Contemplating a 52 DB

[Alex F]

Hah! Didn't mean to get so close to that nerve. All in fun.

It's all cool then... you just made me feel like a "soccer mom" for a moment with that "Dodge Caravan thing"...:lol:

 

[First_Mate]

TOUCHE!

But if we're gunna do it, you have to come here.

No problem, I'll just hook a trailer up to my Dodge Caravan and tow the 420DB down to Texas... :grin:

 

[Hampton]

Thanks so much. I'm looking at an '07 and an '08. The '08 has the blue hull. Yours is beautiful. How is the pewter hull working out?

That is an awful lot of blue gel coat to baby.

 

[cod]

Thanks so much. I'm looking at an '07 and an '08. The '08 has the blue hull. Yours is beautiful. How is the pewter hull working out?

Fine..... She still looks great. For me it was either the pewter or the blue... The white hull just didn't do it for me.... Good luck... Keep us posted if you make the move..

 

[jetlag]

Now that's a great question. Absolutely love this boat. We are spending two nights a week on board and starting to wish we had a little more room. I'm somewhat concerned about losing some of the motivation to take her out as often though as the 44 is so user friendly and easy enough to single hand.
Thanks to all and I'm glad I could start a mudfight!
JetLag

 

[Yzfspike]

I too had the same concerns for single hand operation. I went from a 2001 400db to a 2003 480db. The additional space is fantastic! Be very hard to go to something smaller again. I was surprised at how easy it is to handle on your own. I typically will go out weeknights for a spin. Given wind conditions are light to moderate, I have no issues docking her. It almost seems easier!
Other than higher costs for everything, it was definitely worth the move up.

 

[Ryan]

Check to see if the stainless steel top rail on the port and starboard winshield on the bridge is lifting or if you can pull up on it. In rough seas, mine separated from the glass. the span is just to long. I templated an angled brace, had it fabricated from stainless steel and sent it out to be polished. looks factory installed and solved the

COD - please tell me more about what you made for the winshield. Do you have any pictures?

Thanks!

 

[cod]

I made a cardboard template for a piece of flat stainless steel 1 1/2" wide. I matched the angle of the frame where the side piece of glass meets the front curved piece of glass. I also marked the locations for (2) 1/8" dia. holes top and bottom. Remember the glass sits inside the frame so keep your holes towards the edge of your brace. I brought the template to a steel fabricator and had them make it out of 1/8" thick stainless steel and had them make the 4 holes. also have them round the 4 corner edges.
Then after fabrication, I sent them to "English Custom Polish" (207)338-6939. I think he is up in Maine. Paid somewhere around $75 each to polish to a mirror finish like the window frame.
Attachment was with stainless steel rivets bought at West Marine. You need to get a real good drill bit to drill thru the stainless steel winshield frame.
Hope this all makes sense

 

[Ryan]

Got it. Thanks!