420 Sedan Bridge vs 440 Sedan Bridge - V-Drives?

[Vince_nj1]

I am confused. I started shopping for a 400 Sedan Bridge 2000 through 2002 years, then decided I would be happier in a 2004/2005 420. (I will just have to wait until next year)

Everything that I have read implied these boats were straight drive in boards. Boating Magazine just sent me a link for a test on a 2009 440 Sedan Bridge and they indicated that the boat had V-drives.
http://www.boattest.com/boats/boat_video.aspx?ID=2060

"Engine choices are an interesting aspect to the 44 Sedan Bridge. There aren’t any. She comes to you powered with a pair of 478-hp CMD QSC-500 Diesel V-drives with ETS. This was an option on previous models, and it performed so well that it’s standard now, and Sea Ray sees no need to offer a smaller (and probably under-powered) option for no other reason than to have a lower base price. I like the V-drives, since I’m quite comfortable maneuvering with them, and if you feel it’s necessary, there are bow thrusters available as an option (add $11,750). "


Do all of the 400/420/440 Sedan Bridge's have V-Drives?

Look at the specs for a 400. It implies straight drive.

http://media.channelblade.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/company2937/16257_f.pdf

 

[MAKC]

the 2 420's/44DB i saw with Diesels had straight drives. The years were 2004 2005 and 2006. I didnt see a v-drive setup on any of the diesels i looked at (not saying there arent any).

 

[Four Suns]

That boat has straight drives... the reviewer is an idiot.

Having v-drives in a bridge boat is like having a broken parakeet.

 

[Vince_nj1]

It seems odd that Sea Ray would put V-drives in a boat that was designed for straight drives. I would think that it would crowd the engine room and move the center of gravity towards the back. I can't imagine a performance improvement by doing that.

I would like to see the engine compartment layout on the 09.

 

[Vince_nj1]

That boat has straight drives... the reviewer is an idiot.

Having v-drives in a bridge boat is like having a broken parakeet.

Gary

I just checked Sea Ray's website and they list V-Drives for the 09. It doesn't make sense.


Standard Propulsion

T-Cummins MerCruiser® QSC-500 Diesel V-Drives w/ETS (T-478 hp - 356 kW)

 

[Alegria]

Interesting... V-drives. They are usually used for space or for shaft angle... Did the hull change in 09 dramitically, deep prop pockets maybe? A thrid state room on the 09 due to the space savings... Didn't the 47 add a stateroom under the center of the salon where you have to walk up and over then down to go below to the staterooms. Then move the galley to the stern of the salon with a monster window that opens to the cockpit... Might have done the same to the 44????

 

[Alegria]

HMM well the 47 sedan bridge has V-drives too...

Reliable twin QSC-600 Cummins MerCruiser® diesel V-drives will take this floating resort wherever your heart desires.

 

[Vince_nj1]

Ok.. I think someone at Sea Ray screwed up the marketing material. The website lists V-Drives, but the Spec Sheet implies straight drives. I think the Marketing screw up made it over to Boating Magazine. (Sea Ray probably wrote the article since it read like a press release)

I down loaded the owners manual for a 2008 (same boat) and they didnt show a "V-Drive" configuration for the bilge. My 320 owners manual showed one configuration for V-Drives and a different one for Stern Drives.

I have to agree with Gary's assessment.. The reviewer is an idiot.. or doesnt even exist.

 

[Vince_nj1]

HMM well the 47 sedan bridge has V-drives too...

Reliable twin QSC-600 Cummins MerCruiser® diesel V-drives will take this floating resort wherever your heart desires.

I read that too, in Boat test, but I didn’t question it because it was a new design with a huge 2nd state room. So it was designed from the start to have V-Drives. The V-drives explain how Sea Ray found all that room for the 2nd state room. I didn’t question that configuration, especially when I saw that it only gets .47 MPG. Nice boat to look at, but a pig to drive. I wouldn't own one. I would take a 42/44 or an 48 over that configuration.

