Having owned the 450DA three years and seeing the intrest these boats have I thought i would give my very and i do mean very unexpert or worse review. First a little history. We moved up from a 2005 Glacier Bay 2685 that we had used for two trips to the Bahamas. Moving up 19 feet to such a big boat was scary. We had an epic 6 month or so boat search that included alot of help from FrankW and others. We tested several and i mean several SR. 40 TO 50 feet. After all the crying we selected the 450DA. From stern to bow alittle comentary. The swim platform is big and low to the water and that is good. We put hurley davits on with a 10 foot two inch 8.8hp dinghy and it works like a charm. The fuel, water and power cord are located in easy to get to locations around transome area. Storage area is good size and deep enough to throw a bunch of useless stuff in. The cockpit area is large but i donot like the round euro looking seats. They are fairly comfortable but could be better. Sink is on port area. Dont like that faucet. Carpet in storage area under sink was a bad idea. The engine hatch area is good and pretty easy to go up and down. The engine room steps are good. Engine room is GREAT. Lots of room and can get to almost everything easily. I have Cat 3126-420hp and love them. Back out of the engine room to helm. My boat has a canvas design that goes up thus making head room very, very spacious. I know most dont have this and some complain of tight head room. The design on mine makes the area very large. The helm area is good, seating comfortable. Gauges in good position except the chart plotter. I like mine to the right and closer to eye level. We modified ours and its all good. The viewing from the captains seat is good. Every thing is easy to get to. Not much i would change. The door leading down to salon is large. The steps are good. On the left going down is the electrical panel. This is well thought out and easy to use. My salon seating is AWFUL, DID I SAY AWFUL. You have to 18 years old or a gold medal winning gymnast to sit there for long. The tv is above refrigerator and can be a neck sprain. We are going to do some mods in this area soon. We have the washer/dryer combo and my wife loves it. Was a must have from her during our boat search. The galley is all good. Not much i would change. The main Stateroom is all good as is aft stateroom. Bathroom for master stateroom is very large easy to move around in etc... Very nice. Other small head is nice but shower is not seperate, so alittle wiping up after the shower. No big deal. I really like our little aft compartment. Lots of storage, more comfortable than you would think. We have the maple(light) interior and its easy to clean, etc... The storage areas in salon are easy to get to and fairly large. Thats all good. Sump pump is in salon storage. Very easy to get to. Fresh water pumps are in aft area under bed. Overall the living area is good with everything easy to get to. Nothing I would change but the seating area. I will do another PART2 review about bow area and mechinical latter.
An Idiots Review (Mine) of the 1998 450DA
- Thread starter JC3
- Start date
mwph
Well-Known Member
- Jul 8, 2008
- 3,229
- Boat Info
- 1998 250 DA
- Engines
- 7.4L, B3
Nice post. Thanks for taking the time.
I love that boat, Looking forward to "Part 2". Thanks again.
I love that boat, Looking forward to "Part 2". Thanks again.
Dancin Dave
Active Member
Nice review. I love the cockpit seating, its great for entertaining with 14 people or for lounging all by ourselves. Do you have both cockpit tables which is nothing short of a picnic table and also fills in as a sunpad? Ours does its great. I like our salon seating its on the opposite side as yours, move your tv and it will be fine.
Where are you in Key Largo? I'm down a few times over the winter, we stay at the lake. Maybe I can see this great boat of yours and we can chew the 450 fat.
Oh, you no idiot, you own a 450 DA
Where are you in Key Largo? I'm down a few times over the winter, we stay at the lake. Maybe I can see this great boat of yours and we can chew the 450 fat.
Oh, you no idiot, you own a 450 DA
- Jun 2, 2008
- 5,024
- Boat Info
- 1998 450 Sundancer, Achilles dinghy w/15hp
- Engines
- 3126 Cat's
After 3 seasons on the Lina Lina.... I would agree with most and especially the salon couch...
Last edited:
tobnpr
New Member
It's amazing to me how many boats have the TV mounted on the bulkhead athwartships, while the salon couch typically runs down the side of the boat. Can't see the darn thing unless you turn your neck 90 degrees...Prime example of non-functionality in design.
kpetry
Member
- Jul 19, 2008
- 362
- Boat Info
- 2002 Sea Ray 340DA
- Engines
- Twin 8.1 Horizons, inboard
"My boat has a canvas design that goes up thus making head room very, very spacious. I know most dont have this and some complain of tight head room. The design on mine makes the area very large."
Any pics? Would like to see this!
Any pics? Would like to see this!
katricol
Active Member
Nice post...thanks. I also would like to see pic of your bimini/windscreen. Do you know if the "couch" is more comfortable in the galley port configuration?
