Looking at a 380 DA, need some advise

[Rum Runner]

I looked at a 2000, 380 DA today and I'm thinking seriously about making an offer. I would be moving up from an "84" 340 DA. What difference 4 feet makes. The 2000 looks great, well cared for, clean and low hours. My question: the boat has twin 454 Horizon motors, I'm not familiar with Horizon motors and have really never heard of them. The broker did tell me of an issue several years ago with these motors that was taken care of my Mercruiser. Is anyone familiar with the Horizon motor? Any advise would be helpful. Thanks.

 

[katricol]

This is a very nice boat with good motor choice (imop) . The issue you refer to was related to the exhaust sucking water back into the engines I believe. Others may chime-in, but I think this was resolved with an extended exhaust riser. Make sure this boat dosen't have this issue and you're good. Of course you WILL get a survey and mechanic to check out the boat, right?

 

[Rum Runner]

Thanks Katricol, and your right. The problem the broker mentioned was with the exhaust sucking water back into the engine. He pointed out the extented risers to me and said that fix solved the problem. I purchased my current boat from this broker and he seems knowledgeable and honest. I have just never heard of the horizon moter before. Maybe it's one not used on the west coast much or it's one I haven't come across. But, you say it's a good motor, no other problems your aware of? Yes, if I decide to make an offer, I will do the trial run and get a complete survey. Thanks for your help. R

 

[JediJD]

I understand the 8.1's are Mercruiser's version of the 496 Chevrolet truck engine. They are used in a number of applications and appear to have a pretty solid reputation. Parts seem to be easy to find, reliability seems good. I have them in my '03 380 and it has a surprising amount of "get up and go". There is a pretty good argument that a boat this size is better suited for diesels, and another camp that says the 7.4's are more efficient...however, I think the marriage is perfect.

Good luck with your acquisition.

 

[carterchapman]

I'm not familiar with Horizon motors and have really never heard of them.

Rum,

I may be wrong about this - but - I seem to recall that Mercruiser began using the "Horizon" name in the late '90's to designate "big block" engines that have have "closed cooling". They use the "Horizon" name on the 7.4 MAG MPI engines (produced until mid-2001) and on the 8.1s and 8.1HO engines (produced since mid 2001).

I don't know if the "small block" Mercruiser engines (5.7, etc.) ever used the "Horizon" moniker...

BTW, "big block" and "small block" are terms that refer to GM's V-8 engine configurations...

The next Mercruiser "big block" will be a version of the GM 502 cu. in. engine called the 8.2 - I assume it would be a "Horizon" as well, but I don't know.

 

[Windjammer]

My understanding is about the same as Carter's in that Horizon does designate engines with the closed cooling.

The 7.4 is the 454 cu in block and the 8.1 is the 496 cu in block. Have heard that there was a 5.7 Horizon that was an option mostly on the 320DA's, but are few and far between in our neck of the woods.

 

[melida]

Just curious to ask as I'm not a Merc or gas guy.

I looked at to the merc site after reading this thread and saw that 496mag-375hp have closed cooling and 496mag H.O. is 425hp is also have closed cooling .

It is same for the 8,2mag 380 hp have closed cooling and 8,2mag H.O. 430 hp also have closed cooling.

Does this H.O. means high output for the extra hp like the Evinrude 225HO outboard or its the short of Horizon and Horizon means extra hp or Horizon refers entirely a different thing?

Best regards
Melida

 

[chumbley]

I think the "Horizon" designation was originally intended by Mercury to signify engines that had extra features to make them more trouble free. Serpentine belts, fuel injection, platinum plugs, closed cooling, etc. I am not sure if they have strayed from that original intent. Clearly since a bunch of boat fanatics on a boat forum don't jump in with that answer, then either I am wrong or Mercury did a really crappy job of selling the concept...

Both Magnum and H.O. are designation for additional horsepower over base models.

To the OP's original question - the 454 motors are basically GM 7.4L or 454 CID motors that have been around since the early 70's. They are solid engines.

 

[Windjammer]

Gonna go out on a limb here and say that any engine with "Horizon" has the closed cooling system and that these engines are used in inboard/v-drive configurations.

The "MAG" engines are used in I/O configurations and closed cooling comes with the larger engines (496 Mag and up).

H.O. does indicate high output (horsepower) which I believe is achieved by being able to run at higher rpm's.

If my intepretations are off, I'm sure they'll be corrected.

 

[Rum Runner]

Thanks guys, all your input has been a big help. Obviously I didn't realize the horizon motor was part of the Mercury lineup. BTW, JEDIJD how do you like your 380, I fell hard for the one I looked at. Anything I should be aware of or inquire about. Thanks, Rich.

 

[JediJD]

Rich, I didn't expand my comments on the 380 because I felt like I would sound like a friggin' commercial...and boats are such a personal experience that I thought I should keep my mouth shut. However, now that you asked...

