Sundancer / Flybridge question

hillsideshortleg

Active Member
Feb 5, 2012
254
Lake Pend Orielle, Idaho
Boat Info
92 Express Cruiser /89 Sea Ray 280 Sundancer
Engines
489s / 350's Mercruiser drives
We are wanting a boat with more room. I had it in my mind i wanted to get a 400EC. I was talking with a neighbor at the dock and mentioned my desire for a 400. He kind of scrowled and I asked why. He said the 400's are hard to dock having the nose of the boat so far forward from where the driving is being done. I always though since we boat and dock at night I didn't want to have the height of the flybridge pulling us around in the wind while we were docking. He was saying a 38 to 40 foot flybridge would be easier to dock than a 38 to 40 for Express cruise. As Im typing this I just cant imagine docking in the middle of the night from up on a bridge. Any opinions? Did SeaRay make a boat that has a nice open floor plan like a flybridge with a back cover area, a hard top and a kitchen on the same level as the main floor with the head and V-berth maybe a couple steps down?
Thanks
 
My first question would be, what boat does your neighbor have? And how did he gain his 'experience' with the 400?

I can tell you I had one for 9 years and it was one of the most predictable and responsive boats I have owned. It pivoted well with just gear shifts and had very little windage to push the bow around in a crosswind. Tracked well in reverse. I had no bow thruster and it never occurred to me that I needed one. Also, the sight-lines to the corners would be much better than a flybridge boat.

Now, there are other reasons to consider a fly bridge over the Sundancer but maneuverability and easy of docking certainly isn't one of them.
 
I have a 400 sedan bridge, my friend has a 410 EC, both powered by diesels. They both dock easily. As a rule, it is thought that bridge boats are a bigger challenge around the docks, but practice makes everything easier. My opinion is to buy the boat you like.
 
I’ve got a 410 Sundancer and it is very easy to dock. Much easier than my old 300 Sundancer.
 
Neighbor has a flybridge. I really like our 280 with the hard top on it but it would be nice to gain some width and room in the back. I think we may start bringing a dog with us and our boat seems very crowded with 4 people on it.
 
Docking at night with a DB is just something you learn and get used to. I have a couple of very bright LED lights that illuminate my entire slip mounted on the bottom of the bridge/top of the cockpit. I can only see the port aft corner of the swim platform, but I gauge everything off of its position. My wife will stand in the middle of the swim platform and all I am looking for her to say is “You are in.” This tells me both corners are in and let her slide back.

Bennett
 
^^i have the same experiences as Bennett, but in the 40 sedan bridge. You cannot see the stern while docking, but only through the "key hole" view (bridge steps) will you see the port corner. It takes some getting used to and knowing the slip size helps! Docking at night just adds more to the experience. Its very doable, and after a few tries it becomes natural.

As far as handling, I find the bridge very reponsive and easier then the 280da.
 
No issues seeing the entire platform from my bridge while backing down into a slip from the 480DB. If night docking is a concern, then I would consider doing something like bbwhitejr did and add some spreader lights above the cockpit so you can see in the dark. I don't do much boating at night, the bugs around our area are horrible.
 
Can't help in regards to docking a flybridge....but as far as docking at night - I have both the lower and upper part of my slip lined with led strip lighting. I carry a remote for each system on the boat, and as I'm getting close at night, I light them both up. I usually do the lower lights red, and the upper lights a soft white. Instant visibility.
 
Can't help in regards to docking a flybridge....but as far as docking at night - I have both the lower and upper part of my slip lined with led strip lighting. I carry a remote for each system on the boat, and as I'm getting close at night, I light them both up. I usually do the lower lights red, and the upper lights a soft white. Instant visibility.

That sounds pretty cool! Especially the red ones.
 

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