Advice for buying a 2013+ 510 DA?

La Rea said:
Pods vs. shafts: Yes, I've researched that tradeoff ad nauseum, and decided to accept pods with the higher cost and rigorous PM schedule. Joystick/skyhook is a choice that drove my interest in the 510DA. The system won me over when I saw it in person…… and on some occasions I have docked in some crazy places where spectators come up and say shafts?…. No bow thruster…. And I say yes….. I get wows

My experience is with Mercruiser gas power and outdrives, but I'm a details geek doing my due diligence. Just looking for some model-specific feedback on the 510.

A broker friend showed me his analysis of 90 past 510DA sales. In his data, only about 25% of the boats had the 600s. One third of the boats had the 526HP engines, and the rest were reported as 550 or 575 HP.

Maybe a 510DA owner will chime in and say "my 526s run just great" or "I'd never settle for less than the 600s" or whatever.
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See I get it…..joy stick easy docking. But the premium not to embarrass yourself no where nears the ROI. I don’t have bow or stern thrusters….. and yes on occasion I embarrass myself. A few laughs with the dock hands after and I am over it…. All spectators don’t say anything because everyone of them has been there
I have done some crazy docking in some really tight spots. I have had other boaters come up and say wow I can’t believe you got in there…. Shafts right?… and I say no thrusters….. now if I had pods they would say “Oh that explains it” which guy do you want to be
 
@dtfeld : The RPMs were slightly different. I'll get the exact figures in the report. Fuel 3/4, 4 people aboard, minimal gear, fresh bottom paint. You are correct that the bent prop is on the same side as the potential gear lube water, so I'll raise that observation with the surveyor. He suggested we might seek the opinion of a Cummins specialist before monkeying with prop pitch.

@ttmott : I like your advice of asking the seller to rectify the big stuff. Managing that sort of work from 1000 miles away would be tough. And I need it done before closing, as I might need to bring the boat up by water instead of trailer. I would not attempt that trip until we sort out the major issues.

The seller's broker told me in an email last night that they would likely correct the issues prior to closing. It will delay the closing, and I'm not going to rush it.
 
Blueone said:
See I get it…..joy stick easy docking. But the premium not to embarrass yourself no where nears the ROI. ...
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Most people agree with you. I might agree too, if not for this factor: this 510DA will become a Great Loop boat. Over a period of 12 months, we'll enter and leave probably 150 different marinas under all sorts of weather conditions. We'll also use Skyhook when loitering for over 100 bridges and locks. That's a lot of chances to put the "R" in ROI.

Yesterday, we used Skyhook at several bridges. There's no throttle-jockeying against the current ... just poke the "sit and stay" button, relax and stand watch.
 
La Rea said:
Most people agree with you. I might agree too, if not for this factor: this 510DA will become a Great Loop boat. Over a period of 12 months, we'll enter and leave probably 150 different marinas under all sorts of weather conditions. We'll also use Skyhook when loitering for over 100 bridges and locks. That's a lot of chances to put the "R" in ROI.

Yesterday, we used Skyhook at several bridges. There's no throttle-jockeying against the current ... just poke the "sit and stay" button, relax and stand watch.
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I 100% get it…. I’m just a cheap guy I have sat at bridges for as long as an hour talking to the damn bridge operator on the phone and keeping the boat in place at the same time….. I’m just saying the problems and maintenance for PODs are overkill for the return….. just something to think about…. You do you
 
Slip neighbor has the pods and IMO is still relatively new to "big" boat boating. He is scared to death of low tide boating because of them and the damage he has done to them. Also consider service while doing that loop; will you be able to find someone to service them.

I too am a Direct/V-Drive boater and probably always will be.
 
La Rea said:
@dtfeld : The RPMs were slightly different. I'll get the exact figures in the report. Fuel 3/4, 4 people aboard, minimal gear, fresh bottom paint. You are correct that the bent prop is on the same side as the potential gear lube water, so I'll raise that observation with the surveyor. He suggested we might seek the opinion of a Cummins specialist before monkeying with prop pitch.

