Thoughts after first summer on a 400 after moving up from a 340

[RollerCoastr]

I found a pic of the 741 in the dash before the 742 joined it. The 742 is now where you see the AP. The AP is now were the Raytheon receiver was, and I enjoyed dropping that thing into the trash!

 

[Irie308]

Great thread and also timely. We are in the process of moving up from our previous 320. Narrowed it down to 480DB, 420DB and 420DA. Have quickly removed the 420 DB from the list as we thought we would be giving up interior and exterior space and would prefer the 420 DA over the 420 DB if it was between the 2. As odd as it sounds its between the 480DB and the 420DA now. 2 dramatically different boats but we like the features of both and we would forfeit certain things if we went with one over another. Looking forward to reading more posts about the experiences of those who have moved up recently and their first impressions.

 

[Stee6043]

I found a pic of the 741 in the dash before the 742 joined it. The 742 is now where you see the AP. The AP is now were the Raytheon receiver was, and I enjoyed dropping that thing into the trash!

Silly question - is the burl panel on my rig "aftermarket"? I assume where you are mounting your electronics is intended to be white glass vs the burl from the factory? Very interesting.

 

[Stee6043]

Great thread and also timely. We are in the process of moving up from our previous 320. Narrowed it down to 480DB, 420DB and 420DA. Have quickly removed the 420 DB from the list as we thought we would be giving up interior and exterior space and would prefer the 420 DA over the 420 DB if it was between the 2. As odd as it sounds its between the 480DB and the 420DA now. 2 dramatically different boats but we like the features of both and we would forfeit certain things if we went with one over another. Looking forward to reading more posts about the experiences of those who have moved up recently and their first impressions.

What years are you looking at if you don't mind me asking? I only ask because I've been on a couple 420DA's that feel smaller in the cabin than the 400DA. I believe this to be due to them moving the shower across the boat vs having a separate stall, same side. That shower arrangement seems to take up a lot of floor space....but if you're looking at mid/late 2000's 420's I'd give up the floor space for the exterior lines in a heartbeat. Those boats are sexy...

 

[RollerCoastr]

Silly question - is the burl panel on my rig "aftermarket"? I assume where you are mounting your electronics is intended to be white glass vs the burl from the factory? Very interesting.

Not a silly question. The first row / "instrument" row was gelcoat from the factory. If the panel on yours matches the others, it's a pretty safe bet that someone has replaced it all.

That's why I wondered why you have a Raytheon plotter cut into such a nice panel! They've been obsolete for a very long time - I'd bet money that it was obsolete by the time those panels were installed.

 

[Irie308]

Looking at the the 04-07 420 DA. Top items on the admirals lists were separate shower and head, doors on the cabins and I wanted a hardtop. With diesels of course. I do agree the 420 and the 48 DA of the same vintage are 2 of SeaRay's sexiest boats. The lines are just timeless.

 

[Stee6043]

Not a silly question. The first row / "instrument" row was gelcoat from the factory. If the panel on yours matches the others, it's a pretty safe bet that someone has replaced it all.

That's why I wondered why you have a Raytheon plotter cut into such a nice panel! They've been obsolete for a very long time - I'd bet money that it was obsolete by the time those panels were installed.

Well that makes sense. I really have no clue on how my boat came to its current configuration. West Marine VHF, Furuno GPS, Raymarine OEM for the rest of it. Good times. All good future replacement projects.

 

[Ezsteps]

Roller my pictures are even showing up on my tablet. Can anyone else see them? Anyway back to the subject. Here are the pics I posted earlier.

 

[Stee6043]

Roller my pictures are even showing up on my tablet. Can anyone else see them? Anyway back to the subject. Here are the pics I posted earlier.

That looks fantastic. Gobs of room for more gear on that dash!

Your post reminds me of one more thing I miss about my 340 - those controls you have. I really prefer the look and feel of the levers with the gold balls on the end vs the big ole handles I have now. I think that was a 98/99 change.

