The Official 450 Express Bridge Owners Club

Per my sales broker 2 yrs ago June, calling to touch base, the first 450EB I viewed back then is unsaleable. 2001, 3sr, Volvo engines, still at Navy base marina, Pensacola. Boat wouldn't pass survey due to water entrapment stbd side hull. Boat is actually listing. Makes me look for all exterior caulk compromises, thru hulls, SS rails, rub rail, bilge vents. Salon and bilge is dry but no evidence doesn't mean hull core can't have water entrapment from these sources.
If I am remembering correctly, the owner of #2 said his boat was listing to starboard also. We suggested to him that the early boats had issues with water intrusion. He said he read the 450 thread but couldn’t sign up for some unknown reason.
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If I am remembering correctly, the owner of #2 said his boat was listing to starboard also. We suggested to him that the early boats had issues with water intrusion. He said he read the 450 thread but couldn’t sign up for some unknown reason.
View attachment 133976

Yes, and we chatted about the water intrusion and he said he had no issues on his inspection with the moisture meter, but.....his boat is still listing.
 
Here is company Kevin referenced, Dry Boat. They even offer a moister meter that they will send you to check your boat: http://dryboat.com/special-offers/
It appears that they service boats nationwide. This video shows the process on an older Tiara where water came in through faulty engine vent caulking, just like on the early 450 EBs.
 
Indeed, photo looks listing to stbd. Mine actually very slight port list but could be dinghy on platform, motor on port side. Or fuel. 7#/gallon can add plenty weight. Today, finally recaulked my bilge vents, connecting seam sections on rub rail plastic top, and entire top of side windows. Used 5200.
IMG_20220920_161418~2.jpg
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Like to do each SS rail post soon. Won't reseat, just go around each stanchion. Here we are, Ft. Meyers Beach, Pink Shell Resort, stormy on mainland but not supposed to come our way.
 
I actually had a guy contact me off of FB to chat a out this boat. He asked me to keep it quiet as he thought it was a smokin' deal.

It also has a really crazy fuel bladder set up plumbed into the fuel panel under the steps. Apparently, the owner passed and he had used it for long offshore trips (fuel bladder). I saw the ER pics and at the time the turbos, charge air pipes to the aftercooler and the after cooler were brown. Not a great sign, think they tried to use it as a sport fish.
Description says engines were rebuilt. Didn't read all of it. Question would be what exactly "rebuilt".
 
Went to go get fuel last night and I had been chasing water in the bilge behind my fresh water tanks. I looked under the stairs and I guess I had just not been catching it at the right time with the A/C raw water pump on, but found it...ughh. This could have been a disaster if it had let go completely.


And the culprit. Now I have some corrosion control to do and need to go to Ace for a replacement


View attachment 133918
I'm assuming my potable tank is same place, under 3SR top step. Only way to get to more than the visible top and aft side, would have to remove the steps, far as I can tell. Not sure where that fitting is in your image. Bilge pump in my image is gray water overflow hold, assuming other 450EB's same configuration. Oh, and under my foot below floor level is a AC units condensate header connection that drains into condensate box below aft salon floor hatch. It was replaced with a shop built pvc header as the original was split, leaking. Can't see it without reaching down and snap backwards picture. I think I posted that early on.
IMG_20220920_195203.jpg
 
Don't mean to scare everyone (scares me tho), but broker who said he knew of
IMG_20220921_084815.jpg
a wet 450EB, prev. post I shared, sent a pic. This one is a Tiara, wet hull core beneath the bilge vent. I knew of a slip neighbor, a different Tiara, had a big fight with Tiara re. water intrusion. Tiara bought it back.
 
I'm assuming my potable tank is same place, under 3SR top step. Only way to get to more than the visible top and aft side, would have to remove the steps, far as I can tell. Not sure where that fitting is in your image. Bilge pump in my image is gray water overflow hold, assuming other 450EB's same configuration. Oh, and under my foot below floor level is a AC units condensate header connection that drains into condensate box below aft salon floor hatch. It was replaced with a shop built pvc header as the original was split, leaking. Can't see it without reaching down and snap backwards picture. I think I posted that early on.View attachment 134246
I’m just confirming your picture is of one of steps in the 3rd stateroom? I don’t ever recall having that view. Either I haven’t lifted that step or the prior owner sealed it shut with the fancy flooring. Hopefully it is the former and something I have just overlooked. :eek:
 
I’m just confirming your picture is of one of steps in the 3rd stateroom? I don’t ever recall having that view. Either I haven’t lifted that step or the prior owner sealed it shut with the fancy flooring. Hopefully it is the former and something I have just overlooked. :eek:
Image is facing downward under first step, highest of two, for access down into 3rd SR of aft salon. This step is hinged and top of image shows it's forward edge lifted up. Engine room forward bulkhead is left most in image.
 
