410 Sundancer/Express Cruiser and 400 Sundancer/Express Cruiser **Official Thread**

An update to my stiff driveshaft issue - it magically got easy to turn after a week on the hard. I'm wondering if the cutlass was swelling in the water and has now dried out enough to loosen up

I've decided to replace both bearings so I know what my baseline is going forward. I mentioned it earlier, but they look to be original with 900 hours on them, so its probably time. I ordered the strutpro tool and two new bearings, so I'll start with that.

When looking at my starboard side the shaft going into the log is not as centered as the port side, and I am seeing what I believe to be a slight bend in the strut (the prop blade is .75" closer to the side of the prop tunnel versus the port side) BUT, I'm admittedly looking for a problem so I'll try not to obsess over it until I get the new bearing in and have a chance to look at the wear pattern on the old one
 
You probably already know this but after back in the water for several days have the shafts aligned.
 
You probably already know this but after back in the water for several days have the shafts aligned.

yup, will do! I found one of the aft motor mounts on my starboard side completely loose - as in all 3 nuts were finger tight, so we definitely need a true in water alignment next year.
 
I learned from my father to lube the cutlet less bearings with cod liver oil. I don’t know why or
What this does or doesn’t but I do it ever spring and fall.
 
They do - 3130/3129 - I'm just scared to actually push the throttle to the stop while in the slip. There's no good reason why I don't want to do it, it just seems nerveracking :)
We did that during my engine survey and the no load RPMs should be 3,000
 
Mornin' 400/410 owners. I'm curious how big of a dinghy some of you guys have on your swim platforms. Anyone have any pics or stories to share?? I'm constrained by my beam and the need for 5 passenger capacity (3 kids).

I currently run a Zodiac 310 Cadet - 10'2" long. I store my dainty Tohatsu on a bracket. This setup has been absolutely perfect for my uses so far. But after 5 years I'm ready to be done removing the outboard every time I use it. Weaver snap davits are great but...I'm ready to move on.

I'm considering upgrading to a center console over winter. What I really want is a Walker Bay 11 LTE (11'2" long) but at just over 600lbs it's on the heavy side and, depending on the motor, it may overhang slightly. Walker Bay also has a 325 which is 150lbs lighter and a tad shorter @ 10'8"...and a bit cheaper.

I was initially looking at Highfield but in the 10' size range the Walker Bay's have a much nicer console.

Any thoughts, pictures, suggestions or criticisms would be appreciated! Thanks, all!
 
Stee I have the 310 with a 9.9 on mine. I use a pulley system I made to pull it up on the dinghy ramps (no need to pull the motor). I can't imagine pulling anything heavier up. I have a winch that I plan on mounting in the transom locker, just haven't got around to doing that yet.
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Stee I have the 310 with a 9.9 on mine. I use a pulley system I made to pull it up on the dinghy ramps (no need to pull the motor). I can't imagine pulling anything heavier up. I have a winch that I plan on mounting in the transom locker, just haven't got around to doing that yet.
View attachment 93669 View attachment 93670

Thank you for the photos. Nice looking setup! I was set on buying those very davits until I witnessed, in person, the Hurley H30+ this summer. Not cheap but I watched a guy single-hand a beast of a dinghy (with a 30hp motor) without breaking a sweat. I was sold :)
 
Like EZ steps, I have a set of Dinghy Ramp HD by Nautley. Simple and effective for sure.
I had a 10’ Dinghy and 9.9 4 stroke that I pulled up out of the water on to them with no problem.
Wound up getting rid of the Dinghy shortly after buying it though because the combination at over 200 lbs was too heavy for me to get off the platform and up on to my dock.
I don’t always have a need for a Dinghy and didn’t want it back there when I didn’t need it.
 
If I was getting a new davit system right now it would probably be the Hurley H3O, but I don't launch and unlaunch enough to change what I have. Good luck and check the weight limit on our swim platform. I was looking at a 540 with a hydraulic platform on Yachtworld this morning and was surprised to see a sticker by the switch that said 800lb limit. I figured the hydraulics would be rated for more than that.
 
Like EZ steps, I have a set of Dinghy Ramp HD by Nautley. Simple and effective for sure.
I had a 10’ Dinghy and 9.9 4 stroke that I pulled up out of the water on to them with no problem.
Wound up getting rid of the Dinghy shortly after buying it though because the combination at over 200 lbs was too heavy for me to get off the platform and up on to my dock.
I don’t always have a need for a Dinghy and didn’t want it back there when I didn’t need it.

