400, 42 and 44 sedan bridge comparisons

tugger

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Nov 11, 2019
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Hello again. I have been doing my homework and searching boats and it looks like I have narrowed it down to a 2002-3 400 sedan bridge, a 04-05 42 sedan bridge or a 06 44 sedan bridge. After that it starts to get out of the price I want to spend. I would love to hear what the group has to say in comparison to the 3 models. They seem to be the same size and other than the window design changing starting in 04 and the dining room booth redesigned to a more open look there doesn't seem to be much difference. Anxious to get your expertise. Also, should I consider a 2000 and 2001, I eliminated them due to age and more cored fiberglass. thank you
 
I have 2001 mid-year non-cored 400DB with Cummins 6CTA. Full mechanical mostly bulletproof engine. There is a big jump in modern interior decor materials when you go to the 420. The 420 also usually has the Cummins 480ce engine. It's just a 6CTA with some voodoo electronic fuel injection magic to get 30 more horsepower. That magic coupled with Sea Rays desired to overprop at the factory, can result in dropped #6 valve seat resulting in costly rebuild. Do some research on that and talk to the seller about their prop pitch before you buy that one. 44 is essentially the 420 with the Cummins QSC engine, which is basically the same engine with common rail fuel injection. That's the winner if you have the money.
 
I have 2001 mid-year non-cored 400DB with Cummins 6CTA. Full mechanical mostly bulletproof engine. There is a big jump in modern interior decor materials when you go to the 420. The 420 also usually has the Cummins 480ce engine. It's just a 6CTA with some voodoo electronic fuel injection magic to get 30 more horsepower. That magic coupled with Sea Rays desired to overprop at the factory, can result in dropped #6 valve seat resulting in costly rebuild. Do some research on that and talk to the seller about their prop pitch before you buy that one. 44 is essentially the 420 with the Cummins QSC engine, which is basically the same engine with common rail fuel injection. That's the winner if you have the money.
Ditto that completely. We went with the 06 44 and couldn’t be happier. A year later a good friend went with the 04 420 and dropped a valve seat his first trip. Cost him 30,000 plus to repair and change the other engine head. Where are you located? If anywhere on the East coast, I’d look at Bennett’s 07 advertised on this site in the classifieds. Seems like it’s priced at the sweet spot to sell.
Good luck on your quest.
Carpe Diem
 
Three years ago, we looked at all 3. I would also mirror what ZZ13 says above. We love the boat and I do not know how they could ever make a boat any more comfortable. It is truly a great boat. Prices for the '06-'08 44DB are all over the board. Look at all of them. As Rusty says above, I have an add in the classified section.

Bennett
 
I have 2001 mid-year non-cored 400DB with Cummins 6CTA. Full mechanical mostly bulletproof engine. There is a big jump in modern interior decor materials when you go to the 420. The 420 also usually has the Cummins 480ce engine. It's just a 6CTA with some voodoo electronic fuel injection magic to get 30 more horsepower. That magic coupled with Sea Rays desired to overprop at the factory, can result in dropped #6 valve seat resulting in costly rebuild. Do some research on that and talk to the seller about their prop pitch before you buy that one. 44 is essentially the 420 with the Cummins QSC engine, which is basically the same engine with common rail fuel injection. That's the winner if you have the money.
zz13, how do I know as you mention in a 2001 if it is cored or non cored? Also, how do u feel about the same 2001 boat with cat engines? thankyou
 
zz13, how do I know as you mention in a 2001 if it is cored or non cored? Also, how do u feel about the same 2001 boat with cat engines? thankyou
Mine was built in May, 2001. I didn't know if it was or wasn't a cored hull when I bought it. I found out it was not when I cut a hole in the side of it to put in a galley sink drain. Did the same project in a friends 2001 built in late 2000 and it is cored. Somewhere in the 40 Sedan bridge thread I posted a picture of the two cutouts. I think you'd have to call sea ray and see if they could tell you the specific hull number for the changeover. But frankly I don't know of a single 400db cored hull owner that's had any issue from that. Sea ray did a good job blocking the thru hull areas and sealing up the holes.

