Add a couple thousand of pounds to your boat, add a few feet front and back and another foot width. Take your fuel consumption numbers and increase gallons per hour.
Calculate how much more enjoyment you will get out of a bigger boat.
Now what do you think?

 

I'd stay away from gas engines on a boat that big. If you do any cruising of any distance your going to be stopping for gas all the time. The screws on the gas engines are much smaller and that doesn't help you while docking .

 

This is a Lake Michigan boat and most of the 40 SRs on the Lake are gas not diesel. 454s provide plenty of performance and I know boats that are 20+ years old that are still going strong on the original engines. Diesels are not worth the premium as the 454s are so easy to fix when they require attention. Fuel burn is pretty high but not enough to justify the more expensive operating costs of diesel power. Resale is lower but offset by the purchase price being similarly lower.

 

I have a couple of friends with those boats that like them. They will burn a ton of fuel though!

 

I have a lot of time in running 400EC's for friends. Great boat, tons of room, gas versions love fuel, 454's aren't quite as bad as 502's but still use a lot of gas. THis boat with 454's is very quick for a gas powered boat, handling is much better than 34, 35, 37 or 39 Sea Rays. The pockets aren't as deep and the handling is improved because of it. THe beam to length ratio is smaller than other mid-sized Sea Rays so the 400 will lean into a turn rather than run flat. If you have a choice, select as late a model year as possible and you get 4 bladed props, newer style interior fabrics and colors and n improved swim platform design.

 

I had a '92 with gassers that I purchased on Lake Erie and loved it - never had any major issues other than the fridge going out and needing to replace. If I remember, cruise at 3400 RPM, around 20 MPH, .65 mpg ... ran in some nasty weather and water and handled well ...

 

Can I jump in with a question here?

In 1998 the Sea Ray 400EC came with Mercruiser 454 MPI Horizon engines and horse power jumped to 385 per side. I think the previous model years the OP is questioning had 310HP per side.

Is this something the OP should look in to because it should make a significant difference in the overall operating cost?

I also have realized, in my 6 years of ownership, excluding fuel expense my operating cost have been very simple.

 

Can I jump in with a question here?
In 1998 the Sea Ray 400EC came with Mercruiser 454 MPI Horizon engines and horse power jumped to 385 per side. I think the previous model years the OP is questioning had 310HP per side.

Correct - my data was for the twin 310HP engines running 3 blade props.

 

Had a '96 with 7.4s and 4 blade props. About 21mph cruise and close to .7mpg. So, performance isnt great but not terrible either. Dock neighbor had a '93 with 3 bladed props and he ran a little slower than I did. The 400EC has timeless lines, sexy long foredeck. A ton of cockpit room. The boat with diesels cruises 28mph IIRC and handles great. I didn't think mine was bad but you do have to work the throttles around the dock if there's any kind of crosswind or current working. One problem was poor fridge cabinet ventilation design which contributed to a high mortality rate in the norcolds of that era. Overall, I think she's fantastic sea ray.

 

MM on table rock has one on Ebay right now...just an FYI
I think it was at 26k and hadn't hit the reserve yet

 

here is 2003 DA for $129K with 8.1s...

http://affiniti-yacht.com/main.asp?-vessel_basic_info.asp-&vessels_id=113163&curr_id=7&vd=1

 

I brought a 94 back accross Lake Erie in 6 - 10 footers and fell in love with my dock neighbors boat. He just had open heart surgery and needed help. My lucky day? It handles like a dream with those inboards. The center of gravity is perfect for the boat. The boat had twin 330 hp Mercs with the old 4 barrel carbs or somewhere close to that. Everything mechanical and easy to fix. If they made that hull again, I would trade in a heart beat. Particularly with the newer engines.

 

I have run several 400 EC's and always liked the way they ran. I have only ever seen one diesel one in person, the gas engine options are enough for this boat. I love the cockpit layout and the interior is somewhat of a smaller 500 Sundancer of that era.

I think that this vintage 400 was a better boat than the later 410 express layout.

 

I have a 95 400ec that I have had for about 18 months. the boat handles really well, rides fantastic and is easy to dock. The boat seems to average about 17gph per running hour at fill ups, with 90% + of the time at cruise of 3050/3100 rpm... we don't idle cruise hardly anywhere.
i have been really happy with the Sea ray build quality
EXPRESSBOY

 

17GPH seems very low for your boat if you run on plane most of the time. I have several friends with 400 Express models and not one has claimed that type of performance except the one that has diesels. What have you calculated your MPG at?

 

95 400EC 315 cummins power 24knots@2350rpms 19 gal/hr. Must be one of Sea Rays best. Sea Ray warranty expense ws $0.00 on this boat. Replaced fridge cooling unit 4 years ago. I turn all the wrenches and screws on the boat.

 

95 400EC 315 cummins power 24knots@2350rpms 19 gal/hr. ...

What's your MPG going 24knots@2350rpms?

 

I too have the 400EC 1996. My question here for me is: I have three blade props. Should I have 4 blade and if so why? What would I gain?

 

Before you spend the money, call Wildcat Propellers in Chesapeake. They can make your 3 blades perform like 4 blades for a fraction of the cost. There is a ton of info you need to provide them in order to allow them to properly tune your prop.

Once I provided that data to them they dialed mine in and my increase in performance more than paid for the prop tune up in less than a season. NOTE: I have no affiliation with Wildcat. I figure if they are good enough for the USN, USCG and the Mega Yachts passing through with open check books....they are good enough for me.

Final cost for both props was $375 on my door step. I brought them to their shop because I wanted to see a Prop-scan machine.

 

1.45 sMPG

 

Wow, a true dream performance. What's her weight with Cummins?

 

Don't know the weight. I can't remember what the travel lift gauges showed the last time. I can tell you that I have a 10' hardbody and a 15hp Merc on a trilogy lift that sticks out about 3' from the large swim platform. I have had Blackdog do my props. Trans ratio is 1.53 and props are 3blade 20X24 with a fair amount of cup. Never use trim tabs unless running slow in rough water. Boat feels better when fuel and water tanks are full. Go figure.

 

My burn on plane is over 30 gph.

 

That sounds more reasonable...

 

I had a 94 with 454's. It was the best handling gas boat I've ever had. Three blade prop. From that boat I went to a 97 400 DA. Till I got used to it, it was like I had never driven a boat before. In my opinion the gas 40DA was a wonderfull boat.

 

I owned a '93 with 454's for 10 years. Absolutely great boat. Very responsive to the shifters even without any extra gas. Natural pivot point when rotating using the engines. Got up on plane relatively quickly and felt solid on top of the water. I typically ran 23-24 mph (gps). Never any major mechanical issues of any type.

I had a love/hate relationship with the companionway door though. It was a double wide acrylic sliding door that let in an amazing amount of light and let you see out while in the cabin. The issue was that the track system was WAY under-engineered with 4 silly little nylon pucks in a c-shape channel. Pucks would wear, stick and crack and it was impossible to find any replacement ones. I ended having several sets fabricated.

 

Agreed. The companion way door is a bit of a pain. I too had issues with the plastic guides and manufactured some up. I have quit a few left over and I'm thinking about becomming a sponsor to sell them on this site.

 

I would be interested in the plastic glides

 

Email me at avuk@hotmail.com

 

Has anyone replaced the lockset for the cabin door? I have a friend with a 1994 400 Express and the lock is on its last legs.

 

I’m new to club Sea Ray, I have a 1995 400 express cruiser and was wondering if anyone has a clue where I might find a replacement cabin door lock?

 

You may want to add a pic. Mine was a Southco Mobella.