@ttmott : I like your advice of asking the seller to rectify the big stuff. Managing that sort of work from 1000 miles away would be tough. And I need it done before closing, as I might need to bring the boat up by water instead of trailer. I would not attempt that trip until we sort out the major issues.

The seller's broker told me in an email last night that they would likely correct the issues prior to closing. It will delay the closing, and I'm not going to rush it.
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If you can get the major issues fixed before closing that would be a winner. I would absolutely get a Cummins Marine tech on the boat and have the engines surveyed separately from the rest of the boat (if you haven't already done that). Yup its another big expense, but your dealing with the vast majority of the value of the boat. You want to get it as close to right before you sign on the dotted line.

There are a number of issues that would lead to not making rated WOT RPM. Air/fuel filters could be a part of it and easily corrected. What you don't want to buy is a couple engines with some deep buried engine/head issue.
 
My surveyor made an interesting comment about holding a heading with pod drives:

"Those drives are CONSTANTLY adjusting and compensating.

This is going on 100% of the time you are holding a position - 100% - no break.

That constant compensation is a significant wear issue and is related to failures"

Paraphrased the quote.

BEST !

RWS
 
The oil analysis results are discouraging.

Both transmissions have abnormal wear metals, including severe levels of copper. One has abnormal sodium, so possible salt water intrusion. Both gearboxes have severe water and trace sodium. Obviously, both pods need to come off for major service.

The engine oil tests are inconclusive because the oil was changed less than a month ago. At least the generator (1776 hours) has a normal oil report.
 
Sorry to hear about the disappointing news.

The Pod CONCEPT is tremendous.

IMHO, the REALITY of maintenance, repairs, risks and costs seems to more than tip the balance of BENEFIT vs. COST.

Hope the seller agrees to handle the total repairs to factory standards, otherwise suggest looking elsewhere.

BEST !

RWS
 
La Rea said:
The oil analysis results are discouraging.

Both transmissions have abnormal wear metals, including severe levels of copper. One has abnormal sodium, so possible salt water intrusion. Both gearboxes have severe water and trace sodium. Obviously, both pods need to come off for major service.

The engine oil tests are inconclusive because the oil was changed less than a month ago. At least the generator (1776 hours) has a normal oil report.
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I looked through this thread twice but may have missed how many hours were on this boat?
 
The search continues? Issues with engines is enough for me to walk and I can usually justify anything.
 
Well. Better now than after you own it. I bet that bill is $30k-$50k by the time it’s all said and done.

Lots of great boats out there for doing the loop. You’ll find the right one!
 
I was really interested in a 510 but after looking at a few and my OCD not finding one that didn’t need a lot of interior work , I decided against the 510. I then looked at a couple 470’s with the same issues. I guess we know why Sea Ray quit making Sport Yachts and Yachts. I am still looking fort a boat I like.
 
I get underway every summer weekend, plus one or two 10-day trips each season. For that kind of boating, the 510DA is a fantastic boat. Beautiful, roomy and fast.

But having now spent a day on the boat, I'm not convinced it's right for extensive cruising. There's not much storage for a boat that size. The engine room is cramped when you consider engine checks 3-4 times a week plus the maintenance needed for a 6000-mile trip. There's no space to add a house bank and inverter, so it's all genny all the time.

I still have a few days to decide.
 
Many people swear the best way to do the loop is in a single screw boat, something like a Grand Banks. Better fuel mileage and distances between stops, lots of storage and built like a battleship, but I would like riding in the 510DA. :)
 
Yup, most Loopers are in trawlers, but we want a planing hull. For us, the perfect boat goes over 25 kts, has zero canvas, isn't too small or too big or too ugly or too old, and has been maintained correctly. And I'm not going to spend $1M on it. I bet I've reviewed at least 1000 listings over the past year. There aren't many boats I haven't seen, but I'm ready for suggestions.
 
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