Both the CAT 3126 and the 340hp 3116 are excellent options for this model. Earlier years also had a 300hp 3116 option. The few I know that have them like them but I turned one down after sea trial - just too underpowered for my boating style.
 
Ditto that completely. We went with the 06 44 and couldn’t be happier. A year later a good friend went with the 04 420 and dropped a valve seat his first trip. Cost him 30,000 plus to repair and change the other engine head.....
Carpe Diem

I went a different route by finding an extremely rare packaged '05 420DB with fully mechanical 450C 6CTAs. 9 years and counting. Love the boat and the engines. We couldn't justify the difference in price between our '05 420 and '06 44. If you can, 44 with QSC500s is an excellent choice.

I don't want to paint everything with the same brush, but it's a fact that SR and Cummins didn't do a super good job on packaging 420s with 480CEs. There's nothing wrong with the engine, it's the fact that when seeing 30 extra HP the engineers thought they can squeeze more juice out of it and overloaded them with larger props to gain more speed. Those applications which were tuned to the 450C specs shouldn't have those failures with dropped valves.

For the sake of healthy engines, I'll give up couple knots on any day. I rather push the throttle more and burn a little more fuel, as long as I know that my engines are propped correctly and don't run overloaded.

QSC500 is redesigned engine and produces those extra 50HP with ease. That's the reason we don't hear stories for these engines dropping valves. Swinging larger props and going couple knots faster is not an issue for 44DB.

Good luck with your search. It's not an easy task, but sure a fun one.
 
Three years ago, we looked at all 3. I would also mirror what ZZ13 says above. We love the boat and I do not know how they could ever make a boat any more comfortable. It is truly a great boat. Prices for the '06-'08 44DB are all over the board. Look at all of them. As Rusty says above, I have an add in the classified section.

Bennett
Bennett, where is your boat located. I’m finding shipping a boat of this size is incredibly expensive. I am in ft Myers Florida. Thank you
 
Bennett, where is your boat located. I’m finding shipping a boat of this size is incredibly expensive. I am in ft Myers Florida. Thank you

It can be done. We shipped a 47 sedan bridge from TX to MN a few years ago. Another member now owns it and i don't know of any issues related to the transport.
 
We purchased a 2004 420 with the Cummins 6CTA mechanical engines a little over a year ago. I also looked at the same boat models that you mentioned (400, 420 and 44) and found a few things (from memory):
1. the 420 and 44 are the same base boat - same overall length, beam etc. Differences were primarily around finishes, engines, and electronics.
2. the 400 is a slightly smaller boat length overall (don't remember if there is a beam difference) - the specs of both boats would give you the specifics
3. the interior layout is generally the same across all models with the 420 having a C-shaped seating in the dining vs bench in the 400's. Personally, I much prefer the seating in the 420/44 vs the 400. We find it very functional for the way we use the space.
4. the 420/44's have 3 steps between the galley and salon, the 400 only has 2 (400 owners can verify) - I read this somewhere and the extra step to the salon in the 420/44 provides more headroom in the engine room. For the most part, I can maneuver around my engines (can't get to the starboard vacuum pump ... but that's another story!)

If this is the style of boat that turns you on, best to actually go on board each model and see which one feels right. As others have said, its a boat that you will love no matter which model you have. We truly enjoy the time spent on ours! As Bill mentioned above, the mechanical engines are literally bullet proof and are easily maintained.

Good luck with the search.
 
Bennett, where is your boat located. I’m finding shipping a boat of this size is incredibly expensive. I am in ft Myers Florida. Thank you
A friend shipped a 420 from Seattle to SF bay area, 750 miles, three years ago and it cost him $15000.
He still saved thousands when compared to what the few comparable boats were selling for in CA.
 