Thanks to whomever told me the culprit and fix to my misaligned cockpit door latches. Support stanchions for the cockpit floor located in the bilge are adjustable at the top. Large bolt with a locknut. Used a long, heavy, adjustable wrench, loosened the locknut and proceeded to turn the adjusting nut. Took quite a few 1/4 turns at a time to get the alignment right. Threads are very low pitch but heavy gauge to avoid stripping, which was a fear. No worries, good leverage,
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and the bolts turned fine. Positive result by adjusting both stanchions straddling the genset. Before and after pics.
 
It was a remote interface for the Sea Ray Navigator. Basically a computer mouse.
If I remember correctly, Kelly has a 2004 boat which likely had the Sea Navigator. Older low tech boats never had that option.
 
Thanks to whomever told me the culprit and fix to my misaligned cockpit door latches. Support stanchions for the cockpit floor located in the bilge are adjustable at the top. Large bolt with a locknut. Used a long, heavy, adjustable wrench, loosened the locknut and proceeded to turn the adjusting nut. Took quite a few 1/4 turns at a time to get the alignment right. Threads are very low pitch but heavy gauge to avoid stripping, which was a fear. No worries, good leverage,View attachment 134340 View attachment 134341 and the bolts turned fine. Positive result by adjusting both stanchions straddling the genset. Before and after pics.
Wow that’s a huge find my buddies has that issue
 
Thanks to whomever told me the culprit and fix to my misaligned cockpit door latches. Support stanchions for the cockpit floor located in the bilge are adjustable at the top. Large bolt with a locknut. Used a long, heavy, adjustable wrench, loosened the locknut and proceeded to turn the adjusting nut. Took quite a few 1/4 turns at a time to get the alignment right. Threads are very low pitch but heavy gauge to avoid stripping, which was a fear. No worries, good leverage,View attachment 134340 View attachment 134341 and the bolts turned fine. Positive result by adjusting both stanchions straddling the genset. Before and after pics.
I was going to do the same process but was advised to use a bottle jack and wood to spread out the load. I still have it on my “to do” list. :)
 
I was going to do the same process but was advised to use a bottle jack and wood to spread out the load. I still have it on my “to do” list. :)
I was inclined to use a jack but decided to see how freely the large nut on the threads might feel. Turns out they had the same even force needed to turn and I just kept going. Threads are noticably large, almost gear-like and a very low pitch. This gave me confidence to try. After about three 1/4 rotations I would stop and view progress at the latch. Seeing progress, ever so small at the latch, I just kept repeating the process. Altogether must have taken at least nine 1/4 turns on the nuts, much more than I would have expected. For leverage I used an adjustable wrench (only cus couldn't locate an end wrench that large) that was about 18" long.
 
Thanks to whomever told me the culprit and fix to my misaligned cockpit door latches. Support stanchions for the cockpit floor located in the bilge are adjustable at the top. Large bolt with a locknut. Used a long, heavy, adjustable wrench, loosened the locknut and proceeded to turn the adjusting nut. Took quite a few 1/4 turns at a time to get the alignment right. Threads are very low pitch but heavy gauge to avoid stripping, which was a fear. No worries, good leverage,View attachment 134340 View attachment 134341 and the bolts turned fine. Positive result by adjusting both stanchions straddling the genset. Before and after pics.
You are welcome.
 
I was inclined to use a jack but decided to see how freely the large nut on the threads might feel. Turns out they had the same even force needed to turn and I just kept going. Threads are noticably large, almost gear-like and a very low pitch. This gave me confidence to try. After about three 1/4 rotations I would stop and view progress at the latch. Seeing progress, ever so small at the latch, I just kept repeating the process. Altogether must have taken at least nine 1/4 turns on the nuts, much more than I would have expected. For leverage I used an adjustable wrench (only cus couldn't locate an end wrench that large) that was about 18" long.
Probably compressing the rubber cushions on the base of the struts is the reason for so many turns. However, 8 - 1/4 turns is only two thread pitches which is probably less than 1/4 inch.
 

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