Official 370 Sundancer thread

SearayPaul

I haven't calculated it yet! Next Friday we are taking it to Apalachacola, about 65 miles one way, and I plan to do the calculations on that. I just changed all the fuel filters and the bottom will be cleaned next week.

A friend just bought a 05 360 with 8.1's and we are going to compare the numbers. It should be pretty interesting because the boats are very similar in size and weight.

I'll keep you posted!
 
Dog Daze Don, nice job on the TV! It looks like you need a bigger bar area though. I post some pics of mine as soon as I can. Mark
 
We got our 1998 370DA in May 2008 and drove it back from Marblehead Ohio to just north of Burlington VT. Lake Erie, Erie Canal, Champlain Canal and then up Lake Champlain. 7 days and 45 locks was my introduction to inboards. I am still amazed at the response and maneuverability. Won we found true love (the 370) we searched the world over and found everything we wanted at the right price in OH. We spent the first summer leaving aboard and had the time of our life despite the very rainy summer we had up here in the north country. I have not needed to do any major modifications yet but find these posts VERY interesting and informative. I especially think the idea of hanging the flat screen from the camper canvas support framing is absolutely brilliant and will be set up for this in the spring seeing as how we have already witnessed snow here. I believe this thread will be of great help to all. I'm on the website at least three or 4 times a week and can't wait to here more.
 
We love our 370 for all the same reasons you all have mentioned. This is our 5th year and it's been fun upgrading the boat along the way.(besides the usual mechanicals, carpets in/out, curtains, tables, lighting, dinghy with davit etc) Begining this year we thought about moving up to a sedan bridge, we cruise often and thought that the extra room would be great..but after carefull consideration we both thought why? we have everything we need allready, plus I know every inch of the boat. The only thing on my wish list is a tv that can be watched in the salon. So please post your pictures of any upgrades for inspiration. I'll post mine as soon as I get my computer back.
It's going to be fun to see what we've all done to our lil 370.
Also as far as the boats looks being timeless, have you ever noticed whether it's a decal or an example on some embroidery or even a necklace charm, they all seem to use the 370 as it's image. I'm sure we all count the portholes to see if it's a 370 and not the 330..
Rich
 
cruiser said:
Also as far as the boats looks being timeless, have you ever noticed whether it's a decal or an example on some embroidery or even a necklace charm, they all seem to use the 370 as it's image. I'm sure we all count the portholes to see if it's a 370 and not the 330..
Rich
Click to expand...

I store at the Gunpowder Cove Marine Max, back in the mid '90s they had tee shirts made up with a cartoon image of the 370 on the back. I bought a couple of them and rarely wear them as I want them to last a while, even back then I knew I wanted a 370DA. I've had the 370 for five years, still like the 450DA, kind of looks like a 370 on steroids...........oh well, very happy with what I have, staying put for a few more years. I didn't mean to offend anybody that has camper canvas, I didn't want to loose the lines of the boat so I went in a different direction, mine sort of looks like FWebster's rear canvas.

John
 
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xravenx said:
I didn't mean to offend anybody that has camper canvas, I didn't want to loose the lines of the boat so I went in a different direction, mine sort of looks like FWebster's rear canvas.

John
Click to expand...

That is what my camper package looks like also. I like the fact that it maintains the lines of the boat.
 
Great info on a great boat. Here is a dumb question for you guys about these flat screen TV's in the cockpits that are now so popular in new boats and retrofits on old.

Are these things sealed against the weather or do you have to protect them or remove them in some way?

I intend to do the flat screen upgrade in the cabin one of these days. Lucky for me my 370 was ordered without the TV in the master stateroom (which later became standard) so now I dont have to deal with the hole in the wall. We have a small portable sitting on the gunnel shelf on the starboard side which works fine for now. I would love to see a picture of how guys have mounted larger flatscreens in the salon especially the idea about mounting it on a bracket on the wall in the mid cabin.
 
