OFFICIAL 390/40 Motor Yacht Thread

TechDoc,
I'm not sure what type of fishing you are talking about, but we perch fish off the back of our boat all of the time (and just have the standard swim platform), but we are anchored while doing that. The other fishing on the Great Lakes is for salmon and that is done while trolling and here we are not permitted to be on the swim platform when the boat is in motion. The extended swim platform would be nice, but for us at least, it wouldn't make the boat any more suitable for fishing.
 
Last edited:
Hi Earl,

Thanks for the info. I think chances are we will probably end up buying a boat with the standard swim platform. There are several for sale within 200 miles of us that we are going to look at, but only one has an extended swim platform, and it's not at the top of our list for other reasons. If we end up buying one, we'll play around with the standard swim platform as a place to fish from, then decide if we need more room.

Besides fishing, we are thinking that an extended swim platform would allow us to have more options for mounting a dinghy/tender.

Thanks again. It sounds like you are not using the boat in the ocean, but do you have any thoughts about open ocean travel, or know anyone on here who might?
 
Hi all, my wife and I are buying a 2005 390 with Cummins 480 CE engines. The boat is located on Long Island. The hull and engine survey was a week ago, but the starboard engine's impeller failed during the sea trial. We had to suspend the engine survey. The boat's owner pledged to have the local Cummins shop replace impellers and service the seawater-cooled stuff (heat exchangers, aftercoolers, trans coolers, etc) on both engines, as this stuff was apparently not done the last three years. Then we're going to repeat the engine survey, hopefully this week. The boat is in really nice shape, with just a few issues found by the hull surveyor. The Cummins engines have 820 hours and the Onan genset has 1,020. I'm actually glad the impeller failed when it did, since the seller is probably spending about $7k for all that maintenance from the Cummins shop. Assuming the engine survey goes well and we close on this boat, the first thing on the agenda is to fly up there and bring the boat to Chesapeake Bay.
 
Good luck with completing your purchase! We love our 390 MY that we just purchased last month. Great boat!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Has anyone had to pull the washer/dryer to get to the hot water tank? Any tips if so?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Robf said:
Has anyone had to pull the washer/dryer to get to the hot water tank? Any tips if so?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I had to get behind it to address some leaks. Start by pulling that carpeted trim, all screws should be visible. Then pull the 2x4s which are also screwed in.

I didn't actually pull it out, just wedged myself on top to access the water heater.

I suspect you may need to pull the battery chargers off the aft bulkhead to make the corner.

FYI, it's about 150lbs.

Please post photos of your process! I always felt a much larger, non-marine water heater could go back there and drastically increase capacity.
 
Robf said:
Has anyone had to pull the washer/dryer to get to the hot water tank? Any tips if so?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I had it pulled twice. The first time was to replace the sanitation hoses that run through that area from the forward head; air leaks were causing the vacuum pump to run on. The second time I had the water heater replaced with an 11 gallon unit (an even larger one would fit to Jmwarren's question). The primary reason I replaced the water heater was that I was having problems with hot water smell and, since it couldn't be reached behind the washer, I couldn't get to it for cleaning/flushing. The new one has a stainless tank and the valves can (just barely) be reached without washer removal.
The dealer techs who did the work removed the step assembly. Once that was out of the way it was relatively easy to get the washer completely out of the compartment after removing the bracing.
 
Great, thanks! Will give that a go to get to the tank. It appears I have a bad pressure relief and every time I turn on the hot water tank I can kiss my water supply good bye! I may try the "reach over top" method first to prevent having to pull the washer dryer if I can avoid. Seems like there should be a better set up for access for by passing and winterizing your tank! Also, I will try to take pictures...I always seem to forget that and remember after I am done!
Rob
 
Robf said:
Great, thanks! Will give that a go to get to the tank. It appears I have a bad pressure relief and every time I turn on the hot water tank I can kiss my water supply good bye! I may try the "reach over top" method first to prevent having to pull the washer dryer if I can avoid. Seems like there should be a better set up for access for by passing and winterizing your tank! Also, I will try to take pictures...I always seem to forget that and remember after I am done!
Rob
Click to expand...

I did the pressure relief valve by hanging over the washer/dryer without any issue. It's right up to and pretty easy to get to if you fit.

Word of warning, don't disturb the garden hose like plumbing fittings. They use a tapered conical washer and love to leak. I've replaced many of the fittings with brass ones.
 
Thanks for the warning..I will be sure not to mess with any of them. When you replaced your pressure relief valve, were you experiencing the same symptoms as I am? Losing a tank full of water when the hot water tank was on? Did you drain the tank prior to changing? The tank has been shut off, but assume still full of water. Assume no problem laying on the washer dryer from a weight perspective?
Rob
Jmwarren said:
I did the pressure relief valve by hanging over the washer/dryer without any issue. It's right up to and pretty easy to get to if you fit.

Word of warning, don't disturb the garden hose like plumbing fittings. They use a tapered conical washer and love to leak. I've replaced many of the fittings with brass ones.
Click to expand...
 
