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

They can but usually less expensive to buy another. I had forgot to mention there is a simple test to determine if the diodes have crapped the bed - Using your digital volt meter set it to read AC voltage. Start the engine and set the RPM to 1500. Load down the DC circuits by turning on as many DC devices as you can. Then measure the voltage between the alternator BAT post and ground. You are measuring the DC ripple which is actually AC voltage. That measurement should be less than 0.10 Volts. If greater the diode rectifier is going south....

ttmott, Thank you for the thorough explanation. That is exactly what I was looking for. I will do the testing you recommend just to know where I stand. If I'm looking at the correct alternator on the CAT Parts website the prices aren't terrible. My season unfortunately ends soon for quite a duration, so I'll have plenty of time to change it out. I was planning to do belts this winter anyway, so it's somewhat more palatable.
 
ttmott, Thank you for the thorough explanation. That is exactly what I was looking for. I will do the testing you recommend just to know where I stand. If I'm looking at the correct alternator on the CAT Parts website the prices aren't terrible. My season unfortunately ends soon for quite a duration, so I'll have plenty of time to change it out. I was planning to do belts this winter anyway, so it's somewhat more palatable.
You are welcome, hope it helps. As a note the CAT alternators for these engines are only 50 AMP. Most have upgraded to an 120 Amp Prestolite marine alternator. They are a plug and play and actually cheaper than the CAT.
 
Hey Cocktail Time, I see you are also on lake Lanier. Yes you can rebuild the alternators and your starter motors. I use Sleepy Hollow rebuilders on Hwy 20 between Canton and Cumming. Great work and honest business to deal with. I highly recommend if you ever have the need. They rebuild for my construction equipment needs.
 
Well the process is nearly complete for me. If all goes as planned I'll pull the plug on summer 2021 this coming Sunday. I had a nice relaxing oil change this past weekend.

Not much left to do other than clean her up, empty the fridges and stow the Damp Rid...:(

51549114056_6271ca95ca_b.jpg
 
Well the process is nearly complete for me. If all goes as planned I'll pull the plug on summer 2021 this coming Sunday. I had a nice relaxing oil change this past weekend.

Not much left to do other than clean her up, empty the fridges and stow the Damp Rid...:(

51549114056_6271ca95ca_b.jpg

I love that anchor storage. We're scheduled for 10/13 so I'll do oil this week and take the final cruise Saturday/Sunday
 
Prop tuning question. Is there a particular prop shop that is highly experienced with Sea Ray prop tuning and in particular, the 400 with 3116 Cats? I added Aetna tachs this year and I am about 30-35 RPM short of 2,800 with half tanks and clean bottom with summer temps, but not super high humidity. I assume I should be shooting to gain about 75 RPM from where I am now so I can hit 2,800 with full tanks, hot & humid weather and everything my wife packs for our annual vacation trip? I’d like to have somebody do it that knows the 400 and what makes it work best. Thanks for any input.
 

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Prop tuning question. Is there a particular prop shop that is highly experienced with Sea Ray prop tuning and in particular, the 400 with 3116 Cats? I added Aetna tachs this year and I am about 30-35 RPM short of 2,800 with half tanks and clean bottom with summer temps, but not super high humidity. I assume I should be shooting to gain about 75 RPM from where I am now so I can hit 2,800 with full tanks, hot & humid weather and everything my wife packs for our annual vacation trip? I’d like to have somebody do it that knows the 400 and what makes it work best. Thanks for any input.

Looking at your tachs do you have the sync on? If so take it off and try again. I have read that removing the sync will increase the wot rpm by about 40-50 rpm.
 
Prop tuning question. Is there a particular prop shop that is highly experienced with Sea Ray prop tuning and in particular, the 400 with 3116 Cats? I added Aetna tachs this year and I am about 30-35 RPM short of 2,800 with half tanks and clean bottom with summer temps, but not super high humidity. I assume I should be shooting to gain about 75 RPM from where I am now so I can hit 2,800 with full tanks, hot & humid weather and everything my wife packs for our annual vacation trip? I’d like to have somebody do it that knows the 400 and what makes it work best. Thanks for any input.

north coast prop tech in Ohio did ours. I’m not sure he’s a SR or 400 expert but with the data I gave him he made the perfect adjustments on the first try. Very reasonable prices too
 
Looking at your tachs do you have the sync on? If so take it off and try again. I have read that removing the sync will increase the wot rpm by about 40-50 rpm.

