The Official 450 Express Bridge Owners Club

Shoyrtt said:
The only thing I would add is to check all of your hoses. I replaced both of my water pumps last year and did the hoses at the same time. I know it's a shitty job, but check your black water hoses also for age and cracks. It's not a fun job, but it is a lot easier to do in your slip than have one rupture and ruin a trip.
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Thanks! All my hoses & clamps I had replaced on acquisition 2 yrs ago June at the suggestion of Cummins mechanic who did my survey work. Several boxes of hoses & clamps he saved for me were a very obvious good call. Stiff and cracked hoses, and rusted or busted clamps. He referenced using complete set of "hose kits" for the Cummins engines. Glad I did! But, yes, I have two sets of eyes in my bilge, mine and my yacht manager. Relative to waste hoses, they don't look too bad but both pump duck valves have been replaced and a pressure sensor on one. As many guests we seem to routinely have aboard, yes, important!
 
It was a thrilling Wednesday nighto_O
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I don't think I have that. I think all grey water drains go to a single tank which sits sort of stbd to the two steps down from fridge. And condensate goes to a sump aft salon floor hatch. Mmm, maybe not all three A/C's tho.
 
Jack O'Brien said:
I don't think I have that. I think all grey water drains go to a single tank which sits sort of stbd to the two steps down from fridge. And condensate goes to a sump aft salon floor hatch. Mmm, maybe not all three A/C's tho.
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What you described is what Jim posted, under the "hallway" access door.
 
Yes. AND back left behind the bow thruster batteries looking aft. Really tough spot to access. Hallway hatch and hatch in front of fridge, can stretch and reach by contorting your upper body. But, my yacht guy replaced the bilge pump in there and I can hear it briefly engage on/off when running master SR sink water. He put in a much larger gph pump too when old one quit and grey water overflowed regularly to the hold under the salon entry steps, next to the potable tank, with its own bilge pump (called "fwd emergency bilge pump") on the Sea Ray helm monitor system.
 
Jack O'Brien said:
Yes. AND back left behind the bow thruster batteries looking aft. Really tough spot to access. Hallway hatch and hatch in front of fridge, can stretch and reach by contorting your upper body. But, my yacht guy replaced the bilge pump in there and I can hear it briefly engage on/off when running master SR sink water. He put in a much larger gph pump too when old one quit and grey water overflowed regularly to the hold under the salon entry steps, next to the potable tank, with its own bilge pump (called "fwd emergency bilge pump") on the Sea Ray helm monitor system.
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Jack, take a look at page 6 of this thread, at post #111. I posted a detailed explanation on how I clean the sump. The broker who sold the boat to us told me what a pain in the ass it is to clean and the Admiral knows exactly when it’s getting stinky. Keithmo shared how he had a huge mess when some food rotted in the sump. I think it needs attention every 3-4 months.
 
Shoyrtt said:
Jack, take a look at page 6 of this thread, at post #111. I posted a detailed explanation on how I clean the sump. The broker who sold the boat to us told me what a pain in the ass it is to clean and the Admiral knows exactly when it’s getting stinky. Keithmo shared how he had a huge mess when some food rotted in the sump. I think it needs attention every 3-4 months.
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Thanks for the sump reference I went back to see, I'm sure mine is stinky with crud despite my best efforts of zero food particles allowed in the galley sink. All food is scraped and paper towel wiped off before it's allowed in the sink. Sink has a basket and on top is an upside down screen. Access to the sump is even more difficult than described because the bow thruster battery bank, set of two, resides in the space fwd of the sump. Can't really climb down and crouch in that space unless I were to take the batteries out. Nowhere for a legs. Have to lay down prone across the batteries and reach. Sitting on the batteries is possible but then legs are in the way. Agree it's placement for servicing is horrible. Two other below deck voids would have been much better. Both of these large spaces are below the salon floor hatches (one in front of fridge has a central vac canister there but aft of it is wide open void).
 
Jack O'Brien said:
Thanks for the sink reference I went back to see, I'm sure mine is stinky with crud despite my best efforts of zero food particles allowed in the galley sink. All food is scraped and paper towel wiped off before it's allowed in the sink. Sink has a basket and on top is an upside down screen. Access to the sump is even more difficult than described because the bow thruster battery bank, set of two, resides in the space fwd of the sump. Can't really climb down and crouch in that space unless I were to take the batteries out. Nowhere for a legs. Have to lay down prone across the batteries and reach. Sitting on the batteries is possible but then legs are in the way. Agree it's placement for servicing is horrible. Two other below deck voids would have been much better. Both of these large spaces are below the salon floor hatches (one in front of fridge has a central vac canister there but aft of it is wide open void).
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Jack, there is a way to get your galley sink to go into the main drain if yours is plumbed to the chest.

Also, for better or worse, I have a routine that has kept mine relatively "not stinky" for over a year.

I keep some scented bleach on board and when we get back to the dock I turn the hot water on in the heads and let the whole hot water heater run through the chest. I watch and let it bilge one last time so the water is lowest and I put in some scented bleach. Seems to keep it under control.

Galley sink into main drain images below. First pic you can see the bottom of the sink and then the drain hose, it turns aft and you can see it plumbed directly into the main drain. The two other hoses plumbed into the top are the bilge from the chest and the mid-ship A/C raw water dump.

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Forrestkk said:
Jack, there is a way to get your galley sink to go into the main drain if yours is plumbed to the chest.

Also, for better or worse, I have a routine that has kept mine relatively "not stinky" for over a year.

I keep some scented bleach on board and when we get back to the dock I turn the hot water on in the heads and let the whole hot water heater run through the chest. I watch and let it bilge one last time so the water is lowest and I put in some scented bleach. Seems to keep it under control.
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Perfect. Yes, the galley sink ought to just feed overboard as in my 25' Sorento. Porta potty head on it. No sump. Seldom use sinks or potty for that matter with just day outings. Ladies use the potty but occasionally but I can go all season without a pump out, and winter I just take the whole thing out to empty, clean and dry out. For the 450, I do have odor upon first entry after being away several weeks, but it goes away on turning on dock water and running sinks, including hot which I let run quite a while, to work out air in the lines. Water pumps, hot water heater, and dock water I leave all off while away. Fridge too with doors propped open with a dish towel. When onboard 10 days-2 weeks, we don't seem to have any odor issues, or at least the Admiral hasn't ever complained!
 
So, I had been thinking about a wrap and couldn't find any local companies that were interested. Met a guy on FB this morning with a 1998 450 EB (Forum isn't letting him join) and he gave me permission to post a few of these (you should see the cockpit and helm), just wow. My mind = blown.

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What he told me, said he tried and it wouldn't let him go through the process.
 
Not sure I like the hull wrap. Maybe had to grow on me. I see plenty dark hull boats, blue mainly, and for some looks quite jazzy, cruisers & trawlers. Our model doesn't have much elevation above the gunnel, so the hull overwhelms as a dark color. Also seen jet black Darth Vader type boats I don't like. Saw a 32' aqua color hulled boat, looked really elegant. So, for me, maybe it's just the very dark color. Quick lookup on this 3M vinyl wrap in a YouTube, says at the end, couple yrs life in Florida.
 
On the other hand, detailers just finished entirely buffing/waxing her top to bottom. Costs me $1200 every 6 months to preserve best in the industry gelcoat (Sea Ray of our vintage) told to me by several boat detailers btw. So, 2 years cost me $4800 vs wrap cost, like $7000. So, couple grand more, new look. Mmm.
 
I agree the black wrap is incredible! As a 1998 boat, I would love to get the HIN# and production #. I sent the pictures to my friend Matt to check out.
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