 

[Four Suns]

The 47 DB does have v-drives but it is not a replacement for the 480 DB like mine. My hull and such ended up being called a 50 DB and then a 52 DB (the LOA on my boat is 52').

The 47 DB is really a replacement for the 450 Express Bridge which was v-drives..

The mid-engine bridge boats are well balanced and don't need tabs to make them work... they plane down to 12-13 knots.. I don't think the 47 DB v-drive boat is noted as doing all that great performance wise from what I read.

 

[tobnpr]

Maybe they put a built-in swimming pool under the salon floor where the engines should go.

 

[jwestonlee]

New 420 Sedan Bridge owner here (2005). Would someone mind explaining the difference between a V drive and a straight drive? I've got twin 450 Cummins Diesels with straight shaft drives. I've been a 15 year sailor and this is my first powerboat. I have a buddy with a 410 Express and he's been very helpful, but this thread has me wondering if there was another configuration I should have considered?

 

[HUMPH]

New 420 Sedan Bridge owner here (2005). Would someone mind explaining the difference between a V drive and a straight drive? I've got twin 450 Cummins Diesels with straight shaft drives. I've been a 15 year sailor and this is my first powerboat. I have a buddy with a 410 Express and he's been very helpful, but this thread has me wondering if there was another configuration I should have considered?

Straight drives - the engines face forward and the shaft attach to the back of the engine.
V drive - engines face the stern and the transmission is forward with the shaft going back under the engine. The transmission created a "V" configuration. This is done in the Sundancer models so the engines can be pushed aft to allow more cabin space.

 

[jwestonlee]

Straight drives - the engines face forward and the shaft attach to the back of the engine.
V drive - engines face the stern and the transmission is forward with the shaft going back under the engine. The transmission created a "V" configuration. This is done in the Sundancer models so the engines can be pushed aft to allow more cabin space.

Thanks Ken, that makes perfect sense.

Jim

 

[Gofirstclass]

Having owned v-drive boats (330 Sundancers) and now owning a straight drive boat I can't really say that I much prefer one over the other. They both have their advantages but no real disadvantage other than the straight drive taking up more room.

If there is an advantage in the maneuverability of one over the other I might give a small edge to the v-drives and only because their props are located further forward. That changes the point around which the boat spins when you're doing close quarter maneuvering. Thing of grabbing a pencil in the middle of its length and spinning it in a circle. The diameter of the circle is equal to the length of the pencil. With a straight drive boat and the props generally located further aft, it's akin to grabbing the pencil near an end. Now the radius of the circle is about equal to the length of the pencil.

A small point, but it could be important if you were in very tight quarters.

 

[ttmott]

Having owned v-drive boats (330 Sundancers) and now owning a straight drive boat I can't really say that I much prefer one over the other. They both have their advantages but no real disadvantage other than the straight drive taking up more room.

If there is an advantage in the maneuverability of one over the other I might give a small edge to the v-drives and only because their props are located further forward. That changes the point around which the boat spins when you're doing close quarter maneuvering. Thing of grabbing a pencil in the middle of its length and spinning it in a circle. The diameter of the circle is equal to the length of the pencil. With a straight drive boat and the props generally located further aft, it's akin to grabbing the pencil near an end. Now the radius of the circle is about equal to the length of the pencil.

A small point, but it could be important if you were in very tight quarters.

Interesting - for an apples to apples comparison consider the 400 Express Cruiser (EC) and the 400 Sundancer (DA). The EC has straight drives and the beam is a bit narrower. The DA has V-Drives and a wider beam. The EC is known to be a faster and a better handling boat due to the weight distribution but sacrifices people space. I have been on both and find the performance differences not that spectacular consequently landed on the V-Drive Sundancer.
It occurs to me that with the higher profile and CG of the sedan bridge the placement of the engines midship (requiring straight drives) would be the better handling solution. However, throw Pod drives in the mix and all of this logic gets thrown out the window.....