1998 44’ Sundancer

dwna1a

dwna1a

Well-Known Member
PLATINUM Sponsor
Apr 23, 2012
5,981
James River
Boat Info
88 Weekender 300 "Seahorse"
Engines
Twins 350
If anyone has one of these can I get a review from you please?
In hunting and found one on the market close to me and I’d like to go take a look. It’s a 14’ jump for me. What are the pros and cons of this boat?
 
Not very many of that or there.

Which engines does it have? I test drive one way back when I was looking for my 400EC. It had gas 454s I think. It was an absolute dog performance wise. I walked away and never considered another one.

With diesels could be a different story.
 
Two of them over in VA Beach that I’m going two but this 44’ just came on the market as well
 
This is the other I had the wrong year
 

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See if you can find out which model cat’s in it - I think those were still getting a 3200 series? Not necessarily a bad thing but every generation has quirks

If they’re accurate saying 350hp they may be 3116’s
 
Strecker25 said:
See if you can find out which model cat’s in it - I think those were still getting a 3200 series? Not necessarily a bad thing but every generation has quirks

If they’re accurate saying 350hp they may be 3116’s
Click to expand...
#3116
 
Pro's - it's huge!

Con's (personal preference) - I prefer the forward angled arch on the Sundancers. I think they made that switch in the mid/late 90's.
 
I learned during my last boat search a lot of folks like the aft/stern facing radar arch. I prefer forward facing as well.
 
Pro's
- 14' would be a huge upgrade!
- New fridge
- better cruising range
- Fuel expense will likely be a wash vs Twin 350's

Con's
- older styling (as mentioned Radar Arch), lack of parts availability becoming issue
- Engine Condition- Just looking at the pictures online, I see several loose/disconnected wires and oil drain hoses, and looks like 1 new engine mount. Given the published history of one rebuilt engine and another with 2000 hrs, your going to need to get into the history of these engines. If nothing else, the 2000 hr engine is due to have its head/injectors reset, which typically requires CAT to come do the job as it takes special tools to do it. Read this -->
https://www.sbmar.com/featured-article/marine-age-the-real-age-of-a-marine-diesel-engine/

Might be a great boat, just need to be realistic about how much $$$ it'll take to get her in the condition you like. I love CAT engines, and parts are (mostly) readily available, but there is big jump in the parts cost vs the tried and true 350's.
 
dtfeld said:
Pro's
- 14' would be a huge upgrade!
- New fridge
- better cruising range
- Fuel expense will likely be a wash vs Twin 350's

Con's
- older styling (as mentioned Radar Arch), lack of parts availability becoming issue
- Engine Condition- Just looking at the pictures online, I see several loose/disconnected wires and oil drain hoses, and looks like 1 new engine mount. Given the published history of one rebuilt engine and another with 2000 hrs, your going to need to get into the history of these engines. If nothing else, the 2000 hr engine is due to have its head/injectors reset, which typically requires CAT to come do the job as it takes special tools to do it. Read this -->
https://www.sbmar.com/featured-article/marine-age-the-real-age-of-a-marine-diesel-engine/

Might be a great boat, just need to be realistic about how much $$$ it'll take to get her in the condition you like. I love CAT engines, and parts are (mostly) readily available, but there is big jump in the parts cost vs the tried and true 350's.
Click to expand...
I just had a long talk with two CAT mechanics, they work on the gensets on site. He also looked at the photos and saw some of the same issues. His biggest was the engine itself, he has a total dislike for the 3116, saying the motor must be maintained at all cost. The turbo is his biggest complaint saying the water vapors pretty much trash it causing corrosion and failure. Thank you for that article it explains what the mechanics were saying to me.

I had a feeling the price was to good
 
I think the 3116 gets a bad rap, and for the right price that might be a good boat *you'll have to put some $$$ into it, but that good, you'll know the condition if everything.

For little bit more $$$, you can find. 1999-2003 400/410 with the 3126s
 
I love my 3116's. I do think you would be better served by a 1997-2003 400/410 though for the cost difference.
 
I did locate a 1988 39’EC with CATs which is what I have looking for for two years now. It has a two month old hull and mechanical survey already done. The owner fixed both issues found. A stuffing box and fuel filter for the Westerbeke. She has old CATs that have been well maintained 3208’s
 
I found (30) 97-03 400/410's for sale on boattrader during my lunch hour today. I dropped the highest priced ($199k, which seems absurd) and the lowest priced ($75k, probably doesn't float) which leaves us with 28 of these vessels currently available on boattrader.

The split is 17 diesel, 11 gas. Of course asking price means very little but I was actually a bit surprised by the results. With my freshwater gas 400...I'm practically sitting on a unicorn right now :):)

upload_2023-6-12_15-49-33.png
 
Stee needs to take his profits and up grade to DIESEL!:p
 
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