I wish my 40 Dancer ___________?

fc3 said:
You owned a 40DA or 380DA? Or did you run one? How do you "see" a boat "perform fine?"
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Worded that poorly. What I meant to convey was that there are many here with 380DA's that have stated the performance was adequate with the big block gas engines.
 
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Guys, are you kidding? SeaRay DOESN'T MAKE "timeless designs"! Some SR's are less "trendy" than others, but the 40DA, as nice as it is, is TRENDY. If we wanted timeless, this forum would be called Club Hinckley.

The 40DA has pronounced reversed sheerline. That's the antithesis of timeless. It also has a pronounced arch design, features lots of contrasting colors, hull-side windows, sharply countoured transom. All these things are attractive now, but will be changed as SeaRay design continues, like it ALWAYS HAS, to evolve.

Frank W's claims of reduced maintenance on diesel vs. gas puzzled me for years, and then he confessed to cooling his gassers with saltwater. That severly skews the data.

I'm a diesel fan. I love the sound, the smell, the low-speed handling, the safety of non-explosive fumes and low CO production.

What I'm not a fan of is people suggesting that diesels are free. That's not reality. I also cringe when people think that because a boat has diesels, that it's guaranteed to be adaquately powered.

My next boat will be a diesel only because my next boat will be bigger. It will also be more expensive to own, possibly slower, and I will not be so naive as to expect the engines to not depreciate.
 
RollerCoastr said:
Guys, are you kidding? SeaRay DOESN'T MAKE "timeless designs"!


What I'm not a fan of is people suggesting that diesels are free. That's not reality. I also cringe when people think that because a boat has diesels, that it's guaranteed to be adaquately powered.
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My boat is Timeless!! :lol:

Also, good point. You would have to make a spreadsheet and see what is the best option depending on your usage, fuel cost/savings, and resale values. I make a spreadsheet for everything because like you said, "it's nice" or "it's better" does not really quantify the pros and cons. Diesel may be nice or better, but if it's a $50,000 option that will save $5,000 in fuel and take a depreciation hit of $5,000 less than gassers, you have to ask yourself if you would rather have the $40,000 or the diesels... But until you plug your numbers in you won't know. If you end up running your boat a lot on long trips or keep it for a while, the diesels may acutally be less expensive in the end, but you will have to run your numbers to decide that.
 
berth control said:
My boat is Timeless!! :lol:

Also, good point. You would have to make a spreadsheet and see what is the best option depending on your usage, fuel cost/savings, and resale values. I make a spreadsheet for everything because like you said, "it's nice" or "it's better" does not really quantify the pros and cons. Diesel may be nice or better, but if it's a $50,000 option that will save $5,000 in fuel and take a depreciation hit of $5,000 less than gassers, you have to ask yourself if you would rather have the $40,000 or the diesels... But until you plug your numbers in you won't know. If you end up running your boat a lot on long trips or keep it for a while, the diesels may acutally be less expensive in the end, but you will have to run your numbers to decide that.
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Great points Eric. I could send the spreadsheet I used (and stared at for quite some time) before I switched my 40DA from diesle to gas. The numbers worked and I never had any real issues with performance, low speed handling and manuevering...and traded the boat for pretty much what I expected to get. Numbers don't lie (politicians that use numbers do, but that's another thread) and can really help to clarify an issue like this.
 
My best advice is to add another screen + SR100 Weather module, and DSM 300 depth. Dont leave home without them!
 
We are getting closer to the formerly 40 now 44 Diesel Dancer. Headed to Clearwater to take a look at another possibility at the MM there. Who knows?

DSM300 is a must...did you upgrade the standard transducer?

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Thanks to all the help at CSR...we have been corrupted by the "wet" side. We have chosen the now perfect boat, and had it appropriately outfitted for nearly every eventuality. Everything has just gone swimmingly.

Had a disturbing discussion with the sales people though...they actually now want us to PAY for it...any ideas there?
 
JediJD said:
Thanks to all the help at CSR...we have been corrupted by the "wet" side. We have chosen the now perfect boat, and had it appropriately outfitted for nearly every eventuality. Everything has just gone swimmingly.

Had a disturbing discussion with the sales people though...they actually now want us to PAY for it...any ideas there?
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Osama will pay for it. Just apply for some stimulus money. They're throwing it around like it's free.
 
JediJD said:
We are getting closer to the formerly 40 now 44 Diesel Dancer. Headed to Clearwater to take a look at another possibility at the MM there. Who knows?

