OFFICIAL - 450DA Owner's Thread****

[E.Rice]

What a great place, over the past year I have found myself researching different topics and keep landing on this thread. Signed up, My wife and I , 3 boys (3,14,16) have spent the past year running around the Galveston Bay area and enjoying this Dancer. Constantly upgrading and maintaining this beast and learning all I can along the way. Hopefully by now I can start to share some of our upgrades, and whatever limited knowledge I have maybe help someone else

 

[The Bill Collector]

What a great place, over the past year I have found myself researching different topics and keep landing on this thread. Signed up, My wife and I , 3 boys (3,14,16) have spent the past year running around the Galveston Bay area and enjoying this Dancer. Constantly upgrading and maintaining this beast and learning all I can along the way. Hopefully by now I can start to share some of our upgrades, and whatever limited knowledge I have maybe help someone else
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Welcome !!! I noticed in your pic's your horn grill, here's a very inexpensive upgrade for you https://www.fisheriessupply.com/afi...ill-for-concealed-dual-trumpet-air-horn/11066

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

What a great place, over the past year I have found myself researching different topics and keep landing on this thread. Signed up, My wife and I , 3 boys (3,14,16) have spent the past year running around the Galveston Bay area and enjoying this Dancer. Constantly upgrading and maintaining this beast and learning all I can along the way. Hopefully by now I can start to share some of our upgrades, and whatever limited knowledge I have maybe help someone else
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LOVED your ships wheel enough to copy & save the photo

 

[E.Rice]

Welcome !!! I noticed in your pic's your horn grill, here's a very inexpensive upgrade for you https://www.fisheriessupply.com/afi...ill-for-concealed-dual-trumpet-air-horn/11066

I like the inexpensive upgrades - on it, thanks

 

[E.Rice]

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LOVED your ships wheel enough to copy & save the photo

My wife’s first request update the dash, so that had to get done first of course. Local guy cut my panels and I had the gauges/plotter/head replaced and the wheel

 

[techmitch]

What a great place, over the past year I have found myself researching different topics and keep landing on this thread. Signed up, My wife and I , 3 boys (3,14,16) have spent the past year running around the Galveston Bay area and enjoying this Dancer. Constantly upgrading and maintaining this beast and learning all I can along the way. Hopefully by now I can start to share some of our upgrades, and whatever limited knowledge I have maybe help someone else
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Welcome aboard CSR. Those docking lights are a known source of water leaks on the 450 that can saturate and rot your hull coring. I would thoroughly inspect the lights themselves and at minimum re-bed them as soon as possible.

 

[E.Rice]

My wife’s first request update the dash, so that had to get done first of course. Local guy cut my panels and I had the gauges/plotter/head replaced and the wheel

Welcome aboard CSR. Those docking lights are a known source of water leaks on the 450 that can saturate and rot your hull coring. I would thoroughly inspect the lights themselves and at minimum re-bed them as soon as possible.

Its on the list I was going to replace with leds I will make sure they are sealed well. Thanks for the heads up

 

[E.Rice]

Its on the list I was going to replace with leds I will make sure they are sealed well. Thanks for the heads up

Chasing another demon (excessive e black smoke getting on plane- again wife hates so it’s on top of the priority list) today, STBD turbo lagging behind pulled elbows no leaks internally had to have some pinholes on exterior welded closed. Cleaned both turbos extremely dirty and not spinning smoothly now clean and spin free and reinstalled elbows. Went out and now spool up good but still have excessive black smoke getting on plane. Cleaned aftercoolers and replaced one core pressure tested installed approx 20 hours on them. New air filters, going to replace 4 racors and secondaries again next to make sure they aren’t clogged. Running 22x26 4 blade just had them reworked to 23x26 with 4 cup. Hit my 2700 rpm wot now easily with 1/2 fuel normal beer load and people. No air leaks any more suggestions next maybe check injector pump ?

 

[The Bill Collector]

Hopefully the Cummins guys will chip in, as most of us have CATs.

 

[techmitch]

Chasing another demon (excessive e black smoke getting on plane- again wife hates so it’s on top of the priority list) today, STBD turbo lagging behind pulled elbows no leaks internally had to have some pinholes on exterior welded closed. Cleaned both turbos extremely dirty and not spinning smoothly now clean and spin free and reinstalled elbows. Went out and now spool up good but still have excessive black smoke getting on plane. Cleaned aftercoolers and replaced one core pressure tested installed approx 20 hours on them. New air filters, going to replace 4 racors and secondaries again next to make sure they aren’t clogged. Running 22x26 4 blade just had them reworked to 23x26 with 4 cup. Hit my 2700 rpm wot now easily with 1/2 fuel normal beer load and people. No air leaks any more suggestions next maybe check injector pump ?

