Looking at 440 and 450 EB's- Need to understand where the hull bottoms are cored.

[Ken Wolkens]

I've narrowed down my search to two hulls the 440 EB and 450 EB. I have a pretty good understanding of the differences between the two boats but I can't seem to find a definitive answer on where the coring is located in these hulls.

I expect that both have core above the rub rail and have seen pictures of core in the hull sides of the 440EB from the chines up to the rub rails.

What I cannot get a definitive answer on is the location of core on the hull bottom if there is any.

Of course I will get a survey but I would like to know more about the hull bottom before I go much further with these models.

Thanks, Ken

 

[fwebster]

Both hulls are fully cored....hull sides and hull bottoms. There are, however, 2 areas where the hull is solid fiberglass. The forward and aft bilge sumps where the thru hulls and transducers are located are solid glass about 1" thick.

If you are concerned about the core being wet, here are the areas and things to look for:

1.The hull or bilge vents are sawed thru the cored hull side and the vent is screwed in place with only a strip of bedding material around the perimeter. Have your surveyor sound, test or thermal image the hull around the vent.....or better pull them out and check the core in the saw cut. I doubt your seller will allow that, so make it a priority that you have the vents removed and the exposed coring thoroughly sealed with epoxy resin then rebed the vents.

2. Check carefully to see if a previous owner has installed an added transducer, intake, or otherwise perforated the hull anywhere except the 2 solid areas mentioned above that Sea Ray designed into the boat for that purpose. I wouldn't even look at one of these hulls that has a transducer located in the cored part of the bottom.


Honestly, you have a bigger potential for core problem on the deck and deckhouse on the EB. That is simply because there are so many holes for screws, bolts, horns, windlasses, stanchions, windshield mounts, etc. there and because nobody ever worries about leaks above the waterline until it is too late to do a simple repair.

 

[Ken Wolkens]

Thank you Frank. That is exactly the answer I was seeking.

I particularly like your comment #2.

 

[fwebster]

Glad to help.............

An interesting side note, for what it is worth - my boat, the 450DA shares the basic hull with the 440/450EB. These boats were built in the Palm Coast factory. I happened to be at a Sea Ray event last Fall on Lake Lainer outside of Atlanta where a number of factory representatives were there for the annual dealer's meeting. I found myself on a 540DA with the customer service people from Palm Coast. They asked if I was an owner and what boat I had. When I told then it was an old 450DA which is probably the best boat they ever built. They smiled and said "Oh yes, we call that one the 'ice breaker hull' and we never have issues with them."

Do your due diligence, but you probably won't find much unless there is some moisture around some of the deck area fittings or the hull vents.