Sync was off. This was a true test of each engine on it’s own with wide open throttles. When I use the sync, RPMs are even closer than this. I love that feature.
 
Holland Propeller did mine, they have been very good to work with. I am bringing them my props for some further tuning this winter.
 
Hi 400 Sundancer Folk,

2 Questions:

1. I need new canvas for the boat - I got a quote from a local person and have just got up from falling off my chair. Any suggestions where I can get new canvas

2. I'm thinking about fitting a Bow Thruster - thoughts/feedback/suggestions?

Cheers Pete
 
Hi 400 Sundancer Folk,

2 Questions:

1. I need new canvas for the boat - I got a quote from a local person and have just got up from falling off my chair. Any suggestions where I can get new canvas

2. I'm thinking about fitting a Bow Thruster - thoughts/feedback/suggestions?

Cheers Pete

fairly certain the last canvas job on our boat was in the 10-12k range, is that close? You have no choice but to go custom on these boats, no oem option.

The bow thruster install will be really close it price to my canvas estimate based on a few recent discussions on here. ~10k. I love ours and it makes single handing the boat easier when being blown off the dock but I’m not sure I’d pay for it if we didn’t have it. Depends on how and where you boat and the typical conditions
 
fairly certain the last canvas job on our boat was in the 10-12k range, is that close? You have no choice but to go custom on these boats, no oem option.

The bow thruster install will be really close it price to my canvas estimate based on a few recent discussions on here. ~10k. I love ours and it makes single handing the boat easier when being blown off the dock but I’m not sure I’d pay for it if we didn’t have it. Depends on how and where you boat and the typical conditions

Canvas quote was $8k - so not looking that bad now... must have been the rum that made me fall off the chair...!

What Bow-Thruster did you install? I was looking at the Lewmar TT-140
 
Canvas quote was $8k - so not looking that bad now... must have been the rum that made me fall off the chair...!

What Bow-Thruster did you install? I was looking at the Lewmar TT-140

ours is factory, I believe it’s a vetus. many many positive threads on Florida bow thrusters and the work they do. I believe they travel for install too. For the size of the hole they need to cut you want someone who knows what they're doing ;)

and yeah, canvas is expensive. Ours had new frame additions and some fancy screen/zipper work and all that stuff adds up quickly.

edit: just saw you’re in NZ, I don’t think they travel that far lol…
 
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Canvas quote was $8k - so not looking that bad now... must have been the rum that made me fall off the chair...!

What Bow-Thruster did you install? I was looking at the Lewmar TT-140
I had an extended camper canvas added to my 410 - $7K - in 2013.
IMG_1590.JPG
 
ours is factory, I believe it’s a vetus. many many positive threads on Florida bow thrusters and the work they do. I believe they travel for install too. For the size of the hole they need to cut you want someone who knows what they're doing ;)

and yeah, canvas is expensive. Ours had new frame additions and some fancy screen/zipper work and all that stuff adds up quickly.

edit: just saw you’re in NZ, I don’t think they travel that far lol…

I'd hate to pay the travel costs for the bow thruster install - considering NZ's draw bridge is still up and there is 14 days in Hotel Quarantine on the way in (if you can get a spot). The plan was to get the thruster installed by a boatbuilder but I'll do the wiring etc... I know this is a silly question - does the bow thruster go forward or aft of the Fwd AirCon Unit...?
 
I'd hate to pay the travel costs for the bow thruster install - considering NZ's draw bridge is still up and there is 14 days in Hotel Quarantine on the way in (if you can get a spot). The plan was to get the thruster installed by a boatbuilder but I'll do the wiring etc... I know this is a silly question - does the bow thruster go forward or aft of the Fwd AirCon Unit...?

i can snag a pic this week if no one beats me to it but it’s in the hatch directly aft of the forward berth, so aft of the forward AC. The tube is towards the back of that compartment and the motor is perpendicular to it on the bow side of the tube.
 
Hi 400 Sundancer Folk,

2 Questions:

1. I need new canvas for the boat - I got a quote from a local person and have just got up from falling off my chair. Any suggestions where I can get new canvas

2. I'm thinking about fitting a Bow Thruster - thoughts/feedback/suggestions?

Cheers Pete
I had my canvas done 3 years ago. IIRC, I think it was about $8500 from a very high quality shop.
 

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