Ride of 39 EC

I have read several of Pasco's articles. His writings are "product reviews". I have no idea if he has any engineering credentials to back up his opinions. I have no idea if his engineering opinions are referenced to the state of the art in design at the time the boat was manufactured. I don't even know if he is a competent surveyer. My Opinion.... Pasco's articles have no more credibility then a product review written in a boating magazine. I get far more value from the opinions and reports of fellow boaters that own the exact year and model of the boat of interest. I find most boat owners to be brutally honest about the short comings of their vessels.
 
Here are some odd points:

THere is a lot of difference between the 390EC and 400EC in ride and sea keeping. The narrower beam had nothing to do with cost but was part of the design to deal with the 390's poor low speed handling in a wind. Simply stated, there is 10" more or a heavier boat under the water to keep them from weather vaneing. THe ride characteristics are different as well. The 390 runs flat in turns and the 400 will heal over like a ski boat, but they turn on a very tight radius.

There was no 420EC in '92. That was t he first year for the 420DA. It was a great boat but was replaced after 3 years by the 440DA which was even better. THe 440DA was replaced in '95 by the 450DA whic his juistr about a perfect bo at. THe 400EC remained constant and unchanged until it was phased out in 1999, I think.

All of these boats are better with diesel power, and the larger the boat the more important diesels become. Personally, I wouldn't even want a 400EC with gas motors, but they are very fast and are great handling boats.

Don't even get me started on Pascoe.............suffice it to say he uses his writings to sell his marine consulting services. Do you really trhink he'd publish something that says "This boat is so good you don't need to call me?"
 
Frank are you sure about the first year of the 420DA?? I have a slip neighbor who has a 1990 420DA with twin Cat 3208's

Can you elaborate more on your comment that the 400EC is a fast boat? We have a slip neighbor selling his with twi 454s ... I think they ae 310 or 340 hp versions. Would you recommend such a boat?
 
I dropped my boat off yesterday at the local MM where I store for the winter. the guy helping my tie up has a 420 DA. I asked him what year it was and he said its an '89, he bought it new and got it with 454s. He takes it to Florida every fall (from the Chesapeake) and brings it back in the spring. Repowered about 5 years ago with 8.1s..........unbelievable. I remember him from when I kept a boat there 16 years ago.

John
 
I think you may be right on the 420DA.......can I really be held responsible for that one 17 years after the fact! My point was that there was no EC in the over 40 ft' category except for the 400EC.

Yes, I'd recommend the 400EC with gas motors, they are great boats, but understand that they are not going to be cheap to run. I've run 2 different gas versions recently...one was a '98 with 310 hp (I think, they were the standard motors, not ho's) and an older one.....I think a '94 with 502's. Both boats will fly...like 34 to 36 mph... for a big gas boat. I like them, but I love the ones with Cat diesels. Anytime you get over about 14-16,000 lbs, the the boat may be a performer, as the 400EC is, but she's also going to use a lot of fuel. The later 400EC's with EFI motors are the best gas ones to own.

here's a little known trick for the 400EC...remove the side graphic and it changes the whole look of the boat and makes it look cleaner, crisper and bigger. This isn't a very good photo, but you get the idea
 
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Frank ... couldn't agree more with you! Thanks for the advice!

502's would probably be bad from a reliability and gas consumption standpoint. I think this one is an early 400EC with 310hp 454s

The current owner already removed the graphics ... SR quickly stopped putting these on big cruisers ...
 
Below is a friend's 400 EC

Frank, I will give you a pass on that one :smt001 I'm not to fond of the fender holders on the swim platform, just my opinion.

P8060003.jpg
 
Most people in our area have either removed the fender module if it was a separate mold or have converted it into a little "trunk" for stern anchor storage, The boat in the photo has a starboard lid which doubles as a transom seat.......it really pretty neat.
 
OK . . this is for JC3 to consider and Frank to find the holes in this logic.

Total fuel capacity is 300 Gallons.
Merc 7.4 MPI/400EC Performance Specs
Cruise 3000 RPM Cruise Speed 21MPH Fuel Usage 28.5 GPH
W.O.T. 4600 RPM W.O.T. Speed 33MPH Fuel Usage 64 GPH

Doesnt this get you to the Bahamas?
_____________________________________________________________

I purchased a 1998 400EC with gas 7.4 MPI. 7.4 MPI are 380HP each. I purchased the boat for the ride, room and speed. I am on a lake so I don't worry about fuel consumption. BTW . . .Fuel is the cheepest part of my boating experience.
 
HIFI: Thanks for your thoughts. If iam close the range on those numbers would be (safely) with reserve about 200 miles give or take a little. Does that sound about right? :smt017 JC
 
JC3 said:
HIFI: Thanks for your thoughts. If iam close the range on those numbers would be (safely) with reserve about 200 miles give or take a little. Does that sound about right? :smt017 JC
Click to expand...


I am not sure I understand what you are saying. With the aforementioned Cruise data your running out of fuel in 220 miles. The W.O.T. data has you running out of fuel in 150 miles. What are the total miles to your destination and what fuel reserve keeps you comfortable?
 
HIFI: I used 90% of the fuel(10%reserve). Thus the approx 200 mile range give or take some. The trip over(Gov Cut) to Bimini is about 50nm. The next run to Chub is about 90nm or if you bypass Chub & go st to Nassau its about 150nm. Nassau to Allens is about 40nm, then down the Exumas chain. So range would not be a problem. JC
 
Actual experience beats book numbers any day..............real loads on the boat, real bottom conditions, etc.

The only flaw I can point out is the reserve fuel amount planned. Ten percent is not adequate.......15% is considered a bare minimum and most conservative and experienced guys I know plan 1/3 to destination, 1/3 back and a 1/3 reserve.

The factor you may not be considering is that in a partially full fuel tank, 4 ft seas can slosh the remaining fuel enough that you can uncover the fuel pick up. It does not matter how well you sharpen your pencil, when you uncover the fuel pick up, you run out of fuel....and a 10% reserve will cause trouble......be sure you are in SeaTow range if you use that low a reserve!
 
There is no question that gas boats can cruise the Bahamas. 26. 28, 32 and 34's make the trip every Memorial Day to Grand Bahama, (90 miles). 32 and 34s make the run to Nassau via Chubb with stops for fuel. Of course 60 or so gas boats were stranded for 3-5 days a year or so ago when the conditions turned nasty. All the diesel boats got back. To me the question is the quality of the journey. A diesel boat has a greater range, a softer ride through heavy seas, plenty of fuel availability, more flexibility on travel conditions, more reliability, longer life, etc. etc.
 
Before I purchased my 1985 390 in September I read Pascoe's review. He does say that he "really likes the boat" but then says he wouldn't take it offshore.

I haven't owned mine long enough yet, but after taking delivery I had a three hour ride home in solid 3-5's- and she didn't skip a beat. Is it a canyon runner? Don't think so, but I don't think safety is a concern and if I lived on the right coast I would sure as he!! take her to the Abacos. Seems to me Sea Ray offered the same hull in the 390 Sportfish, which is an offshore convertible.
 
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