It is simply perfect. The perfect size and perfect configuration for us. Well powered and relatively efficient, it is large enough to entertain and comfortably hang out, but small enough to still put on a commercial trailer and haul to the ocean. With the big engines going, it handles like a big burly sedan if needed and (even without bow thrusters) can dance and piroette through crowded tie ups. The engine compartment is large enough that I can get to everything without a lot of effort. The central vac is a convenience that grows on you. The separate shower is a winner, as is the curtained off midberth area. Lots of headroom and shoulder room everywhere. The boat naturally gravitates to three completely separate entertainment areas...the deck, the cockpit, and the cabin, and we have comfortably entertained 20 people by dividing them up. We have spent some money in customizing our boat...the camper canvas was a biggie...but Becky and I were talking the other night on the dock that there is no longer something else to which we aspire. Other people have bigger boats and newer boats, but we have the right boat for us.

It doesn't have granite counters, and the lack of a walk through windshield is a little annoying at first, but you get used to the walkaround. A 40 gallon holding tank fills faster than one would think. There isn't a natural rear grilling area (you probably end up on the little starboard step to the aft, which is a bit confined) and designing sunpads for the front is proving to be quite the challenge. Check for rusting AC pans (annoying and inconvenient to fix). Our windlass isn't as easy to operate as I would have thought and, depending on your part of the world, an engine compartment heater was a good fit for us. Electronics have come a long way since these were state of the art...figure on some upgrades. You will learn that the front bow rails are 1.25" and nothing fits them (1" is apparently standard). Underwater lights were a nice touch with the kids. Remember that most charges for pull out are by the foot and if they measure, you are a 42 foot boat that is really pricey to pull it in and out, so plan on doing EVERYTHING while it is out of the water.

In sum, it is solid, graceful and beautiful vessel which has proven to be a more important part of our family than we ever dreamed. I hope your search is as fruitful.

 

[Southpaw II]

The 380DA is a perfect choice for us as well for all the reasons JediJD has mentioned. The next step up in size gets you 2 heads and about 9 inches more beam. Anyway, this boat is great for spending the weekend onboard and boating limited distances. If you cruise very far, fuel gets to be a concern, as gas is not as efficient as the diesel boats. At 20,000 lbs. (18,300 dry), you're starting to cross the threshold were diesel is the obvious choice. If you boat on a lake or don't travel extensively, it's a great choice. Cruising at 22 kts. you will burn about 33 gals. per hr. Good luck.

Don

 

[Still LauCo]

I looked at a 2000, 380 DA today and I'm thinking seriously about making an offer. I would be moving up from an "84" 340 DA. What difference 4 feet makes. The 2000 looks great, well cared for, clean and low hours. My question: the boat has twin 454 Horizon motors, I'm not familiar with Horizon motors and have really never heard of them. The broker did tell me of an issue several years ago with these motors that was taken care of my Mercruiser. Is anyone familiar with the Horizon motor? Any advise would be helpful. Thanks.

After throwing in the proverbial get a full survey sentence, I think the 380 is a beautiful boat. Good luck!

 

[quality time]

What's your family situation? We've got 1 and 4 year olds and the lack of a "real" 2nd stateroom is a downfall for us.

 

[HUMPH]

Thanks guys, all your input has been a big help. Obviously I didn't realize the horizon motor was part of the Mercury lineup. BTW, JEDIJD how do you like your 380, I fell hard for the one I looked at. Anything I should be aware of or inquire about. Thanks, Rich.

Where is the 380 you are interested in? The 7.4's had water intrusion problems and the fix was a manifold riser and reconfigured exhaust pipes as a result. Check to see if this has been done already. If you make an offer make sure you have a separate engine survey and have them look into any sign of damage due to water intrusion.

 

[HUMPH]

BTW, if you are interested, I know of an '04 360DA that is real nice. Asking price is $139K but it probably can be had for $125K or so. This one has 8.1 Horizons...nice boat.

 

[fwebster]

Horizon, SeaCore, and whatever comes next is a marketing term used by Mercruiser to denote engines that are built for salt water use, In addition to closed cooling, there are other anticorrosive features and add-ons as well.

 

[rwvw415]

I have owned 6 Sea Rays and the 2001 380 was and is my favorite. I think it performs better, looks better and is easier to live in than any other Sea Ray Cruiser that I have owned including my present 390. All around it is a great boat and the 8.1's are plenty powerful for that boat.

My wife likes the hard top on our 390 better than the canvas but it adds a lot of weight to the boat that affects the performance.
__________________

 

[osd9]

You will love the full size fridge (when it's working).....5 cases of long neck bottles of beer will fit nicely, so long as two of the cases are 7 oz nips...

 

[chumbley]

Now see, THAT is why I want to move from a 340 to a 380. Beer space!

At the risk of creating a war... You should try a good Mexican beer sometime. Corona is the Schlitz of Mexican beer (no offense to Schlitz drinkers). Kinda like Foster's in Australia. You would be thrown out of any respectable pub for ordering a Foster's.