 

[SeadawgVB]

That looks fantastic. Gobs of room for more gear on that dash!

Your post reminds me of one more thing I miss about my 340 - those controls you have. I really prefer the look and feel of the levers with the gold balls on the end vs the big ole handles I have now. I think that was a 98/99 change.

That's funny you should mention the gold balls... That was kind of lurking in the back of my head when I was shopping for my current boat. and yes, my 360 has the gold balls!

 

[Great Lakes]

I have gold balls as well..

 

[sbw1]

For those having an ice maker and missing a beer fridge, there is a simple solution. Buy a small Igloo or Yeti cooler. Our boat was built with a fridge in the cockpit. We had the selling dealer replace that with an ice maker. We keep a small Igloo filled with soft drinks/beer on the floor under the L seat when overnighting and cruising. The ice maker provides an endless source of fresh ice to keep things cold. Location is convenient as well.

 

[RollerCoastr]

That looks fantastic. Gobs of room for more gear on that dash!

So I know you're 13 boat bucks in, but Stee is right - that space above the wheel is an awesome opportunity! I really like my 741. Not just because I paid half-price from what they were when they were introduced, but the OS it runs is IMO more friendly than this current generation's OS. The media button in the home row for example, lets me toggle between RADAR and the Fusion with one tap. If you link it to your 76 with Garmin Network (RJ-45) and NMEA-2000, they'll share almost everything.

Did your installer correctly link your RP-650 to the Garmin? Mine is a sore-thumb on the dash now, but it works so damn well... The only trouble now is that I after 20 years of having it above the throttles, I now have it where yours is. I hadn't realized how much of a habit I as in adjusting it with my right hand. I've found myself reaching over with my right hand to operate it! lol

 

[Blkbird]

Oddly enough my Admiral had me remove the old ice maker and replace it with a "beverage center". She didn't like the idea of ice made from water held in a 20 year old tank and the beverage center keeps the kids from running up and down to the cabin just to get a soda. Or a beer for the Captain.

 

[RollerCoastr]

My ice maker died this summer. I'll get another. I apply SBW's method: it can supply ice for drinks, and for a cooler. I hate buying ice anyway, but our marina likes to sell "seasoned ice" - they apparently let it sit in the sun for an hour before putting in the freezer.

I'm diligent about keeping the tank water fresh. This summer I went the entire season without attaching city water.

 

[Ezsteps]

I have gold balls as well..

I love my gold balls........

 

[Craig]

My balls are stainless

 

[NotHerDecision]

I have platinum balls! I actually took off the gold ones and had them Chromed.

Josh

 

[sbw1]

My ice maker died this summer. I'll get another. I apply SBW's method: it can supply ice for drinks, and for a cooler. I hate buying ice anyway, but our marina likes to sell "seasoned ice" - they apparently let it sit in the sun for an hour before putting in the freezer.

I'm diligent about keeping the tank water fresh. This summer I went the entire season without attaching city water.

I'm with you. If the tank is not empty by wash day, I run the cockpit wash down until it sputters. Refill it when doing the weekly wash. Don't have to do this when cruising as showers take care of keeping it fresh.

I'm always amazed at the owners of big Sea Rays, and other nicely optioned boats who fail to take advantage of their airconditioned showers and heads. You see people trudging off to the "big house" every evening around happy hour to take a shower in a hot, well used public bathroom. Half an hour later, they are climbing back on their 40 foot SR or whatever, sweating like pigs. Early morning. Same thing. Why?

 

[Todd320]

I also plan to add a Fusion wired remote to the helm this winter. I've got the head unit and the rest of the system situated but the iPhone remote is not an ideal remote setup.

I have a Bluetooth connection and leave my phone on the boat at the helm, the use my Apple Watch to remote control the stereo, controls volume, Skip, change playlists, etc. it’s waterproof, and works great in the water, on the bow, etc.