DSM300 is a must...did you upgrade the standard transducer?

002-2.jpg
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Who are you dealing with at Clearwater MM? This is where we got all our boats, and have our service done.
 
Speaking of 40 Dancers, the 40 disappeared from the new model page a few weeks ago on the SeaRay web site. Anyone know when the new model may appear and and rumors on what it looks like? They had Hull 1 of the 43 at the Racine boat show last year before it hit the public, but the show is cancelled for this year. Is there a hull 1 40 replacement out there?
 
mawyatt said:
Who are you dealing with at Clearwater MM? This is where we got all our boats, and have our service done.
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Gary Reinhart? I connected with him over the internet on the 44 diesel. As I was driving down, he emailed me that it is now at the Venice Beach location for the weekend...so I guess I'll drive over there.
 
The differnces in duceres is great. The hi-speed will provide the greatest detail under way.
Good luck and keep us posted.
 
Drove to Venice. Still dickering. Not sure if we are getting closer or further away on a deal. Sometimes the momentum just shifts.

Is a hydraulic swim platform really $25k? The price of a small car? Are the hydraulic cylinders made out of Rearden Metal? Tough to get pricing on the internet for a 44 Dancer, but it sounds expensive.
 
That's what they cost from Sea Ray. You can get them for a bit less after market, which is the same stuff. Lifts are a pain in the butt. Multiple types of dissimilar metal immersed in water, complicated hydraulics and all of that.

Don't know how well it would work on a 44, but they have very compact davit hoists that will sit low on the platform, but still lift a dink in and out of the water. Was discussing the pros and cons of lifts vs. davits with a friend who is shopping for a 50.

Best regards,
Frank
 
JediJD said:
Drove to Venice. Still dickering. Not sure if we are getting closer or further away on a deal. Sometimes the momentum just shifts.

Is a hydraulic swim platform really $25k? The price of a small car? Are the hydraulic cylinders made out of Rearden Metal? Tough to get pricing on the internet for a 44 Dancer, but it sounds expensive.
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If it's a new platform. If it's used it should be no where close when they are adding up options.

Doug
 
JediJD said:
Gary Reinhart? I connected with him over the internet on the 44 diesel. As I was driving down, he emailed me that it is now at the Venice Beach location for the weekend...so I guess I'll drive over there.
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Don't know Gary, my sales guy is Jim George. Anyway good luck and keep us posted on your progress.
 
FYI,

This is my first post, but probabaly relative. I have a 2000 400DA with CAT 3116's in her. I run every weekend with two friends who have new 40's with gas. I cruise all day at 25-26 knots and they are struggling to get 22 knots out of theirs. When we pull up to the gas docks on the Chesapeake bay, If I take 100 gallons, they take 200 gallons. It is a world of difference with the gas to diesel. I am not saying diesel is right for you, but you should definitely do some research before you drop any coin on a gas boat that big. Hope this helps.
 
takinadvantage said:
FYI,

This is my first post, but probabaly relative. I have a 2000 400DA with CAT 3116's in her. I run every weekend with two friends who have new 40's with gas. I cruise all day at 25-26 knots and they are struggling to get 22 knots out of theirs. When we pull up to the gas docks on the Chesapeake bay, If I take 100 gallons, they take 200 gallons. It is a world of difference with the gas to diesel. I am not saying diesel is right for you, but you should definitely do some research before you drop any coin on a gas boat that big. Hope this helps.
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Sounds like solid advice. 100%. You should stop posting now. It can only go down hill. But seriously, welcome aboard and looking forward to further inputs.
 
takinadvantage said:
FYI,

This is my first post, but probabaly relative. I have a 2000 400DA with CAT 3116's in her. I run every weekend with two friends who have new 40's with gas. I cruise all day at 25-26 knots and they are struggling to get 22 knots out of theirs. When we pull up to the gas docks on the Chesapeake bay, If I take 100 gallons, they take 200 gallons. It is a world of difference with the gas to diesel. I am not saying diesel is right for you, but you should definitely do some research before you drop any coin on a gas boat that big. Hope this helps.
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Thank you for the input. You have helped confirm my gut instincts on this. At the end of the day, I don't think gas is a bad decision, but I think diesel gives us more options. Since it costs a lot more, I am not sure that it is a true value decision, but time will tell how much it holds.

Also agree...give up now. Never say another word and you retire with an unblemished record and unscarred reputation...(hope you continue though!)
 
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