J, the flat screen in my cockpit is attached to a bracket that attaches to the radar arch. I removed the padded combing piece that hides the seam between the boat and the arch so I could attach the bracket and then re-install the combing. Now the holes I drilled to attach the bracket are hidden behind the combing. I only take the tv down when I'm not there during the week just so it doesn't get stolen. Other then that it's up all the time, even when under way. I'll try to get some pics up as soon as I can figure out how. Most of my pics are to big. Mark
 
Thanks, so I take it these things can hold up to the typical dampness they would be exposed to while in the cockpit?
 
Does anyone have this. It comes in handy sometimes. Merrit Island sent it to me when I was checking into shipping by land. Mark
 
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SR Mark,
That is a neat document to have. Thanks for posting it.

We've had our '97 370 two seasons now, and love it.
 
J Levine said:
Thanks, so I take it these things can hold up to the typical dampness they would be exposed to while in the cockpit?
Click to expand...
J, I've had the tv for three seasons now and so far no problems with moisture.
 
I don't have any pictures of my TVs, but here is what I did. Pulled the original TVs out, utilizing the existing wooden shelf they were screwd to, I fabricated a mount out of 1/2" plywood, then spray painted everything black. I then secured the new flat screen to this using long bolts that screwed right into the back of the TV and slid the assembly back in the hole that the old TVs were in. Carefully measuring before making these mounts enabled the TVs to be flush against the wall, you can not tell there is a big hole behind them. Since the old TVs are taller then they are wider, I really couldn't find a TV that would hide the entire hole, so I made a filler peice to fill the void, worked out pretty good. I went with Polaroid TVs as they covered most of the hole compared to other brands.

Hope this helps

John
 
SR Mark

Great info! Thanks. The drawing says 1997 and it appears to be a 95-97 radar arch and not the higher arch.... right? Doesn't your 98 have the higher arch?

I have received simillar drawings from Merrit Island on a few occasions. I added a Sturdy Syncronizer to the boat two years ago and added a macerator 5 years ago. Both times I got the layout drawings from the factory to assist in the installation. If anyone wants me to post them, let me know.
 
J, I think you're right about the drawing being 95 -97. My boat has the higher arch and it looks a little different then the drawing. I guess you have to be a real 370DA egghead like us to notice the difference. I can spot the difference from a mile away when I see the real boat. Didn't your boat come with a macerator when it was new? I thought they were standard. I don't know if anyone else on this thread has had any dealings with the guys at Merrit Island but I would reccommend you call them if you have any questions. They're awesome! There's a guy down there named Jim McDonald that helped my out alot when I had my 37DB. He actually ran the assembly line in 1992 when my boat was built and he said he probably did the sea trial on it before it left the factory. The guy knows every nut and bolt on these boats. When you need some help and you can pick up the phone and talk to the guy that built your boat 10 - 15 years ago it makes you realize you get what you pay for.
 
A lot of stuff was optional in 1995 that became standard later. My boat did not have the macerator, the TV in the master stateroom, the docking lights, the windshield washer or the aft seating on the port side (I have a removeable boarding ladder), the cockpit heater, the stainless steel windshield, the ultra leather interior or the sycronizer. Interestingly enough it does have a 40 gallon holding tank which was not even listed as an option in 95 instead of the then standard 28 gallon tank. I have since added the masterator and the sync. I had to use the macerator a lot when I had the boat in Morehead City, NC which at the time had limited pump outs. Since I moved to NJ in 2005I have never run it again and probably never will. I can call the pump out boat on my VHF and get pumped at my slip. The 40 gal tank is very helpfull with 5 of us aboard by the way. The sync is awesome and I use it everytime I go out.
 
Yeah .....I also remove my flat screen from the cockpit when its not in use.....I had a cover ( sunbrella ) made for it....... but thats only for keeping the sun from damaging the screen. We only use the DVD feature ....I haven't ran any antenna wires yet.

I made up " studs " on the back of the TV.....with wing nuts to hold it to the bracket.....this way no tools are required to remove it. Works well.

I would also like to see any pictures of larger flat screen's mounted in the main salon........need to get some mounting ideas.............thanks
 
Don, I always thought if I was going to put a flat screen in the main salon it should go on the big flat area as you're looking into the aft state room. It would be the area behind the privacy curtain if was in the closed position. You know where I mean? I've seen some of the newer, smaller Sundancers have it in that spot.
 
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