New 43 Sun Dancer has me and won't let go...

sprink56

sprink56

New Member
Oct 28, 2008
1,288
West Palm Beach, Fl
Boat Info
1979 255 Liberator
Engines
twin Mercruiser 450 HP I/O on Bravo I Drives
I went to the Palm Beach Boat Show yesterday and after having looked at most of the boats I ended up with the Marine Max folks with the Sea Rays. I casualy looked at the new 43 Sun Dancer as I walked by...then I turned the corner and saw the profile. Holy sheep sh** Jesus...I'm in love. I up to now have not been a fan of the new styling over the last few years but the way it comes together on this boat gets me and gets me good.

I turned and walked away but found myself back at the 43 no matter how far away I got. I went aboard and have to say it all comes together. I came home last night and looked at the pics in the brochure like I was 6 years old going through the Sears Christmas catalog. I have not been smitten by a boat this way since I saw my first F-26 Formula at the Dinner Key Boat Show in Miami in'76 (I've owned 3 Formulas). The internet makes it worse with stuff like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycrwL0gpWe4 and this..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHkuhjRCMKA&feature=related

This reminds me of that Lover Boy song "You Take Me to the Top" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9KwY4b32Cs

I guess I'll arrange for a sea trial demo ride and see if that gets it out of my system....yea right. Looks like I've got a new goal to set.:smt101
 
The 43DA has a very nice profile. You can sit on the dock and admire it all day long. But the cabin and the cockpit aren't that great. The Zeus drive might be good, or it might be marine propulsion hell. But the real kicker is the price, which is well past ridiculous.

Best regards,
Frank
 
43 is a nice boat but there are things I don't care for about it. Headroom at the helm with the overhead gauges for a tall person sucks.

Any chance you got to see the Riviera 4400 sport yacht? I really want to see that boat in person. Without being on it yet, I could say right now that I'd take it over the 43DA. The classic look is much better IMO than the sweeping lines of the 43.

http://www.riviera.com.au/modelOverview.cfm?type=yacht&prdID=18

SB
 
We saw one at the Cleveland show and it was quite impressive....for the price I could play hundreds of "slightly used vessel" scenarios though. I guess I'll stick with my '92. (here's a shot of my son Chris admiring)
0943daov8.jpg
 
fc3 said:
The 43DA has a very nice profile. You can sit on the dock and admire it all day long. But the cabin and the cockpit aren't that great. The Zeus drive might be good, or it might be marine propulsion hell. But the real kicker is the price, which is well past ridiculous.

Best regards,
Frank
Click to expand...

Thanks...Reality Check No. 1:thumbsup:
 
Newbie said:
43 is a nice boat but there are things I don't care for about it. Headroom at the helm with the overhead gauges for a tall person sucks.

Any chance you got to see the Riviera 4400 sport yacht? I really want to see that boat in person. Without being on it yet, I could say right now that I'd take it over the 43DA. The classic look is much better IMO than the sweeping lines of the 43.

http://www.riviera.com.au/modelOverview.cfm?type=yacht&prdID=18

SB
Click to expand...

I like it...any of these rigs been seen in The U.S. or do we have to go to Australia? Scatch that...HMY at my marina hs them...duh.
 
Last edited:
Quint4 said:
We saw one at the Cleveland show and it was quite impressive....for the price I could play hundreds of "slightly used vessel" scenarios though. I guess I'll stick with my '92. (here's a shot of my son Chris admiring)
0943daov8.jpg
Click to expand...

You are right about the price...Brunswick is proud of them. Reality Check No. 2
 
A little birdie told me that $675,000 is a do-able price for a loaded 43'.
 
$675k might be do able for a new 43, but right now you could take that same $675K and buy a couple year old 48 or 52. :thumbsup: Just a darn shame I don't have $675K to go and prove my theory. :smt089
 
Frank & newbie nailed it . The helms a mess!! nothings centered. If ur tall ur hosed!!

The salon is a mess too,, TV location, Stairs...

Rob
 
STIHLBOLTS said:
$675k might be do able for a new 43, but right now you could take that same $675K and buy a couple year old 48 or 52. :thumbsup: Just a darn shame I don't have $675K to go and prove my theory. :smt089
Click to expand...

I believe you...you might even beat that.
 
STIHLBOLTS said:
$675k might be do able for a new 43, but right now you could take that same $675K and buy a couple year old 48 or 52. :thumbsup: Just a darn shame I don't have $675K to go and prove my theory. :smt089
Click to expand...

Very true, but the cost of operation of a 48 or 52 is likely to be much higher than that of a 43 with Zeus. I'm still leaning toward a 420. It's just a great boat - like the 340, but the diesel version of a great all-around Sea Ray cruiser.
 
Very true, but the cost of operation of a 48 or 52 is likely to be much higher than that of a 43 with Zeus. I'm still leaning toward a 420. It's just a great boat - like the 340, but the diesel version of a great all-around Sea Ray cruiser.
Click to expand...

I agree with your 2nd part of the statement, the 420 is a sweet looking ride. I could be swayed by the 2005 480 as well. But as far as cost to operate I believe that's a moot point. If you can buy it, you had better be able to afford to operate and maintain it. :thumbsup:
 
Four Suns said:
I don't follow that math... explain?
Click to expand...

I imagine the fuel consumption for the 43 with zeus will be the same or a little less than that of the 420 due to decreased drag associated with the drives. On a few recent trips, a couple of good friends commented on their fuel consumptions. One has a 50 and another a 52 (correct designations? One is about a 2005, the other about 2007).

Compared to my friend's 420, fuel consumption was almost double. The hulls are 25% longer. The engines are larger. Simple math. Unless of course, you think that the operational cost of a 43 with Zeus will be more than a 52. I hope that's not the case. It kind of defeats the whole purpose if it is.
 
I think I would have to include the maintenance of the Zeus drive in that figure... and insurance costs..

Although not "operational" costs, the depreciation on a new 43 w/Zeus in two years will exceed the entire lifetime fuel bill of a 2005 48 DA.
 
Four Suns said:
I think I would have to include the maintenance of the Zeus drive in that figure... and insurance costs..

Although not "operational" costs, the depreciation on a new 43 w/Zeus in two years will exceed the entire lifetime fuel bill of a 2005 48 DA.
Click to expand...

That's a very good point, but if you can get into a 43 for the same price as a 50, I'm betting that your out-of-pocket expenses over the next several years will be less on a new 43 versus a slightly older 52. That being said, I do believe the used 52 to be the more fiscally responsible decision, if there is such a thing in buying big, expensive boats.

I don't think I will be able to, or would chose to afford a 52 anytime soon (from an operational point of view). I think I can squeeze a 420 into my marina, and hopefully, into my budget. I know a 50' is out of the question for our marina. That's a HUGE difference for me.
 
When I was on the 43 yesterday with the MM rep, she pulled her guide book when I asked and gave me cruise GPH at 33 GPH (26 MPH/2500 RPM) and WOT at 44.4 GPH
(36~37 MPH/3000 RPM). This particular boat has the optional 480's (474 HP). I think it would be prudent to add 10% for GPH and subtract 10% on the MPH to account for real world usage and loading.

As far as Zeus and the peripherals associated with it (especially Sky Hook..good God!!) only time will tell re: reliability. At the show I even saw one CC open fisherman ( a See Vee I think) with pods. It is the "paradigm shift" in propulsion. Brunswick/Sea Ray/Mercury-Cummins is into it big time.

As is said by the Chinese as a kind parting gesture "May you live in interesting times"...we certainly do.
 
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