Joel_MD said:
Hi all, my wife and I are buying a 2005 390 with Cummins 480 CE engines. The boat is located on Long Island. The hull and engine survey was a week ago, but the starboard engine's impeller failed during the sea trial. We had to suspend the engine survey. The boat's owner pledged to have the local Cummins shop replace impellers and service the seawater-cooled stuff (heat exchangers, aftercoolers, trans coolers, etc) on both engines, as this stuff was apparently not done the last three years. Then we're going to repeat the engine survey, hopefully this week. The boat is in really nice shape, with just a few issues found by the hull surveyor. The Cummins engines have 820 hours and the Onan genset has 1,020. I'm actually glad the impeller failed when it did, since the seller is probably spending about $7k for all that maintenance from the Cummins shop. Assuming the engine survey goes well and we close on this boat, the first thing on the agenda is to fly up there and bring the boat to Chesapeake Bay.
Click to expand...

Update to this boat purchase:

The Cummins engine techs were supposed to finish their work today, but the aftercoolers on both engines failed leak testing. Now the owner is going to replace both aftercoolers.

How concerned should I be about the boat being run with leaky aftercoolers? How likely is it that the engines ingested seawater due to the bad aftercoolers? Apparently the Cummins guys did not draw oil samples yet for lab analysis. My broker is asking them to do that ASAP so we don't have to needlessly wait for the results.
 
Robf said:
Thanks for the warning..I will be sure not to mess with any of them. When you replaced your pressure relief valve, were you experiencing the same symptoms as I am? Losing a tank full of water when the hot water tank was on? Did you drain the tank prior to changing? The tank has been shut off, but assume still full of water. Assume no problem laying on the washer dryer from a weight perspective?
Rob
Click to expand...

Mine was the source of a very slow leak into that forward bildge.

Manifold is just aft of the washer, try turning off the hot water feed and see if you still have an issue? Can you see water flowing out the thru-hull (port side, halfway down the hull).

The washer supported me with zero concerns, I'm only 145 though, but it felt solid.
 
Joel_MD said:
Update to this boat purchase:

The Cummins engine techs were supposed to finish their work today, but the aftercoolers on both engines failed leak testing. Now the owner is going to replace both aftercoolers.

How concerned should I be about the boat being run with leaky aftercoolers? How likely is it that the engines ingested seawater due to the bad aftercoolers? Apparently the Cummins guys did not draw oil samples yet for lab analysis. My broker is asking them to do that ASAP so we don't have to needlessly wait for the results.
Click to expand...

Its possible they weren't leaking prior to disassembly but entirely possible they were...I'd be posting this to boat diesel, they'll provide solid advice.
 
JM
Completed the project last night, but not without issues. Removed the carpet panel and supports around the washer dryer. The space it revealed was not large enough for me to fit easily in, but instead had to wedge myself along the top left open side. Even at this had to do in limited amounts of time due to not being able to breath well squeezed in there. after draining the tank, I was able to wrestle the pressure release valve out with a pipe wrench. New valve installed, tank refilled, and turned on. No visible leaks. Filled water tank and let pump on and hot water tank on and went to bed. After work today, I will see if I still have water. With my bruised chest bone, I am hoping it was successful!

Rob
Jmwarren said:
Mine was the source of a very slow leak into that forward bildge.

Manifold is just aft of the washer, try turning off the hot water feed and see if you still have an issue? Can you see water flowing out the thru-hull (port side, halfway down the hull).

The washer supported me with zero concerns, I'm only 145 though, but it felt solid.
Click to expand...
 
I am happy to report that I had a full tank of water and no signs of leaks! A noticeable improvement after losing 75 gallons in two hours!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Well, it looks like I am a survey and a sea trial away from being a fellow Sea Ray Motor Yacht owner! I have a contract in place for a very clean, well maintained, well equipped, low hour, diesel 2005 390MY. Aside from the model, diesel engines, age and condition of the boat, it also has 4 of our "nice to have" features: an extended swim platform, a dinghy/tender, a bow thruster, and a transferable slip at one of our top choices for a marina.

Keeping my fingers crossed that the boat is healthy.
 
Congratulations! We are two months into our ownership of a 2004 390 that only had 240 hours on it, and we absolutely love it! We discover new things we love about the boat every week!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Thanks Robf!

The offer was accepted Friday evening, and we will conduct the sea trial tomorrow (Sunday) morning. If that goes well, we'll try to get the surveys going this week, and hopefully take ownership of the boat the following week. I am trying to move things along as quickly as possible, so we can take advantage of the remaining summer and early fall weather here in SoCal.

This will be our first big boat purchase, so I am sure I'll be on these forums asking lots of questions and seeking lots of help. I'm already thinking of maybe adding some of the "artificial teak" type of flooring to parts of the boat, so I've been on here searching and reading about the various products and their installation and wear.

Now I just have to hurry up and wait...
 
The sea trial was a success!

The boat ran well, and the electronics and other systems seemed to be in good operating order. I was very pleased with the conditions (airflow, temperature, etc.) and visibility inside the helm area while running at cruising speed. I was also pleased with the performance and handling characteristics of the 480CE engines and MY hull. She was a little sportier to run than I imagined, which was a very pleasant surprise. I really like the balance between the bridge heigh, aft position, visibility and stability. It felt like a jacked up Sundancer, but not jacked up as high as a fly or sedan, so there was less of the rolling or pendulum feeling at the helm.

We have authorized the surveys to proceed ASAP, and barring any unexpected surprises, we should be motor yachting soon after July 4th!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,202
Messages
1,428,455
Members
61,108
Latest member
asigman
Back
Top