'88-'89 46 Express

[NorCal Boater]

I have been looking at the 88-89 46 Express. I love the room and the Admiral and I want to stay in basically a single level boats (bad knees) but want to go bigger than our 340.

I thought I read something on this site about wet or bad stringers. Anybody know or recall anything? I know to get a survey but if this is a chronic problem I will look another direction.

Thanks

 

[tobnpr]

PM Geriksen on this- he did an awesome restoration of one if I recall correctly.
The stringer problems from unsealed limber holes on boats of this vintage have been discussed many times and are no different than on your current 340 (or my boat as well).
Just like any other boat, a knowledgeable surveyor is your best bet to help determine if there's problems with coring or encapsulated wood anywhere on the boat...

That's the big sis to my boat, and I've thought about moving up to that model, but I'd have to buy the house next door to have enough dockage . From what I've looked at, the two stateroom layout was a lot less common (if that matters to you).

It was offered with 3208TA, 375 CATS and 6V92, 550 Detroits. I have the CATS in my 39and I can tell you I don't see how they'd be enough power for the 46- that's a big azz boat. I've seen boats on YW claim a cruise in the low 20's with the CATS and I can tell you it can't be so- I have a 21-22 kt. cruise with them in my 39. I'd bet it cruises only 17-18 kts. with the CATS if the boat's not overpropped. The 3208's have earned a great reputation over the years at the 375hp output, but I know nothing about the Detroits. Perhaps someone else here can comment about them, suggest you join Boatdiesel if you're serious about getting an oil burner.

Good luck, let us know if you find one you like.

 

[fwebster]

The 6V Detroits used in the 460EC were 2-stroke diesels. While they are very powerful, they also need maintenance. The 2 stroke design was terminated several years ago and parts are getting hard to find and are expensive.........several years ago you could rebuild the top end on a Dteroit for about $1500/cylinder in parts.....today, its more like $5-6000/cylinder. The other thing is that the Detroit 6V & 8V engines usually need a top end overhaul at about 1800-2000 hours and that is one of t he reasons you find such good values on some older used Sea Rays with Detroit power.....they need new top ends.

Don't ever buy a Detroit powered boat without a complete engine survey........and be aware that a Detroit survey is about 3X as expensive as a Cat or Cummins survey because of the way Detroits are built.

 

[JC3]

Went on a 1986 (I think) 460DA with two state rooms. Boat is BIG. The DD have to be Bore Scoped and last summer the engine survey was around $5000.00 after every thing was said and done. The Boat itself IMHO is very good. If i was mech inclined and was able to do alot of that stuff with conf I certainly would take a long look at the 1985-1989 models. The two state room model i believe was only made 1985-part of 1987 but i could be wrong on that. Overall i really liked that boat for the $. As stated earlier a complet and thourough survey is a must. If you listen to FW its like ALLSTATE you will be in good hands. JC

 

[NorCal Boater]

Thanks Guys,

As I am looking for the next boat to take me through retirement, maybe those GMs would be a costly choice. However, I too agree that that boat probably needs 550hp. I do not want the 2 stateroom boat as I feel the one SR is a better layout.

I have already PM'd gericksen and I will be interested in his comments. I also have a close friend that is the Port Captain for a tug boat company in Long Beach, CA and knows diesels very well and I will get his opinion, too.

I just love the size of this boat and love that it is all on one level. Thanks again. There's lots to consider.

 

[fwebster]

Money always matters, but here is something else to factor into your decision matrix:

There were some very significant design and construction improvements between the mid - late 80's and the mid 90's in larger Sea Ray boats. This isn't all of them but here are a few:

1.Vinylesther resins which for all practical purposes eliminated blistering.
2.Eliminated Plywood seat bases.
3.Eliminated plywood interior cockpit walls.
4.Went to an encapsulated stringer system where limber holes were glassed in and are water tight.
5. Added drippless shaft seals after 1995.
6.Smaller physical size but comparable output engines that are much more efficeient.
7. Newer engines are virtually smoke free.
8. Eliminated the long trapezoidal side windows that leak.
9. Went to Stainless windshield frames that never need repainting.

Having moved from an '88 390EC to a '96 450DA I have enjoyed the construction improvements and can tell you first hand that you will spend a lot less on maintenance and up keep with a mid 90's boat. If this were me, I'be be looking for a 500DA with 3196's or a 450DA from 1996 or later.

For what its worth................

 

[jeffrow1]

I own an 89 460EC, if you have any specific questions I can probably help you out. Mine has 6v92s at 550 hp w/wet turbos.
I like the layout, mine is a single stateroom. We keep it in the Marriott Marina in downtown San Diego. We have a pretty social bunch at the marina and our boat seems to generally draw quite a party on the weekends. The cockpit is huge, its not uncommon for us to 15 people just hanging out. I've done quite a bit of work on the boat myself, new water tanks, holding tank, starters, turbos etc.

Jeff