420 DA Thread

Blueone said:
Here you go. The flag mount can be in slightly random positions but generally in that area. With the transom pic most graphic guys can overlay the image on the picture.
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Right on! Thanks!

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20161029_125959.jpgImportmonkey......my wife and I have a bit of OCD, and we chose not to put the name on the door of the "trunk". The trunk is off center. The light is on the centerline. Of course, this is all personal preference.
 
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Importmonkey I elected to center only on the right side of the rear door. If large enough it does not appear off center even with the door closed.
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that's awesome! thanks, guys.

here's what we're going for...

44sundancer_NEVERLAND.jpg

NeverLand1.jpg
 
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Just ordered my new stereo stuff, going to install it next weekend. I had asked the question before, but cant find the answer...

Does anyone know how hard, or how to make it easy.. to run new power wire from the current amp location to the battery in the bilge? I'm simply replacing all the stock components, and might as well put some good wire in at the same time, besides I need to for the amp. Speaker wire in the cockpit will be easy, it's the power wire giving me heartburn.

I remember someone saying to remove the panel in the storage compartment behind the cabin door (in cockpit).

My thought is to tape the new wire to the old and pull through, but are all the wires clamped behind the walls all the way to the battery? If so, that wont work.

EDIT:
I think I need to run 12 gauge speaker wire, I doubt that is what is in there now. It "shouldn't" be bad to do, except has anyone taken the assembly apart at the switch on the wall where you can turn on/off salon and cockpit speakers? I'll have to get there also.
 
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Admiral wants to buy a forward stateroom foam mattress topper for our 2007 44DA. What size should we get to cut to shape? Queen or King?

Thanks!


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We bought a very high quality king 3" topper. More than enough cushion. Used an electric carving knife to cut to shape.

That said, it isn't the best solution. It can move around on the mattress quite a bit even though it's quite heavy. I also feel it's a bit warmer than a real mattress and a little too soft.

Next step will be to custom order an thicker inner spring mattress with a pillow top.
 
Thanks. Glad I asked, cause we were about to order a queen size. Surprised it takes a king to cover that berth.

Know what you mean about it shifting around. We had one in our 260. Super comfortable, but tended to walk a bit.




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Just to clarify, I bought a king because I wasn't sure of the width between the outer corners of our odd shaped mattresses. The boat was 150 mile round-trip away and I didn't want to run up there to measure. However I also seem to recall that when we got it up there we were happy I errored on the wide side as it doesn't 'seem' like a 60" wide queen would've got out to the tips of the mattress.
 
Hey there Bart,
I see that you have had your DA for 7 years and she is a gasser. I just purchased the same boat/engine combo and was wondering what your experience as been? There is alot of back and forth on the gas/diesel, real life experience has always suited me better. So far we have been very pleased - she drinks alittle more then i would like but performance has not been an issue, she isnt a race boat and docking is a breeze with the bow thruster!!!
Thanks alot.
chris
 
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My experience has been wonderful.

Keep in mind I'm on a lake and only do about 40-50 hours a year. I typically cruise on plane at 3500rpms @ 20mph @ 36-37gph. That means I can see my entire lake in 2.5-3.0 hours. Gas is very reasonable on our lake so my annual fuel cost, figuring a 50/50 planing/trolling ration, is around $3K. With diesels it'd be 50-60% of that. Some of that diesel cost advantage goes away with diesel costing 25% more per gallon on our lake. Also, diesel mechanics are few and far between on many inland lakes and therefore cost much bigger $'s to use. Gas Mercruiser mechanics are everywhere and far more reasonable.

We use our boats much differently than the coastal/Great Lakes folks do. First off, our dock scene is a destination on it's own. They have kitchens, condos, party-decks and are covered. It's not uncommon to come up to the lake and not even take the boat out, or to go out another dock-mates boat. When we do take off we typically travel to a restaurant or beach location within 10 miles of the marina. We back into the beach, anchor up and spend the day there. Head back for the evening.

Regarding resale, I fully understand that my freshwater-only gas boat would be a dog to sell on the coast. I get it. However on an inland freshwater lake it's HOT property. I've turned down selling it over and over during the last 7 years. I could sell it at very little depreciation within a couple of weeks if I wanted to.

If I had the opportunity to actually travel and head down the east coast to the Keys or some other cool far off destination then I think diesels would be the only way to go. In terms of speed, efficiency, and maneuverability it's a far better package.

So it all comes down to circumstances. Given mine, it's been the most cost-effective boat I've owned in almost 3 decades.
 
Bart
thank you very much our "boating" lifestyle is very much the same and the main reason that i jumped at the opportunity to pickup a bristol 05 gasser! I just needed a sanity check and you gave it to me, thanks alot!!
chris
 
copb8tx said:
My experience has been wonderful.

Keep in mind I'm on a lake and only do about 40-50 hours a year. I typically cruise on plane at 3500rpms @ 20mph @ 36-37gph. That means I can see my entire lake in 2.5-3.0 hours. Gas is very reasonable on our lake so my annual fuel cost, figuring a 50/50 planing/trolling ration, is around $3K. With diesels it'd be 50-60% of that. Some of that diesel cost advantage goes away with diesel costing 25% more per gallon on our lake. Also, diesel mechanics are few and far between on many inland lakes and therefore cost much bigger $'s to use. Gas Mercruiser mechanics are everywhere and far more reasonable.
Click to expand...

I have QSC 500s in my 44DA and at 21 knots, I burn 34 GPH per smartcraft. At 9.5 knots, I burn 7.5 GPH. So if you're at about that, then the gasser actually seem like a much better option. Sure, the torque isn't there, but if something bad happens with a diesel motor, it's $15k+ immediately. You can rebuild 2 gassers completely for that.
 
Magic34 said:
I have QSC 500s in my 44DA and at 21 knots, I burn 34 GPH per smartcraft. At 9.5 knots, I burn 7.5 GPH. So if you're at about that, then the gasser actually seem like a much better option. Sure, the torque isn't there, but if something bad happens with a diesel motor, it's $15k+ immediately. You can rebuild 2 gassers completely for that.
Click to expand...

Interesting. That's .71 mpg @ 24mph where I get .55mpg at 20mph. I'd be significantly less than that if I was travelling at 24mph. Even still I thought that the diesel 420/44's were getting 1mpg at cruise.
 
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