And I am happy that you sold me that dinghy! It has served me and my family well the past couple of years. Still looks like new. It is also impressive how large the tubes are when it sits next to virtually anyone else.
(It is made by Newport Vessels. 10'6" long rated for 5 people and a 15hp motor)
 
Stee I have the 310 with a 9.9 on mine. I use a pulley system I made to pull it up on the dinghy ramps (no need to pull the motor). I can't imagine pulling anything heavier up. I have a winch that I plan on mounting in the transom locker, just haven't got around to doing that yet.
View attachment 93669 View attachment 93670

Joe, I have spoken to a few people who mounted the electric wench in the transom and they said it’s still a bitch to pull up onto the davits.

Stee the Hurley is nice but you got that big structure on you swim platform all the time. Just don’t know of a way to get the dingy on by yourself. Or you could just get a 46 with a hydraulic swim platform.
 
Joe, I have spoken to a few people who mounted the electric wench in the transom and they said it’s still a bitch to pull up onto the davits.

Stee the Hurley is nice but you got that big structure on you swim platform all the time. Just don’t know of a way to get the dingy on by yourself. Or you could just get a 46 with a hydraulic swim platform.

Hah. I do wish I could swing a 46...hardtop...hydraulic platform. Better yet the 48 with the body style like on the top of the CSR pages. That's a goal for sure.

Allegedly two pins and the H30 davit will pull right off the platform leaving only 4 button head bolts?? They sure make it look easy on their website. ha.

https://hurleymarine.com/shop/dinghy-davit-boat/hurley-h3o-plus-dinghy-davit-system/
 
Initially when I bought this boat, I really didn't like the Seawise davit setup on the back and fully intended on replacing it with a Hurley or something else. Once I actually used it, I love it. A large bonus for me is being able to still use the entire swim platform with the dinghy on the back. Pull one pin, and use the crank on top to lower the dinghy, once down in place you tighten a nut with a handle on it to secure the motor and you're done.

Lifting it, unscrew that lever on the engine mount, attach the cable to the motor bracket and start cranking. The boat and motor come up together and lock into place.

This is an 10' AB Aluminum hull with a 15 Merc but soon to have a white 20 hp Suzuki 4-stroke.

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And I am happy that you sold me that dinghy! It has served me and my family well the past couple of years. Still looks like new. It is also impressive how large the tubes are when it sits next to virtually anyone else.
(It is made by Newport Vessels. 10'6" long rated for 5 people and a 15hp motor)

Glad you are getting good use out of it!
 
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Got the props off today. Pretty sure the first time ever since new based on how long it took me to get them loose. And I have a prop removal press.

I then pressed out the starboard cuttless. That is my “stiff” side and I’m pretty sure I now see why. The shaft is pressing very hard against the inside of the cutless and is exiting the shaft log at what appears to be an angle. I suspected the engine alignment was way out on that engine and tried briefly to correct it, but it’s clearly still off. The shaft turns easily without the cutless in, so I’m going to press the new one in, do a rough alignment on the hard, then zero it in when we’re back in the water.

here you can see how far the shaft pushes left. Some sag would be normal, but it takes quite a force to push it back in the center of the strut. I don’t believe the strut is bent

oh and for anyone who needs to do their cutless bearings, just buy the strutpro for $400. It makes the job so easy
 
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And it was time for these, you might not see it in this picture but the old bearing is toast. Age cracks and all

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Are you completely positive that the strut is not slightly bent? Thats pretty far off for alignment, but nothing surprises me anymore!
 
oh and for anyone who needs to do their cutless bearings, just buy the strutpro for $400. It makes the job so easy
Totally agree! Anyone in the Seattle area that wants to borrow mine, I'm happy to share. :)

My bearings looked much worse than yours, glad that I made the effort, it was definitely time.
 
Are you completely positive that the strut is not slightly bent? Thats pretty far off for alignment, but nothing surprises me anymore!

no, I’m not positive. I’m going to press the other side out tomorrow and compare how it lines up, that side runs beautifully with nearly no resistance.

I’m not really excited to pull the strut unless I really have to so fingers crossed. What I can say is the ‘bad’ side is enough off center in the shaft log that is easily noticeable from about 10’ away so I’m really hoping that’s the issue

I haven’t pressed the new bearing in either so I could try and shift the engine a bit and see if it helps with the strut alignment.
 
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