Just Made an offer

D

Ddonald0318

New Member
Mar 8, 2011
5
Rhode island
Boat Info
Ciera 3055
Engines
Twin 454
I have just made an offer on my First Sea Ray. This would be my 5th boat. I currently own a 30' Bayliner 3055 Ciera.

I have made an offer on a 1997 400DB Sedan bridge with CAT 3116 engines. I would love any input anyone would have on this boat and the following issues:

- Water leaking at Front cabin window (top right corner) above the refrigerator. Common? Expensive to fix?
- Carpet needs to be replaced. Anyone done this? Any idea on cost? Is it easy to find an installer?
- Engines have 900 hours. I have never owned deisel so I am not sure if this is a major issue or not.

I would really appreciate any input any of you have. Very excited about becoming a Sea Ray owner.

Dave D
 
Can't help with the issues on the DB but Welcome to CSR!

Get a survey, maybe get the owner to take care of the items before the sell.
 
The hours are not a problem as along as all the annual maintenance was done... Get the maintenance records, and get a survey... No sure about the leak... We got a lead from a canvas snap that was not properly sealed...
 
The deckhouse on the 400DB has a lot of coring in it. If the window is leaking between the glass and the frame, its just making a mess that may require removing and replacing fabrics and soft trim to repair and get rid of the mold/mildew. If the leak is between the frame and the boat, the core could be involved. Be sure your surveyor is aware of the leak and have him check the area around all the windows for moisture. If he can't check for moisture, stop until you get someone who can.

Carpet done right is more expensive than having the same yardage replaced in an open room. Sea Ray uses a cement very much like Formica glue to glue down the carpet. Mine came up in pieces no bigger than 1" square and took 3 days to tear the boat apart and remove the carpet. It is a bigger job than one might expect. The cost on my 450DA was about $3500 and even though the 400DB is smaller, you have more than one level, so the cost might be comparable.

Cat 3116's with 900 hours are well past the time that either the dropped valve or soft block problem would surface. As long as they have been maintained, 900 hours isn't a problem........I'm at 1400 hours and I'll go anywhere in my boat. Be sure you have a Caterpillar trained technician do an engine survey and ask that they do a blow-by test and fluid samples on engine oils, transmission lube oil and coolant.

Reading between the lines in the above is the strong recommendation that you have a thorough survey done on both the engines and mechanicals.

Finally, have you sea trialed a 400DB? There is a little annomaly to their design that initially turns some folks off. From the helm seat you cannot see the stern as you approach a dock or slip. You can open the bridge access door and lean over enough to see the port stern corner. I find it very manageable to see the corner and hang a piling with it to orient the boat with the slip before backing in.

Welcome to CSR.........
 
Last edited:
Welcome and good luck with your prospective purchase. I have a 1995 44EB with 3116's. I had a front widow leak and mine was between the glass and the frame. I pulled off the gasket, pulled out the glass and reset the window in the frame. No problems since then.

Frank will be your best source of information regarding the engines and I would love to re-carpet my boat too. It's on my wish list.

Keep us informed on the process.

Randy
 
I really appreciate all the quick responses. It is clear that I need to get a full survey done on the boat and motors so I will be doing that. Thanks for the advice. I am feeling much better about the issues. Thanks.
 
fwebster said:
The deckhouse on the 400DB has a lot of coring in it. If the window is leaking between the glass and the frame, its just making a mess that may require removing and replacing fabrics and soft trim to repair and get rid of the mold/mildew. If the leak is between the frame and the boat, the core could be involved. Be sure your surveyor is aware of the leak and have him check the area around all the windows for moisture. If he can't check for moisture, stop until you get someone who can.

Carpet done right is more expensive than having the same yardage replaced in an open room. Sea Ray uses a cement very much like Formica glue to glue down the carpet. Mine came up in pieces no bigger than 1" square and took 3 days to tear the boat apart and remove the carpet. It is a bigger job than one might expect. The cost on my 450DA was about $3500 and even though the 400DB is smaller, you have more than one level, so the cost might be comparable.

