48 DA Owners Club

[jeffrey vargas]

Thanks Grant, have fun out there! I take Black Sheep to the Bay to get hauled for survey and sea trial nex weekend. I shouldn't have any issues. Then i'm boatless.....With that said, this 55 came up for sale in Southern Ca. This would be a nice boat to have in Cabo and it can make the run back and forth when needed. The seller is super motivated and I've always like the 55. If I can get it at the right price I might pull the trigger on it. I know I'll need to do the 1000 hour on the MAN's. Do any of you have any advice or anything I should know about the 55 I should be aware of? On this one, I'm not thrilled about the fabric covers and all but I can have that all recovered:

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2008/sea-ray-55-sundancer-3826627/

 

[carterchapman]

Jeff - I'm not familiar with the CR 800's. With the CRM-900's (common rail) their is no 1000 hr service, just a service every 400 hrs/2 years. if The CR-800's are mechanicals, then there is a 1000 hr service - including injector replacement. I would contact your local MAN dealer for specifics - you definitely want him on the survey...

 

[bmac]

Jeff - I'm not familiar with the CR 800's. With the CRM-900's (common rail) their is no 1000 hr service, just a service every 400 hrs/2 years. if The CR-800's are mechanicals, then there is a 1000 hr service - including injector replacement. I would contact your local MAN dealer for specifics - you definitely want him on the survey...

The CR800’s are common rail (that’s the CR) but they are I6 engines vs. the V8’s that the old 800 mechanical and 900 CRM’s. They’re not as smooth as the V8 or V10 MAN’s but they also don’t have some of the complex maintenance requirements of the V series MAN’s.

 

[carterchapman]

The CR800’s are common rail (that’s the CR) but they are I6 engines vs. the V8’s that the old 800 mechanical and 900 CRM’s. They’re not as smooth as the V8 or V10 MAN’s but they also don’t have some of the complex maintenance requirements of the V series MAN’s.

Thanks Brian,

I've heard good things about that engine...

 

[Morgan Jane]

I just basically bought that same boat (2008 55 Sundancer) 2 months ago. Moved up from a 48. I did lots of Research. PM me if you have any questions. E-plex is something to understand. Amazing Vessel.

Bill

 

[ocgrant]

Well made it back from Bimini and had a great trip. Only one issue when we were heading over about 12 miles out off Ft Lauderdale I look at my engine room camera and it is all fogged up, I quickly slow down and ask my daughters boyfriend to open the hatch and immediately I smell diesel. Shut it off and float, go down and the port motor is covered in fuel spray. Grabbed a towel and wiped off what I could and then started it back up and it was the same fuel line that Jeffery had let go. Good thing I had the update on the boat bad thing was I forgot to install it months ago. After 5 minutes of looking for the line, I found it, installed it and we were off again. Looks like I caught it quickly as there was only a gallon of diesel lost based on what was soaked up by the matts in the bilge. Definately got some engine room detailing to do now but everything is nicely lubricated...LOL I can say thank god for the engine room camera or I would have had a bilge full of diesel. This makes me want to add more cameras down there for sure. Money well spent for cheap security while cruising. Overall great shake down cruise, small list of things to deal with before my big trip in July.

 

[ttmott]

Well made it back from Bimini and had a great trip. Only one issue when we were heading over about 12 miles out off Ft Lauderdale I look at my engine room camera and it is all fogged up, I quickly slow down and ask my daughters boyfriend to open the hatch and immediately I smell diesel. Shut it off and float, go down and the port motor is covered in fuel spray. Grabbed a towel and wiped off what I could and then started it back up and it was the same fuel line that Jeffery had let go. Good thing I had the update on the boat bad thing was I forgot to install it months ago. After 5 minutes of looking for the line, I found it, installed it and we were off again. Looks like I caught it quickly as there was only a gallon of diesel lost based on what was soaked up by the matts in the bilge. Definately got some engine room detailing to do now but everything is nicely lubricated...LOL I can say thank god for the engine room camera or I would have had a bilge full of diesel. This makes me want to add more cameras down there for sure. Money well spent for cheap security while cruising. Overall great shake down cruise, small list of things to deal with before my big trip in July.

View attachment 107199

And the watermaker? How did it work?

 

[ocgrant]

And the watermaker? How did it work?

