe Rusty moved his from the arch to the starboard side of his helm. Here is mine-

Bennett

 

[Irie308]

That looks great over there. Just worried about loosing the seating area underneath the tv while viewing.

 

[Irie308]

In the process of updating my electronics and wanted to take this opportunity to swap out the Burl Wood panels to something different. Can anyone confirm whether or not the 2 main panels in the dash are the same for the 04-07 42/44 DB? I believe they are from what i can tell. Seems they were the same on the 420 DA of the same vintage as well.

 

[SeasNT]

In the process of updating my electronics and wanted to take this opportunity to swap out the Burl Wood panels to something different. Can anyone confirm whether or not the 2 main panels in the dash are the same for the 04-07 42/44 DB? I believe they are from what i can tell. Seems they were the same on the 420 DA of the same vintage as well.

Yes, they fit. Went with silver panels when we swapped out the SR Navigator for a second E-120

https://www.searay-parts.com/product-p/bbgpanel1818155.htm

 

[Irie308]

Has anyone done anything with the storage box up on the bridge other than installing AC? I'm thinking about installing a fridge there. Haven't researched what would fit if anything but just wondering as it seems like a huge waste of space. I may yank it an install a 3rd helm seat.

 

[Alex F]

Has anyone done anything with the storage box up on the bridge other than installing AC? I'm thinking about installing a fridge there. Haven't researched what would fit if anything but just wondering as it seems like a huge waste of space. I may yank it an install a 3rd helm seat.

Dean,

My advice, don't jump into conclusions until you use the boat for at least one full season. You'll be surprised how your list of required items can change between now and the next year. Extra fridge or a 3rd seat sounds fine, but I won't be surprised if you realize that climate controlled bridge is more important.

 

[bajturner]

Has anyone done anything with the storage box up on the bridge other than installing AC?

We store quite a bit of stuff both in the cabinet and the covered tray up top. In the tray we put the screen covers while underway, charts, binoculars, keys, deck port keys, handheld VHF when not in use...all sorts of odds and ends.

The cabinet is always jammed with stuff. Deflated inflatables, watersports and dinghy lifejackets, air pump, flares, the helm cover when underway...basically anything that is laying around the bridge.

While underway there is often someone sitting on it facing forward. Before buying the boat I wondered if the three helm seat configuration would be preferable, but after a full season with it, I would definitely miss the cabinet.