420/44 DB Owners Club

I've spent an hour searching and cannot locate anywhere so I'll ask with hopes someone will shorten my day. Does anyone know where the heading fluxgate/compass is located on 2005 420DB? I know low/center but anyone know first hand? My boat was flattened last year in a roof collapse and the original ST7001 was replaced with an ST8002. I calibrated the compass, or so I thought, but something has changed this year. Makes me think that I placed some metal near fluxgate which is causing the deviation. Heading on a 90 mile trip from Mystic to Port Washington Friday and I cannot deal with the Auto running 20-30 degrees off from Ritchie and even my iPhone compass. Trying for quick fix and then re-calibration before I get underway. Thanks in advance.

p.s. Homeport, what material did you use to replace your Sea Ray Navigator mouse with? I have an E125 & E127 which replaced my C120 and SRN II and no longer need that junk on the helm. Thanks.
 
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Tenacious, I had the same issue, and I found my compass for autopilot, in the second stateroom, I have two beds, I open the starboard bed, lift the mattress, lift the wood cover, and you will find if right there, covered with a small wooden box, I had storage there a new kitchen faucet, and when I removed it, the autopilot got fixed.
My boat is a search 400 but is very similar to yours, hope this helps...



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FeLizDream said:
Tenacious, I had the same issue, and I found my compass for autopilot, in the second stateroom, I have two beds, I open the starboard bed, lift the mattress, lift the wood cover, and you will find if right there, covered with a small wooden box, I had storage there a new kitchen faucet, and when I removed it, the autopilot got fixed.
My boat is a search 400 but is very similar to yours, hope this helps...



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Sea Ray 400
 
FeLizDream:

Thanks much. Everything I am reading is leading me to the area which you mention. My guest "stateroom" sits on the port side and while I am certain the underside of the port bed opens, I am not certain if there is a hatch under the starboard bed. I seem to recall there may be a small wooden hatch/door cutout, which is located under the mattress so that very well could be the location. Years ago, when I first got this boat, I corrected a starboard side list with 400 pounds of lead shot contained 25 pound nylon bags, many of which I stuffed into nooks and crannies in the port bunk area as well as port side engine area. It is possible that some shifting may have occurred and this could be my problem. I hope it's that simple. Thanks for the input.

I'd still be interested in hearing from someone with the exact boat as mine though. Thanks again!
 
For anyone who may be interested, the fluxgate is located under the portside bunk in the guest stateroom, forward, and vertically on a stringer near the wardrobe.
 
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Alex F said:


102_0296_CSR.jpg


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Alex, what is the name of the lift on your boat? What is your opinion of it?
 
In a prior post I identified the reported location of the fluxgate as illustrated within Sea Ray's owners manual. I was confident I found it after researching the manual last evening for an hour. I just left the boat and could not find it at the specified location which was beneath the Portside guest state room bunk. I have searched every nook and cranny imaginable short of dismantling and have yet to locate the fluxgate for my GPS. I am in dire straits as my auto pilot has significant deviation and I suspect it is due to metal being in close proximity to the fluxgate. Does anyone know or have any suggestions as to where I may locate it? I hate to beat a dead horse with repeatedly asking the same question but cannot seem to find anyone with information so I'm hoping someone out there may know the answer to my question.

My boat is a 2005 for 420 sedan bridge with 480 CE's. I checked the forward floor area near the bow thruster with negative results. I checked the sump area as well as the bunk area all with negative results I also check the AC area Under forward state room bed with negative results I then went in the engine room and checked low and forward against the bulkhead and anywhere's else I could think with negative results. I opened the helm electronics removing my MFD and checked the spaces there with negative results. I also look under the floor in the galley area as well as the stairs near the washer again with negative results.

I have to believe that at some point somebody out there has had to locate their fluxgate. Anyone? I'm leaving on a trip Friday and truly need to resolve this before departure. Thank you for your help in advance.
 