Worked but couldn't get the PPM down to an acceptable level so I scrapped it for the trip. Ran by Watermakers Inc yesterday and grabbed a new membrane insert and popped it in, problem solved. Should have just done that in the beginning but thought it would be good (as per my buddy I got it from) and didn't want to pump New River water through it to test. Oh well I know it is good to go for the long trip, but I will run out in the ocean before I go and make some water on the hook to insure we are solid.

 

[jeffrey vargas]

I just basically bought that same boat (2008 55 Sundancer) 2 months ago. Moved up from a 48. I did lots of Research. PM me if you have any questions. E-plex is something to understand. Amazing Vessel.

Bill

I love to know more about the E-Plex system. Having outdated electronics that run critical systems is a big problem if there's no support or replacement parts.

 

[JB MARSHALL]

Hey OC,

Would you be able to send me a pic of the fuel line leak/issue you experienced? I would also like to get out in font of this issue.

Ran our boat out to our summer docking in Mystic Conn. first run of the year (170 miles) and everything performed well. Thank God! I did a lot of maintenance over the Spring and my fingers were crossed.

Thank you so much,
JB

 

[jeffrey vargas]

Well made it back from Bimini and had a great trip. Only one issue when we were heading over about 12 miles out off Ft Lauderdale I look at my engine room camera and it is all fogged up, I quickly slow down and ask my daughters boyfriend to open the hatch and immediately I smell diesel. Shut it off and float, go down and the port motor is covered in fuel spray. Grabbed a towel and wiped off what I could and then started it back up and it was the same fuel line that Jeffery had let go. Good thing I had the update on the boat bad thing was I forgot to install it months ago. After 5 minutes of looking for the line, I found it, installed it and we were off again. Looks like I caught it quickly as there was only a gallon of diesel lost based on what was soaked up by the matts in the bilge. Definately got some engine room detailing to do now but everything is nicely lubricated...LOL I can say thank god for the engine room camera or I would have had a bilge full of diesel. This makes me want to add more cameras down there for sure. Money well spent for cheap security while cruising. Overall great shake down cruise, small list of things to deal with before my big trip in July.

View attachment 107199

Grant, I never got around to replacing my 2nd line and I take the boat for survey this weekend and sea trial with the buyers. Do you need a fuel line and bracket? If so, I'd gladly ship it to you for free once I complete the sale. I have to hold on to it just in case one blows on on the run to the Bay. BTW the boat looks amazing in that beautiful clear water!

 

[jeffrey vargas]

Hey OC,

Would you be able to send me a pic of the fuel line leak/issue you experienced? I would also like to get out in font of this issue.

Ran our boat out to our summer docking in Mystic Conn. first run of the year (170 miles) and everything performed well. Thank God! I did a lot of maintenance over the Spring and my fingers were crossed.

Thank you so much,
JB

Hey JB, If Grant doesn't need the fuel line and bracket, I have a spare as I never got around to replacing my Port side. I should have the sale of my boat competed in a week or so. I'd be glad to give you my spare line and bracket if Grant doesn't need it. I already offered it up to him as he helped me with a stereo bracket awhile back. As FYI, the compression fitting fails as some boats did not come with a bracket for the line and the vibration breaks the compression on the the high-pressure feeder line.

 

[ocgrant]

No Jeff I am good, I got brackets for both sides. JB I will post more on it when I get back from my Vegas trip the rest of this week. I will snap some pics and be on the boat this weekend. I still have to pop the brackets on myself, just shoved the lines on for now.

 

[Morgan Jane]

I love to know more about the E-Plex system. Having outdated electronics that run critical systems is a big problem if there's no support or replacement parts.

Well, I got to say, the more I deal with the E-Plex, the more I like it. There is support and it is not outdated. It is much, much for than something that gets in our way. For instance, the e-system kept turning the breaker to my main sump pump off. The sump would work for a day or so, I would come to boat and e-plex breaker would be off. I talked to people familiar with e-plex and they said the pump needed to be replaced, E-plex has determined that it is not working properly and therefore turns it off. Now, I brought the pump to my shop, hooked it up to 24 volts, worked like a champ, but I'm thinking that E-Plex monitors amp draw and if something is pulling more than it should even when working, it just shuts it off. E-Plex is telling me to replace the sump before it completely goes out. Sure enough, I bought a new pump, installed it, no more problems. There are other issues that I really like about the E-plex. I'm sold on it now. And here is the thing to keep in mind. Because just like you said, Electronic that run critical systems can be a big problem, the e-plex system is very Robust. It's not some rinky dinky system. It's how the military runs equipment, it's how all Coast Guard Ships operate etc....... Like I said, I'm sold on it now.