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,155
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
Yes.........there is no comfort issue with the galley to port layout seating
sprink56
New Member
- Oct 28, 2008
- 1,288
- Boat Info
- 1979 255 Liberator
- Engines
- twin Mercruiser 450 HP I/O on Bravo I Drives
JC3,
Thank You sir....I am waiting for part 2. Great to hear a real owner real world report on a boat I am considering.
Question, being in the Keys, how shallow do you feel comfortable with? I used to get nervous under 4 feet with my 39 even though it was supposed to run in 32" of water. I had it in 3' at idle speed a few times in South Biscayne Bay around Elliott Key...but I was "sucking up the seat covers":grin:
Thank You sir....I am waiting for part 2. Great to hear a real owner real world report on a boat I am considering.
Question, being in the Keys, how shallow do you feel comfortable with? I used to get nervous under 4 feet with my 39 even though it was supposed to run in 32" of water. I had it in 3' at idle speed a few times in South Biscayne Bay around Elliott Key...but I was "sucking up the seat covers":grin:
endless seas
Well-Known Member
We've had our 450 for three years and love it! The salon seating is only comfy for a short time,breakfast,lunch.Most dinners are out in the cockpit unless it's to hot.We came out of a new bought 3560 Regal.Three seasons and made the big jump with much slower speeds.We would take our Regal to the Carolinas and love it untill it got rough.
The sacrafice was older and bigger w/ diesels.After three years we wouldn't trade it for the world.The overall comfort,the ride,the rooooom compared to anything new of this size.The cost....Stay with Frank W. as your guide and all will be good.He's done us well and alway's had an answer for me.It's his time for free.Use your boat,enjoy your boat,look past the small things and be thankful for what you have as so many will never be as fortunate as all of us who can experience the boating life....Tom
The sacrafice was older and bigger w/ diesels.After three years we wouldn't trade it for the world.The overall comfort,the ride,the rooooom compared to anything new of this size.The cost....Stay with Frank W. as your guide and all will be good.He's done us well and alway's had an answer for me.It's his time for free.Use your boat,enjoy your boat,look past the small things and be thankful for what you have as so many will never be as fortunate as all of us who can experience the boating life....Tom
I have a 97 450, and the salon couch was the first thing to go. We replaced keeping the same foot print, but with less back, so more seat area, raised at the thigh to prevent that falling off feeling. Had a filler pad with legs made at the same time. Replaced T.V. with tilting flat panel -- neck saver!
Attachments
LMBoat
Well-Known Member
Please keep the info coming! The 96-97 450 is our next dream boat. Looking foward to seeing any and all comments.
- Nov 26, 2006
- 7,628
- Boat Info
- 2008 44 Sedan Bridge
- Engines
- Cummins QSC-500's
Straight Drives
Nice job!
- Jun 2, 2008
- 5,024
- Boat Info
- 1998 450 Sundancer, Achilles dinghy w/15hp
- Engines
- 3126 Cat's
starve rock
New Member
Hi this is starve rock from IL, just bought A 1990 DA had eyes on this boat for years bought it in MI, but mine is A 420 just 3 of use
more room then we need but love this boat from bow to stern great boat searay for ever PS enjoy.:thumbsup:
more room then we need but love this boat from bow to stern great boat searay for ever PS enjoy.:thumbsup:
Alex D
Active Member
Sea Ray did this design only for one year and it was a flop. Lots of galley but no seating. SR doesn't often flop design this bad. One other flop was putting the stool into the shower stall of the first (1999) 380DA. That was changed immediately the next year and 99 380DAs are a bit harder to sell for that design snafu.
unklbuck
New Member
wanted to get furuno navnetv2 and that was a nice upgrade for me along with the radar. had to put a spacer on the bottom screen because of the bulkhead just behind the original raymarine screen
TV in salon in the cabinet was bad, so off came the doors and in went the flat screen and dvd below it.
I thought the salon seating was unsatisfactory, but never thought to redo the couch. We removed the table and used lounge chairs to watch the TV. After awhile, storing those chairs under the cushions in the aft cabin got to be too much houdini work for me. one was ok, but the two of them
Had a the square back canvas for the cockpit and on the Great Lakes, with marginal weather, that back area was my digs.
the engine room was perfect
whoops, wron g boat
TV in salon in the cabinet was bad, so off came the doors and in went the flat screen and dvd below it.
I thought the salon seating was unsatisfactory, but never thought to redo the couch. We removed the table and used lounge chairs to watch the TV. After awhile, storing those chairs under the cushions in the aft cabin got to be too much houdini work for me. one was ok, but the two of them
Had a the square back canvas for the cockpit and on the Great Lakes, with marginal weather, that back area was my digs.
the engine room was perfect
whoops, wron g boat