Tenacious said:
In a prior post I identified the reported location of the fluxgate as illustrated within Sea Ray's owners manual. I was confident I found it after researching the manual last evening for an hour. I just left the boat and could not find it at the specified location which was beneath the Portside guest state room bunk. I have searched every nook and cranny imaginable short of dismantling and have yet to locate the fluxgate for my GPS. I am in dire straits as my auto pilot has significant deviation and I suspect it is due to metal being in close proximity to the fluxgate. Does anyone know or have any suggestions as to where I may locate it? I hate to beat a dead horse with repeatedly asking the same question but cannot seem to find anyone with information so I'm hoping someone out there may know the answer to my question.

My boat is a 2005 for 420 sedan bridge with 480 CE's. I checked the forward floor area near the bow thruster with negative results. I checked the sump area as well as the bunk area all with negative results I also check the AC area Under forward state room bed with negative results I then went in the engine room and checked low and forward against the bulkhead and anywhere's else I could think with negative results. I opened the helm electronics removing my MFD and checked the spaces there with negative results. I also look under the floor in the galley area as well as the stairs near the washer again with negative results.

I have to believe that at some point somebody out there has had to locate their fluxgate. Anyone? I'm leaving on a trip Friday and truly need to resolve this before departure. Thank you for your help in advance.
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I believe I might help you here, if yours is in the same spot as mine. Open the aft most vertical (backrest) cushion of the port side sofa. It's the one right next to the control panel's glass door. The fluxgate is located on the wall where the control panel is attached too. You'd really have to stick your head inside there to look for it. Mine is screwed on to the wall at the level of the sitting cushions.

Good luck with the search. Let me know how it goes.

Woody said:
Alex, what is the name of the lift on your boat? What is your opinion of it?
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The lift is made by "SeaLift". I'd say that it's probably one of the best lifts made for this model. It's a nice balance for those who wish to carry heavier tender or PWC. The key point of the cradle is that you don't have extra weight of the extended platform. I knew that I wanted to get center console tender with max HP engine. So, the lift was a HUGE selling point for us, when we were in the process of upgrading. As with anything, there are always pros and cons. If you need more details, feel free to PM me.
 
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Alex:

You won! Actually, I pulled everything apart but did not think they would install behind sofa bed near my amp and other electronics. Still, I needed to check. I moved forward to last rear cushion, removed back, and with flash light it stared me in the face. About 12" from steel bed frame and perhaps a bit more to main electrical panel. It was mounted on a "tab" of wood which appear to be designed for application. Unreal! So short of bad, the calibration must be off. I'll try when I leave in morning. Wish you posted sooner but my OCD got the best of me. I truly appreciate your reply though. You're the only one who got it right. Thank you!

Tenacious
 
Sure seems like a crazy spot for the heading sensor. Ours is on the port salon wall as well. I had to double check.

We had a Sundancer that had it mounted on the centerline under the cabin floor. The folks that bought it had trouble with the autopilot tracking correctly. They determined the toaster oven was too close in that storage area.
 
Finding pics of the engine room on these boats is difficult. Well, more so, finding pics that offer perspective of the size. I'm a 5'11" 210 guy, I like to do my own maintenance. I don't want to lay across the engines, squeeze between the engines, crouch like a monkey between the hull and the engines.... can you tell I own a 340....

So tell me, please...where is the engine access? How much room is there for a normal sized guy to work? Are all the basics easily accessible?

Thank you!
 
Just picked up a 2005 420 and there is no music on the bridge or in the cockpit. Think it may be the amp. Anyone know where it is located on the boat?


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SWF340 said:
Finding pics of the engine room on these boats is difficult. Well, more so, finding pics that offer perspective of the size. I'm a 5'11" 210 guy, I like to do my own maintenance. I don't want to lay across the engines, squeeze between the engines, crouch like a monkey between the hull and the engines.... can you tell I own a 340....

So tell me, please...where is the engine access? How much room is there for a normal sized guy to work? Are all the basics easily accessible?

Thank you!
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I may be able to help. I'm 6' and 190 and I came from a 320da. I also like to do my own maintenance. The impellers on the 320 were very difficult. You'll find a world of difference between a 420/44 DB over a 340 da. You can open the clamshell doors in the salon and have easy access to about 80% of both motors. Access to the Genny is equally easy. There is plenty of room between engines to maneuver, probably 2' or so.

