Official 370 Express Cruiser Thread (1997-2000)

[West32]

A different topic that I haven't seen covered in the 370EC conversations. Did a short haul this week at my long-time boatyard for some bottom work prior to going inside for the winter. The guys called me after lifting the boat to tell me they saw some flexing of the gunnels at the forward labeled lifting point. I had noticed some minor gelcoat stress cracking around that area on the stbd side, nothing on the port side. I had assumed this was from prior owner banging the dock at some point, as I had done a minor repair near that spot after purchase prior to launch. My surveyor didn't note it, and the gel coat stress marks were not noticeable by either of us inside the barn during the survey. Anyone experience this? My boat is a 1999 two-owner, freshwater boat with very light use, stored inside heated its whole life. On a prior note, not sure if West has had any luck with his railing repairs. There is a great SS fabricator affiliated with Lake Shore Boat Top in St Clair Shores, MI. They made a custom flybridge ladder for me on my last boat. The guy knows how to bend and weld stainless. Their # is 586-465-1731. They could copy the same piece from my boat if necessary. Thanks guys!

Thank you, I will give them a call. As for the hull flex, I have not heard of this. Not sure where you purchased your boat, but Bob Uecker used to have a 370 and kept it in Milwaukee. A Freighter missed calculated and pushed up against his boat crushing it. (https://www.twincities.com/2008/06/19/bob-ueckers-docked-yacht-is-struck-by-freighter/). I hope that's not the one you bought. They tried to sell it to me in 2017. At any rate, you should look at the structure on the inside of the boat and look for structural damage. These boats are tough and I have been in some rough water with the boat performing great.

 

[Lhs3422]

My boat was never on Lake Michigan. First 5 years on Lake Erie, then the last 17 on Lake St Clair with the owner I purchased from. Doesn't mean there is not some past damage. I am going to watch when the boat is splashed tomorrow to see if there's a difference between the port and starboard side and have my surveyor take a detailed look at the suspect area. Thanks

 

[aquaholic]

hello group , Has anyone changed the cabin door tracks and rollers, any insite would be appreciated, going to try and get this done this weekend if im not fishing [37 express ]

 

[JJD]

New to this forum Looking for help with Taylor Made part number for windshield bottom screw cover weather stripping. Anyone replace that yet and the linear actuator for center vent? Thanks

 

[West32]

New to this forum Looking for help with Taylor Made part number for windshield bottom screw cover weather stripping. Anyone replace that yet and the linear actuator for center vent? Thanks

Look back one page, someone just listed the part numbers on page 22

 

[JJD]

Look back one page, someone just listed the part numbers on page 22

Thanks Went back and found the post Ill order a small sample piece of that and check fit Loving my new to me 370

 

[GABulldogsNH]

Good afternoon guys, just seeing if anyone has the westerbeke model number for the 7kw gas generator for the 1997 express. Needed to order some parts from them but having trouble getting the model number off the generator plate at the moment. The model on sea ray is 316141 but I need the actual model number of the westerbeke genny. Thank you guys!

 

[West32]

This is what I have in my 1999.
7.2BCGTC

 

[West32]

I need to replace the Windshield Vent Seal. Has anyone replaced their's recently? Where did you get it? Any tips and tricks?

 

[GnrlPatton]

I need to replace the Windshield Vent Seal. Has anyone replaced their's recently? Where did you get it? Any tips and tricks?

Haven't done it either, but need to. Any luck sourcing it?

 

[West32]

Back again with more "Everyone learn from my suffering"

My cabin door felt...heavy. So some investigating I found one of the trucks exploded, so I got in touch with FP-Marine and found this kit - https://www.fpmarine.com/Plastic-sliding-door-track-and-rollers-p/door-trackset-single-truck-sys.htm

I'll say this - I worked with Ben Marx there and he was prompt and knowledgeable.

He and the website said the old style trucks which the door rides on (which mine had) required replacing the entire track.

Heres the TLDR: The old trucks CAN be replaced without replacing the tracks - which is this part (Quantity 4) - https://www.fpmarine.com/Sliding-door-track-rollers-p/door truck b 25mm.htm

I removed the block by the bottom track, took the door out (which is tight but can be done) and found that its screwed down all the way behind the fiberglass form on the port side (with the steps and map area).