Bennett, where is your boat located. I’m finding shipping a boat of this size is incredibly expensive. I am in ft Myers Florida. Thank you

Mine is just north of Atlanta on Lake Lanier. To move from Pensacola Beach to here was around $12k if memory serves me. Breakdown was around $3500, $5000 to transport, and about $3500 to put it back together. Radar, GPS, every gauge, and everything else worked perfect. The only issue was the gauge lights. One wire was plugged into the wrong hole. Took me 10 mins to find and fix. All wiring is plug and play. The only wire that was cut and had to be reconnected was the wire to the auto fire extinguisher in the bilge. I had an ex-Marine Max Service Mgr break it down and the local marina on the lake here put it back together. Unloaded it on a Wed morning and we were in the water Friday morning.

Bennett
 
I have 2001 mid-year non-cored 400DB with Cummins 6CTA. Full mechanical mostly bulletproof engine. There is a big jump in modern interior decor materials when you go to the 420. The 420 also usually has the Cummins 480ce engine. It's just a 6CTA with some voodoo electronic fuel injection magic to get 30 more horsepower. That magic coupled with Sea Rays desired to overprop at the factory, can result in dropped #6 valve seat resulting in costly rebuild. Do some research on that and talk to the seller about their prop pitch before you buy that one. 44 is essentially the 420 with the Cummins QSC engine, which is basically the same engine with common rail fuel injection. That's the winner if you have the money.
zz13, what does "full mechanical" mean. Maybe I'm over dissecting it and it justmeans the mechanics of the boat or does it mean a fuel injection system or something else? when did they go over to more advanced systems like fuel injection by the way? thank you sir.
 
Tugger, I just noticed you live in Fort Myers. If you want to see an 07 44 Sedan Bridge and talk about what I learned in the search for this boat let me know. I currently have the boat apart for aftercooler service which gives the engine room a good view.
 
zz13, what does "full mechanical" mean. Maybe I'm over dissecting it and it justmeans the mechanics of the boat or does it mean a fuel injection system or something else? when did they go over to more advanced systems like fuel injection by the way? thank you sir.
No computerization and sensors determining and metering the fuel injection. Fuel injector pump is a gear driven pump pressurizing the fuel at the injectors through cam driven connection to the engine. Not as precise fuel distribution as the electronic versions, but good enough unless diesel exhaust smell is a show stopper for you. Also nothing shuts down because a sensor went bad.
 
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I know it’s an older thread, but I saw a 2004 44 sedan bridge of interest with mechanical 450hp engines. would this model had been among those that were over propped and having issues with valve repairs?
any other weak points in this model to look out for?

thanks
 
I know it’s an older thread, but I saw a 2004 44 sedan bridge of interest with mechanical 450hp engines. would this model had been among those that were over propped and having issues with valve repairs?
any other weak points in this model to look out for?

thanks
No. In late 2004 and 2005 the CE480 is the version to educate yourself with.
 
I know it’s an older thread, but I saw a 2004 44 sedan bridge of interest with mechanical 450hp engines. would this model had been among those that were over propped and having issues with valve repairs?
any other weak points in this model to look out for?

thanks
Maybe. There is no 450hp 6CTA pre-480CE. In the Sea Ray spec sheet for the 420 Sedan Bridge it lists the “430HP 6CTA 8.3M” as the base engine. It’s called the “450 Diamond”. That’s the fully mechanical engine. It lists the “446HP 480CE” as the optional propulsion. That’s the one with the potential valve seat issue.
 
Ok thanks. I am trying to find out more info on the engines but no reply yet. All the ad says about the engines is 6CTA 8.3L with 1000 hours and had "full rebuild 20 hours ago" according to the ad. If I don't get an email response by Monday I'll try calling the listing broker.
If it is the 480CE's, and they were rebuilt due to the valve seat issue, would there still be concerns for future valve or other issues to watch out for? I'm guessing if it was rebuilt for valve issue the props should be re-pitched so as not to be over propped?
Thanks
 
Also re read up above that AlexF says he purposely found 450 mechanical engines for his choice of power in the 420 model he has. So I wonder if his are the 450 diamond's?
 

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