Over the winter I did my impellers and cleaned my aftercoolers without any major difficulties. I used Alex's recommended process for the impellers and pulled the entire pump. There was some squeezing on the starboard side, but not bad.
 
I believe it's behind the salon TV against the bulkhead. But before you do that, is the 12v breaker on and are the speakers switched on? The speakers switches are at the lower left in the audio cabinet below the TV.
 
sb in gp said:
I may be able to help. I'm 6' and 190 and I came from a 320da. I also like to do my own maintenance. The impellers on the 320 were very difficult. You'll find a world of difference between a 420/44 DB over a 340 da. You can open the clamshell doors in the salon and have easy access to about 80% of both motors. Access to the Genny is equally easy. There is plenty of room between engines to maneuver, probably 2' or so.

Over the winter I did my impellers and cleaned my aftercoolers without any major difficulties. I used Alex's recommended process for the impellers and pulled the entire pump. There was some squeezing on the starboard side, but not bad.
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Excellent sb! Thank you very much for the detailed reply.

You answered another question I've had...where is the access? I have been skittish about boats whose main engine access is in the salon, preferring instead boats with aft cockpit access. It seems the salon-access boats, when I've found pics, have near zero headroom over the engines themselves. At 6' 190 you're clearly not the little monkey it seems is needed to service the engines.

Thanks again, sb. I really appreciate it.
 
Any advice for a prospective 420DB owner?

Like Alex F who started this thread, I was originally looking at a 2000-2002 40' Sedan Bridge. Instead I have decided to focus my search on a 2004-2007 420DB. If I've done my homework correctly, it looks like the boat changed for the 2004 model year. There was a design refresh (most notable to me are the larger, down-sweeping salon windows), a slightly longer LOA, more interior space, diesel engines standard, among other things (I'm sure I am leaving out many important changes and upgrades). Another selling point for me is that this model comes after the balsa core hull era. It means I will be spending more up front, but I am feeling very comfortable with the change of focus.

Does anyone have general thoughts, pointers and/or considerations about the 420DB that I should know about? Are there any known issues to look out for? Any thing that is much improved, or worse than the previous version?

I will read through this thread to see what I find there, but I will greatly appreciate any pearls of wisdom that the collective mind of CSR can share. This will be my first "big" boat purchase, and I am trying to make sure I am as well informed as possible.

Thanks in advance!
 
To my knowledge, 420/44DB don't have "known issues". They have well built hull, which is relatively well balanced. As you may know, there are 3 different power packages. 420s came with fully mechanical 450C (that's what I have and love them), followed by 480CE, which I'd say majority have. When SR changed the model to 44DB, they upgraded engines to QSC500 was the primary difference. Other differences I can recall were 1/2 of the hard top and darker cherry wood cabinetry. Other than that, 420DB and 44DBs are pretty much the same boats.
 
TechDoc said:
Any thoughts regarding the 420DB vs. the 390MY?
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Very, very different boats. I had a 2007 44DB and moved to a 2002 480MY. The 44DB was surely better looking... that vintage DBs are (IMO) some of the nicest looking boats SR ever made, while the MY series? Well, not so much. But looks aren't everything. I loved my 44DB, but the MY is better for my purposes at this time. That doesn't mean it's better. EVERY boat EVER built is a collection of compromises. It really comes down to "fit for purpose", factors such as your intended use, your home waters, etc. The MY series are very comfortable boats with a ton of accommodations but may not be the best for deep sea fishing and/or running inlets. You will also need to consider the tradeoffs between interior and exterior spaces, etc. Lastly, you need to decide if you're OK with everyone telling you how ugly your boat is...

In my case, in 2013 I wanted a max 50' boat with three staterooms, an air conditioned helm, cruising speed in the mid 20 knot range, and without Detroits or CAT 3196s (ask Frank Webster, he'll explain). Very few, if any, choices meet those criteria. The 10 year old 480DBs at that time (a really great option by the way) were still 3196 powered. I am happy to discuss specific pros and cons further, but rest assured, these are different boats! And yes, I know you asked about the 390MY and not the 480, but they are very similar.
 
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