I'll add my walk through at the bottom, but heres the comparison of the original (I think) non bearing design, and the new ball bearing trucks.
View attachment 84350 View attachment 84351

Heres the walkthrough -
1. Start with door closed.
2. Unscrew the 4 screws at the top holding the trucks
3. Unscrew the 3 screws at the bottom of the door holding it to the u channel.
4. Unlatch the door, slide it back to clear the door lock and gently work it out of the U channel, and lift out of the doorway. I did this by myself, and laid it over top of the port side (passenger side of the helm)
5. Unscrew the 2 screws holding the U channel to the bottom trucks.
6. Unscrew the bottom track (like 4 visible screws) and unscrew the block of starboard front of it.
7. Pull the track away from the Cabin enough to slide out the bottom trucks and slide in the new ones.
8. Slide out the top trucks and replace
9. Re secure starboard block and bottom U channel.
10. Hate your life while you try to line up the trucks to the U channel and reinstall.
11. Hate your life while you wiggle the door back in,fight it back into the U channel and then fight to line up the holes in the U channel with the holes in the door.
11. Hate your life while you align the top trucks with the door, which will wiggle around a good bit. Use a flat blade screwdriver to move the truck to the right spot.
12. Reinstall the top screws.

It took be about 45 minutes or so start to finish. I'm guessing our track and the sundancers are different and the majority of the tracks FP Marine sees are Sundancers.

All you need is a few beverages, 4 trucks, and some patience and you're all set. My bottom trucks were both cracked in half, the tops were intact. Mine is a 97, so most of this group is probably looking at experiencing this in the next few years.

Hope this helps someone and saves them the $$ of buying the whole kit.

Cheers!

Shooter - I removed my 4 old trucks today and measured them. The bottom ones were pretty bad and the top looked good. They all measured out to 13/16" or 21 mm. The FP site has 25mm or 23mm. Are you sure you used the 25mm trucks? I'm wondering if they changed something from 97 to 99?

 

[West32]

Haven't done it either, but need to. Any luck sourcing it?

Not yet.

 

[West32]

hello group , Has anyone changed the cabin door tracks and rollers, any insite would be appreciated, going to try and get this done this weekend if im not fishing [37 express ]

I just did mine.
FP Marine had the parts. They also had the windshield Screw cover (Good Stuff)

There is a post a few pages back on how to replace the trucks without taking off the port side.

1 hour easy job. It helps to have a set of hands in the cabin!

 

[West32]

Has anyone replaced their AC unit? Mine is original and it keeps getting louder and louder each year. I'm considering a Marinaire unit. It looks to be the only one that will direct fit without a lot of re-plumbing.

Let me know

 

[Lhs3422]

I just did mine.
FP Marine had the parts. They also had the windshield Screw cover (Good Stuff)
View attachment 156127

There is a post a few pages back on how to replace the trucks without taking off the port side.

1 hour easy job. It helps to have a set of hands in the cabin!

West, I have a ‘99 with the dried out foam windshield screw cover trim. How did your new stuff turn out? This is on my winter list. Thanks

 

[West32]

West, I have a ‘99 with the dried out foam windshield screw cover trim. How did your new stuff turn out? This is on my winter list. Thanks

I did mine 4 years ago and it looked GREAT! I had to redo one side this year because the material shrank a little. Make sure when you do it, you make sure the material extends in each side as far as you can get it in there. The material will shrink a little.

Good Luck!

 

[Lhs3422]

I did mine 4 years ago and it looked GREAT! I had to redo one side this year because the material shrank a little. Make sure when you do it, you make sure the material extends in each side as far as you can get it in there. The material will shrink a little.

Good Luck!

Thanks! I appreciate the tip!

 

[Lhs3422]

I did mine 4 years ago and it looked GREAT! I had to redo one side this year because the material shrank a little. Make sure when you do it, you make sure the material extends in each side as far as you can get it in there. The material will shrink a little.

Good Luck!

One more question. Stripped the old stuff out today (a mess!). The center section, just below the vent seems a bit smaller. Did this section take the same size trim? Thanks!

 

[West32]

Its tight but I got it to fit. Looks good.

One more question. Stripped the old stuff out today (a mess!). The center section, just below the vent seems a bit smaller. Did this section take the same size trim? Thanks!

 

[Lhs3422]

Its tight but I got it to fit. Looks good.

Great! Thanks again