 

[JB MARSHALL]

Hey JB, If Grant doesn't need the fuel line and bracket, I have a spare as I never got around to replacing my Port side. I should have the sale of my boat competed in a week or so. I'd be glad to give you my spare line and bracket if Grant doesn't need it. I already offered it up to him as he helped me with a stereo bracket awhile back. As FYI, the compression fitting fails as some boats did not come with a bracket for the line and the vibration breaks the compression on the the high-pressure feeder line.

Hi Jeffrey,
That would be awesome.... thank you so much! When you know for sure after your sea trial let me know and I can send you my UPS shipping # for you to ship with.

Regards,
JB

 

[jeffrey vargas]

Hi Jeffrey,
That would be awesome.... thank you so much! When you know for sure after your sea trial let me know and I can send you my UPS shipping # for you to ship with.

Regards,
JB

Looks like Grant is all good. If I don't blow a line on the trip to the Bay, I can ship it to you next week and include the two brackets. You can email me your UPS shipping info in email to jeffrey.vargas@salesforce.com

 

[jeffrey vargas]

Well, I got to say, the more I deal with the E-Plex, the more I like it. There is support and it is not outdated. It is much, much for than something that gets in our way. For instance, the e-system kept turning the breaker to my main sump pump off. The sump would work for a day or so, I would come to boat and e-plex breaker would be off. I talked to people familiar with e-plex and they said the pump needed to be replaced, E-plex has determined that it is not working properly and therefore turns it off. Now, I brought the pump to my shop, hooked it up to 24 volts, worked like a champ, but I'm thinking that E-Plex monitors amp draw and if something is pulling more than it should even when working, it just shuts it off. E-Plex is telling me to replace the sump before it completely goes out. Sure enough, I bought a new pump, installed it, no more problems. There are other issues that I really like about the E-plex. I'm sold on it now. And here is the thing to keep in mind. Because just like you said, Electronic that run critical systems can be a big problem, the e-plex system is very Robust. It's not some rinky dinky system. It's how the military runs equipment, it's how all Coast Guard Ships operate etc....... Like I said, I'm sold on it now.

That makes me feel way more comfortable. Do you have a website or contact you can share for replacement parts? Do you have a wiring diagram or schematic that shows all the E-Plex switching layout? Anything you can share would be great. Once the deal on my 48 closes, I plan to go look at the 55 for sale down in Southern California. I actually walked the boat 3 years ago but the owner at that time did not want to part with it. He now owns a 72 Sunseeker and the 55 so he's super motivated to move it.

 

[ocgrant]

That makes me feel way more comfortable. Do you have a website or contact you can share for replacement parts? Do you have a wiring diagram or schematic that shows all the E-Plex switching layout? Anything you can share would be great. Once the deal on my 48 closes, I plan to go look at the 55 for sale down in Southern California. I actually walked the boat 3 years ago but the owner at that time did not want to part with it. He now owns a 72 Sunseeker and the 55 so he's super motivated to move it.

Jeffery,
With that upholstery on that new toy you are really going to look like a "local" down in Cabo....LOL

 

[jeffrey vargas]

Jeffery,
With that upholstery on that new toy you are really going to look like a "local" down in Cabo....LOL

lol...right? My fiance' hates it! I planned to get it all re-done but if I bring it to Mexico it will fit right in....I'll add a pinata tour.

 

[OldManP]

I just replaced the vent actuator motor on my 420. Bought it from Progressive Automations. Easy to do. To confirm your suspicions, yes, that caulk has to be "cut" and the panel removed to access the actuators. I have read that people have just "re-caulked" with an appropriate color bathroom caulk, since it is protected. Before you wire it in "permanently" check the wiring and the switch to make sure that you have it correct. Easy project.

This is the one I got for my 420. Yours may be different. https://www.progressiveautomations.com/products/mini-linear-actuator?variant=18277278482499

Jay thanks for that link. Finally got it apart today, replaced the electrical connections as Grant had suggested and still not working. 40 day lead time at Thomson Linear and over $300 a piece. Ordered 2 replacements from Progressive Automations. They look to be the same spec as what is on the boat and are a third of the price. Figure I’ll just replace both now while it’s all apart