Serious reading for you http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/official-cummins-6cta-450c-thread.77886/
You should sign up here also, tons of info. https://www.sbmar.com/articles/the-cummins-6cta-8-3-marine-engine-story/

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

Its on the list I was going to replace with leds I will make sure they are sealed well. Thanks for the heads up

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During my 450 chase I came across several 450's where the owner provided previous surveys.

Three of these disclosed some degree of wet core in the bow area.

I had a contract on one that failed the survey with numerous wet core issues, including that same bow area.

From what I have gathered, the lights mounted were a dealer installed item, generally left up to the lowest skilled yard monkeys.

If they failed to seal the cuts properly, well, here's a place for water intrusion.

At this age it's a good practice to re-bed the hatches as well.

The center bow rails are yet another spot, however the re-bedding of these would require removal of the headliner. At the very least cleaning the joint with acetone and running a thin bead of marine grade clear silicone around the base seems to me to be a best practice.

There have also been reports of water intrusion around the engine room air intake vents. These are also on my list after the deck hatches and re-sealing the windshield base screws and replacing the rubber covers.

The 1995-1999 450 series are extremely well engineered, well designed boats, however as they age these vulnerabilities need to be taken seriously and resolved before they become a serious issue.

In my case I hoped to have the majority of these completed prior to Florida's rainy season, but spent too much time in the engine room. Working hard now to make this happen.

There are numerous threads here on CSR and elsewhere to serve as a guide, and these issues are not simply confined to Sea Ray but to ANY cored deck vessel as they age.

BEST !

RWS

 

[E.Rice]

Serious reading for you http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/official-cummins-6cta-450c-thread.77886/
You should sign up here also, tons of info. https://www.sbmar.com/articles/the-cummins-6cta-8-3-marine-engine-story/

I have been on there reading on sbmar site for a while - wealth of information

 

[E.Rice]

Got to love sharkbite fittings and new faucets, not that bad of a job to swap out
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[E.Rice]

Got to love sharkbite fittings and new faucets, not that bad of a job to swap

New water heater installed have hot water finally … bonus !! Just swapped out 4 new 30 micron racors and the 2 secondaries 10 micron this morning. Some black on racors will add additive.

Looking forward to another overnight July 2

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

We must be thinking alike!

Nice plumbing job. Just did mine and the water heater too!

I added household water filter at the galley and for the icemaker as well.

Good move with the combination Fusion & JL amps/speakers same here as well.
Would love to see how you accessed the cockpit sub for replacement.

BEST !

RWS

 

[E.Rice]

We must be thinking alike!

Nice plumbing job. Just did mine and the water heater too!

I added household water filter at the galley and for the icemaker as well.

Good move with the combination Fusion & JL amps/speakers same here as well.
Would love to see how you accessed the cockpit sub for replacement.

BEST !

RWS

Removed the back seats to get more access unscrewed it and it barely comes out. Screwed the new one as tight as I could get it filled gaps with silicone and took off the wood panels behind it for easier access and more air. Not fun at all in the heat , Added another one behind chair also both on their own sub. running 6-6’s
and 2-8’s on their own amp

friend of mine actually did the wiring and set up I was the grunt

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

I replaced the saddle fuses on the engine room solenoid with "Slow-Blow" fuses and never had another issue.

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Buy fuses of the same amperage…..they will blow correctly so the equipment is properly protected but the slow-blow type requires an extra second or 2 to heat up before popping.

Found the solenoid and the 5 amp blade style (ATO) fuses.

Lots of slow blow glass fuses available

I am currently unable to locate a slow blow ATO style fuse.

Tried Amazon & NAPA

Can anyone please provide a source?

BEST !

RWS

 

[E.Rice]

You should also have three plywood boards epoxied grey that rest on top of the hollow aluminum bar that supports the aft cabin filler cushions s. I suggest you check the two storage areas along the port side of the aft cabin

Correct I have the aluminum bar also and 3 boards that support the bed. We use it often.

 

[Dave Marshall]

I just got back from a week on the boat. Went to anchor out and the Windlass didn't work for me either, from the dash or at the foot switches. Thanks for posting the wiring diagram, I'll be looking for those fuses as well. I replaced the seized Starboard fuel valve with the Groco 6 port fuel valve and now the Port side is seized! I ordered two more to replace all three like I knew I should have in the first place. Ritchie Navigation confirmed that they can refurb the stock compass on my 95' and said it would be $200 so I'm sending it in. Funny thing, one of our guests asked if I had a can opener to which I replied, "Yes!" and pulled out the original Nutone attachment and it worked perfectly! I get a kick out of that original stuff still working...

 

[Dave Marshall]

This is how my docking lights look, not ideal!

Was thinking of sourcing the stock recessed units if they are available but open to any ideas here? The original holes seem to be intact behind the King Starboard plates they used. Thank you!