480 DB Owners Club

Congrats! That beautiful blue hull will make it easy to spot in Block. Where are you keeping her?
 
Ranger Mike said:
Congrats on a great boat. Lots of moving parts (as I have discovered) but it's a boat! You and your family will love her.
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Can’t wait for spring.

Block Bound
 
Irie308 said:
Congrats! That beautiful blue hull will make it easy to spot in Block. Where are you keeping her?
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Harbor One in Old Saybrook. Lot of time in Rhode Island Napatree and Block
 
I have read with great interest the recent 480 DB evaluation and survey adventures of others. I recently rejected one for water intrusion and now have another 480 DB under contract; hull and engine surveys are scheduled for 12/18.

In anticipation of these upcoming surveys and a purchase, my question to current owners is: what did your surveyors miss? In other words, after your purchases, what issues did ownership and experience disclose that was not identified during the pre-purchase hull and engine surveys? I'd appreciate having the benefit of your experiences so it can be applied in advance of signing on the dotted line.

Thanks in advance and, if all goes well, I'm sure that there will be lots more questions to follow!

- Chip
 
CLC3 said:
I have read with great interest the recent 480 DB evaluation and survey adventures of others. I recently rejected one for water intrusion and now have another 480 DB under contract; hull and engine surveys are scheduled for 12/18.

In anticipation of these upcoming surveys and a purchase, my question to current owners is: what did your surveyors miss? In other words, after your purchases, what issues did ownership and experience disclose that was not identified during the pre-purchase hull and engine surveys? I'd appreciate having the benefit of your experiences so it can be applied in advance of signing on the dotted line.

Thanks in advance and, if all goes well, I'm sure that there will be lots more questions to follow!

- Chip
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That is a very good question but since we went from survey (general and engine specific) to shrink wrap I can’t give you anything specific until next Spring. I was very satisfied with the survey 45 pages long. So it passed the weight test Haha.

Good Luck and I assuming you have confidence in your surveyors.

Let us know how it turned out.

Block Bound
 
CLC3 said:
I have read with great interest the recent 480 DB evaluation and survey adventures of others. I recently rejected one for water intrusion and now have another 480 DB under contract; hull and engine surveys are scheduled for 12/18.

In anticipation of these upcoming surveys and a purchase, my question to current owners is: what did your surveyors miss? In other words, after your purchases, what issues did ownership and experience disclose that was not identified during the pre-purchase hull and engine surveys? I'd appreciate having the benefit of your experiences so it can be applied in advance of signing on the dotted line.

Thanks in advance and, if all goes well, I'm sure that there will be lots more questions to follow!

- Chip
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Watch out for the false water intrusion with this model. I failed one for the same reason, as the transom showed moisture and pegged the meter from inside the boat. The owner did a core sample where the meter pegged and the core was perfect. I would really be looking for a hammer test and then verify that engines have had the aftercoolers maintained whether they are Cummings or caterpillar.
 
CLC3 said:
I have read with great interest the recent 480 DB evaluation and survey adventures of others. I recently rejected one for water intrusion and now have another 480 DB under contract; hull and engine surveys are scheduled for 12/18.

In anticipation of these upcoming surveys and a purchase, my question to current owners is: what did your surveyors miss? In other words, after your purchases, what issues did ownership and experience disclose that was not identified during the pre-purchase hull and engine surveys? I'd appreciate having the benefit of your experiences so it can be applied in advance of signing on the dotted line.

Thanks in advance and, if all goes well, I'm sure that there will be lots more questions to follow!

- Chip
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Slightly different boat however great question... I wouldn’t say our surveyors missed much but these are big boats with lots of systems. At the 10-15 year mark lots of stuff will be ready for repair or replacement.
I recommend finding one that has been loved, maintained and heavily upgraded.
 
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Thanks for the responses. It's ironic that I declined the last 480 due to high moisture readings. Hammer tests were done though. I'll check that carefully for the current candidate. The surveys are tomorrow morning so I'll update afterwards - hopefully with positive news!

I have a 1997 370DA so I am quite familiar with the demands of older boats. Whoever buys my 370 will get extensive upgrades, from every bilge pump and switch to electronics to rebuilt Mercruisers. I hope not to repeat that entire experience with a 480!

- Chip
 
CLC3 said:
I have read with great interest the recent 480 DB evaluation and survey adventures of others. I recently rejected one for water intrusion and now have another 480 DB under contract; hull and engine surveys are scheduled for 12/18.

In anticipation of these upcoming surveys and a purchase, my question to current owners is: what did your surveyors miss? In other words, after your purchases, what issues did ownership and experience disclose that was not identified during the pre-purchase hull and engine surveys? I'd appreciate having the benefit of your experiences so it can be applied in advance of signing on the dotted line.

Thanks in advance and, if all goes well, I'm sure that there will be lots more questions to follow!

- Chip
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So I haven't spent much time on mine as of yet, but I will share with you a few things my surveyor and I found. I spent over four hours aboard the day before the survey, in case I found something that would cause me to walk away. Here are some of the things we found:
Freezer won't go below 65°
Most light switches in the closets don't seem to work.
Door handle for head inop (earlier posts on this thread have insight on fix)
Seacocks needed exercising, not readily closable.
Fresh water pumps seem to take a while to shut off. Investigation to come...
Access hatch through the hardtop hardware was loose and leaked rainwater upon acceleration. (dogs needed tightening.)

Obviously, do the mechanical survey and oil samples for the mains, transmissions and genny.
 
My 480 does not have a ladder down to the engine compartment. I use a two-step ladder now but I would rather have something a bit more stable. Did your boat come with a ER ladder? If not, what do you use? Mike
 
Ranger Mike said:
My 480 does not have a ladder down to the engine compartment. I use a two-step ladder now but I would rather have something a bit more stable. Did your boat come with a ER ladder? If not, what do you use? Mike
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Nope, I step on my inverter battery boxes. If those were not there, I would build a storage box and use that to step on, so it serves multiple purposes.
 
We have a step like this no ladder and it can be used on the dock if needed
00D1CF91-DFDF-4B6F-B7E4-332AB29203DE.jpeg
 
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