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

[Magic]

Learned a few lessons today folks that might help you.

1. Check / replace your engine belts!

Port engine water pump belt snapped at 2200 rpm.
First alert was an over temp alarm at the helm (Thank you alarm system!!).
Dropped to a standstill and quickly opened the engine hatch.

2. Make sure the coolant overflow tank has its own overflow tube in place.

When the engine overheats, coolant expands into the overflow tank and, once this is full, coolant exits the overflow tank (overflow) port at the top of the container.
Without the overflow tube in place, which directs coolant to the bilge, coolant sprays across the entire engine room…what a mess.

3. Make sure you carry spare belts onboard.

Fortunately I had a spare belt and was able to:

• Remove the engine sync cable to the damper.
• Loosen the alternator tensioner and remove the alternator belt.
• Loosen the water pump tensioner wheel and install the new water pump belt
• Return alternator belt and engine sync.
• Tension everything (temporarily).
• Exit the engine room at speed and throw up over the side.

That last step is optional.

Idled back to the marina and will clean up the mess tomorrow.

Check/replace your belts!

Greg

 

[DowneastSeaRay]

Wow - great catch and recovery! Happy for you that you caught it in time. Nothing like engine work on a hot engine while rolling on the waves

 

[Magic]

For those that have bow thrusters, would you mind posting a picture of the internal mounting (motor and batteries)? Do you have this installed in the forward stateroom floor locker?

Thanks

 

[Saverio]

The motor is in the forward compartment.
The two batteries are in the compartment behind it. The charger is also in that compartment

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

in mine the thruster tube & motor, charger and batteries are ALL in the fwd compartment

1996 450 DA

 

[DowneastSeaRay]

For those that have bow thrusters, would you mind posting a picture of the internal mounting (motor and batteries)? Do you have this installed in the forward stateroom floor locker?

Thanks

Here's pictures of mine. The first two pictures are in the forward stateroom locker. I keep that locker otherwise empty. The second two are in the locker adjacent to the forward head. I'll be replacing the batteries with lithium soon. Also, there is a 3000W inverter in there in the event we want to make coffee in the morning while at anchor or on a mooring - and we don't want to run the generator. This set-up seems to work well for our needs.

 

[Magic]

DSR, thanks for the pics...super helpful! What size Vetus(?) is that 55KGF on a 150mm tunnel? Or perhaps I should ask, what is the recommended size (normal berthing use)?

I've also been trying to figure out what to do for continuous power for at least one 12v fridge. Perhaps LiFeP04 (fire risk?) doubling as the bow thruster batteries and the fridge...thoughts?

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

Here's pictures of mine. The first two pictures are in the forward stateroom locker. I keep that locker otherwise empty. The second two are in the locker adjacent to the forward head.

Twas a very BRAVE MAN who cut those holes in the floor for the inspection bungs......

BEST !

RWS

 

[DowneastSeaRay]

I’ll report back the specs of my bow thruster. I can tell you that it is very effective in shoving the bow around. I’m sure it’s the same as the others on the forum. RE the 12v fridge: We removed the washer/dryer and have a 12v fridge/freezer in its place. Again, it works well for our needs. I don’t feel that the current Lithium (sorry - so much easier than LiPo skdndj) generation is very safe - if you use quality, name-brand components. Most boaters we speak with are swapping over. 27 lbs vs 70lbs though, double the capacity and half the time to charge. I didn’t hesitate.

 

[DowneastSeaRay]

Twas a very BRAVE MAN who cut those holes in the floor for the inspection bungs......

BEST !

RWS

Did more than that! We cut the whole locker floor out, replaced a stringer, glassed and painted that bilge section - and then installed the inspection ports into the new floor. There is no way to see if there is any water in there, yet that’s where any leak ends up. In my situation, it leaked through the aft, starboard cabin portal and down the inside of the hull, behind the wall panel. We had no way of knowing there was a leak.[/QUOTE]

 

[DowneastSeaRay]

DSR, thanks for the pics...super helpful! What size Vetus(?) is that 55KGF on a 150mm tunnel? Or perhaps I should ask, what is the recommended size (normal berthing use)?

I've also been trying to figure out what to do for continuous power for at least one 12v fridge. Perhaps LiFeP04 (fire risk?) doubling as the bow thruster batteries and the fridge...thoughts?

Mine is a Vetus 95 kgf 185mm powered by 2 group 27 lead acid start batteries (1050cca each). It was installed by Florida Bow Thruster.

 

[The Bill Collector]

I had ours installed, 10" tunnel w/ 10hp side power. It's in the galley floor hatch, approximately under the doorway of the master stateroom.

 

[DowneastSeaRay]

I had ours installed, 10" tunnel w/ 10hp side power. It's in the galley floor hatch, approximately under the doorway of the master stateroom.

That’s substantially larger than mine (insert joke here)! I know it’s not possible, but it would be interesting to somehow experience them side by side to see the difference that extra diameter and torque makes.

 

[The Bill Collector]

 

[Magic]

View attachment 141642 View attachment 141643

How did you sleep with a hole that size bored through the hull!

 

[The Bill Collector]

How did you sleep with a hole that size bored through the hull!

There were a lot of tears....

 

[DowneastSeaRay]

@ Bill Collector - somehow I assumed that you had a 450 Sundancer! Who knew!

 

[The Bill Collector]

@ Bill Collector - somehow I assumed that you had a 450 Sundancer! Who knew!

My '89 300 Weekender was my "The Bill Collector" and I thought it was unique....

 

[DowneastSeaRay]

I was just joking - I saw that on the highway and had to snap a picture

 

[The Bill Collector]

I was just joking - I saw that on the highway and had to snap a picture