Cat 3116's with 900 hours are well past the time that either the dropped valve or soft block problem would surface. As long as they have been maintained, 900 hours isn't a problem........I'm at 1400 hours and I'll go anywhere in my boat. Be sure you have a Caterpillar trained technician do an engine survey and ask that they do a blow-by test and fluid samples on engine oils, transmission lube oil and coolant.

Reading between the lines in the above is the strong recommendation that you have a thorough survey done on both the engines and mechanicals.

Finally, have you sea trialed a 400DB? There is a little annomaly to their design that initially turns some folks off. From the helm seat you cannot see the stern as you approach a dock or slip. You can open the bridge access door and lean over enough to see the port stern corner. I find it very manageable to see the corner and hang a piling with it to orient the boat with the slip before backing in.

Welcome to CSR.........
Click to expand...

+10:thumbsup:

Welcome
 
Well the 97 400 Sedan Bridge I was looking at failed the survey. Very disappointing but glad we found out before we bought.

Decided to go newer. Just put an offer on a 2002 400DB. A lot more money but hopefully a lot more splash and go and smarter choice in the long run.

This one has Cummin Engines. Any thoughts on the Cummins vs the Cats??
 
Ddonald0318 said:
Well the 97 400 Sedan Bridge I was looking at failed the survey. Very disappointing but glad we found out before we bought.

Decided to go newer. Just put an offer on a 2002 400DB. A lot more money but hopefully a lot more splash and go and smarter choice in the long run.

This one has Cummin Engines. Any thoughts on the Cummins vs the Cats??
Click to expand...
a lot more money but a lot more boat too - Even though its the "same" boat I believe an 02 has a solid bottom and the cummins has the power that boat really needs - do a search I know there are some owners here with the cummins in that boat and we have covered this a few times......
 
Its a great boat. We bought ours new and have not regretted it once. Looked at the 480db a numberr of times, but in the end we have kept the 400 (so far, the admiral does love the 480db). My only complaint is the er access on the outboard sides. You get used to it. I can change the port impeller in 45 minutes start to finish now. Frank is correct about the limited visibility at the stern, but once you learn to work with the aft port corner for docking, its a piece of cake.

Sent from my DROID PRO using Tapatalk
 
I have heard from several people to beware the backup visibility.

I was wondering about peoples thoughts on using a camera on the back to help with Docking.

I have one in my car and have a lot more visibility there.
 
I have a back-up camera on my 96' 400 Sedan bridge ..But to be honest I don't seem to have time to look at it, seems like there is to much going on when back in!!
I have no problem with visibility I just watch my Port corner and pretty much know where I'm at.......Todd
 
The visibility to the stern is manageable, but it takes some getting used to. I only mention it because it is an immediate and initial turn off to Sundancer/Express drivers when they first encounter it. Long term, the only problem is when you get caught in a situation where you must pivot on the STBD stern corner.
 
Frank is right......When I pivot I pivot to Port as my dock is to Port for that reason I can see!!

I would HATE to have to pivot to STBD...Maybe then I would have time to look at my camera!
 
fwebster said:
The visibility to the stern is manageable, but it takes some getting used to. I only mention it because it is an immediate and initial turn off to Sundancer/Express drivers when they first encounter it. Long term, the only problem is when you get caught in a situation where you must pivot on the STBD stern corner.
Click to expand...

That would definitely take some getting used to for me. I'm used to pivoting on the starboard side. I guess it feels more natural because the helm is to that side? I pivoted once last summer on the port side when I was away from home and it felt awkward.

Doug
 
Get in the habit of alternating approach sides each time out even if you have to do a 180 to achieve it.........some day you will get caught in wind/current, heavy traffic and won't have the option. It would be better to have those tools in your tool bag than a big "uuuh ohhh" when it happens.
 
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