Good afternoon to everyone in the Forum! I am considering purchasing a 1999 46 Dancer with Cummins diesels. The boat is in better than average cosmetic condition, but suffers from moisture issues on the hullsides. I do not know how extensive this issue is and am doing what I need to do to determine how bad the moisture is. I would welcome any information on this model that would help with my decision to buy or not. I am very familiar with core issues and am aware of the problems that many manufacturers have had with this construction method. I am specificially interested in whether or not the underwater penetrations are cored or solid glass. It appears that at some point in 1999 or 2000 SR changed their contruction methods to solid glass. Thanks!!!
Need information on 46 Dancer
- Thread starter Deepsix
- Start date
Carver370
Well-Known Member
- Mar 30, 2007
- 1,928
- Boat Info
- 2000 Sea Ray 400 Sundancer - Diesel
- Engines
- T-3116 CAT - 350 HP
I am pretty sure that it was later than 2000 that they changed this. The 460 from what I remember is cored on the hullsides and possibly the bottom. Hullsides for sure.
I take it its under the engine room vents?
I take it its under the engine room vents?
tobnpr
New Member
My research has indicated that SR made changes to their cored construction methods effective with the 2002 model year. I have an article from Powerboat Reports on this subject, pm me if you'd like it.
Question:
Since you say you're doing what needs to be done to determine the extent of the intrusion or damage to the hullsides- which I assume means an out-of-water survey with a moisture meter (and a surveyor that knows how to use it), perhaps the surveyor can tell by sounding the hull whether the areas you're rightly concerned about- rudders, struts, shaft logs, thru-hulls- are solid and not cored. Have you discussed this with him?
It might be worth a call to SR with the HIN of the boat to see if you can get any info.
Sounds like you've got to spend a good bit of money just to determine if the boat's worth buying. Hope it is...
Question:
Since you say you're doing what needs to be done to determine the extent of the intrusion or damage to the hullsides- which I assume means an out-of-water survey with a moisture meter (and a surveyor that knows how to use it), perhaps the surveyor can tell by sounding the hull whether the areas you're rightly concerned about- rudders, struts, shaft logs, thru-hulls- are solid and not cored. Have you discussed this with him?
It might be worth a call to SR with the HIN of the boat to see if you can get any info.
Sounds like you've got to spend a good bit of money just to determine if the boat's worth buying. Hope it is...
Hull # 617(?) of year 2001 is when the 460DA started deleting the balsa in the hullsides. (I know it was mid '01) Previously there were some intrusion issues around hullside ports mainly and the water would result in the core turning to powder. Apparently this is due to a fungus attacking the balsa, as a friend with a slightly affected '99 450EB explained.
The bottom continued to have a very small amount of coring except in areas of thru-hulls. (Early 460DA in 1999 might have a problem however.) My transom samples taken when underwater lights were installed and showed two 2mm cores in a 25mm thick plug of otherwise solid fiberglass.
Hope that helps but phone Sea Ray and talk to someone who really knows the build-up for that H.I.N.
James
The bottom continued to have a very small amount of coring except in areas of thru-hulls. (Early 460DA in 1999 might have a problem however.) My transom samples taken when underwater lights were installed and showed two 2mm cores in a 25mm thick plug of otherwise solid fiberglass.
Hope that helps but phone Sea Ray and talk to someone who really knows the build-up for that H.I.N.
James
