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

[carterchapman]

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

Mine (well my former 410 - LOL) still has the original charger and it did fine.

The Blue Tops can be a bit pricey, but shop for Advance or AutoZone Coupons...You can get them in the low 200's that way...

 

[JVM225]

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

Mine (well my former 410 - LOL) still has the original charger and it did fine.

The Blue Tops can be a bit pricey, but shop for Advance or AutoZone Coupons...You can get them in the low 200's that way...

Thanks for the info. I was thinking of just doing the port (House) bank now, and the other bank and genny next spring to spread out the cost.
Not sure if it would be OK to do that since the Optimas are AGM and the others are traditional wet cells. Although, it looks like the optimas are basically sealed wet cells so I don't need to switch the charger over to the gel setting.
The manual for the Protech 4 model 1240 cautions to use batteries of the same type/size. Not sure if they mean each bank must have matching batteries unique to that bank. Or all batteries regardless of bank must be exactly the same.
The manual also describes it as having "Three isolated positive outputs are incorporated to sense and charge three separate heavy-duty batteries or battery banks as needed".
I guess I can always just call their customer service number to see what they say

 

[JVM225]

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

I am about to replace mine (ordered last night) with the same ones I put in over 6 years ago. We anchor out for days at a time so I wanted plenty of capacity on the house bank so I don't have to run the generator but early in the morning and again in the evening. Trojan J185H for the house and just group 27 for the starboard side. I have a watering kit on them so maintaining is easy. If I didn't have some extended day cruises coming up I could have pushed these to the spring.

The J185H is 123 lbs but is 12v and needed only a slightly larger battery box. I didn't need to revamp my cables either and have tons of capacity, enough for the normal house systems including a large amp for my cockpit sound system.

Ken,
Are you still using the original Protech 4 model 1240 charger?

 

[fr8dog]

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

I've had Lifeline batts for the Last 5 years. The 8d's are still going strong. I just had a group 27 for the generator fail. I'm replacing it with a Northstar, only because of availability. No experience with Northstar. I have been very happy with Lifeline, so i'll see.

 

[carterchapman]

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

Mike - did you get Lifeline 8D AGMs? What did they run?

 

[douglee25]

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

FYI - there are only about 2-3 battery manufacturers out there. All the batteries are bought, labeled, and resold under private labels.

 

[fr8dog]

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

Carter, Yes I have the AGM 8d's. I paid 599 each in 2012. When I bought the boat I replaced all batteries with Lifeline AGM's. Have never liked dealing with regular flooded batts.

 

[HUMPH]

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

Ken,
Are you still using the original Protech 4 model 1240 charger?

No, it died a few years ago. I upgraded to a Pronautic 60 amp. I had to upgrade all of the wiring and add fuses.

 

[carterchapman]

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

Carter, Yes I have the AGM 8d's. I paid 599 each in 2012. When I bought the boat I replaced all batteries with Lifeline AGM's. Have never liked dealing with regular flooded batts.

Thanks Mike. Not looking forward to that workout!! I'll have to find a couple of young dock hands!!!

 

[hd12121]

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

Hi guys: I recently did a 1999 400DA in MarineMat. I have the template for this boat and can offer reasonable pricing to Club SeaRay members. I'm in the Tampa area and offer installation also if you are reasonable nearby. MarineMat is original equipment on many new boats including Cobalt Boats, Crownline, Four Winns, Hurricane, Rinker, Scarab and Yamaha. It carries a 3 Year Limited Manufacturer warranty. In addition to the teak look, we also have 24 other colors and teak plank style can be customized any way you wish. We can also add logos with our CNC routers or any image you desire with our lazer engraver. MarineMat is available in a variety of thickness and with a 9mm thickness we can use up to 3 colors! I am an authorized dealer/installer. I don't check Club Sea Ray messaging as often as I check my email (2020marineservices@gmail.com). Contact me for more information.

 

[JVM225]

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

Just finished changing the waste tank vent filter. Although it only took me about 10-15 minutes to work my way in there, swap it out, and work my way back out, I rate it as a 3 on the Advil scale after having to twist my 63 year old body like a pretzel. I'm 5'11" at about 180 lbs. Any taller, heavier, or a few years older would have made the task much harder.
Has anyone relocated that filter to a more convenient location?

 

[carterchapman]

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

Humph did as I recall - hopefully he'll chime in. At 5'10' and 190 I had "fun" back there too on my 410. Don't get me started on the genny HE maintenance!!! LOL! Requires the same "pretzel" contortions!

 

[Riptide III]

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

Just finished changing the waste tank vent filter. Although it only took me about 10-15 minutes to work my way in there, swap it out, and work my way back out, I rate it as a 3 on the Advil scale after having to twist my 63 year old body like a pretzel. I'm 5'11" at about 180 lbs. Any taller, heavier, or a few years older would have made the task much harder.
Has anyone relocated that filter to a more convenient location?

i installed a longer hose and relocated it to the area where the fuel valves are. Ps. I cut my filter in half and refilled it with charcoal. It was actually just a piece of pvc with a sticker on it, a piece of foam on both ends and filled with fish tank type charcoal.

 

[HUMPH]

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

Humph did as I recall - hopefully he'll chime in. At 5'10' and 190 I had "fun" back there too on my 410. Don't get me started on the genny HE maintenance!!! LOL! Requires the same "pretzel" contortions!

I did, good memory! I cut in a hatch behind the transom door on the port side and ran the hose up there that connects to a Big Orange filter. BTW, I am 6' 2" and 225lbs (or more) so working in my bilge sucks!

 

[Woody]

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

I did, good memory! I cut in a hatch behind the transom door on the port side and ran the hose up there that connects to a Big Orange filter. BTW, I am 6' 2" and 225lbs (or more) so working in my bilge sucks!

Some more $$$$ and you can get a bigger bilge ya know.:grin:

 

[carterchapman]

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

Some more $$$$ and you can get a bigger bilge ya know.:grin:

I can identify with that, however, when you put V8 MAN's in, it's back to being tight again! LOL!

 

[JVM225]

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


i installed a longer hose and relocated it to the area where the fuel valves are. Ps. I cut my filter in half and refilled it with charcoal. It was actually just a piece of pvc with a sticker on it, a piece of foam on both ends and filled with fish tank type charcoal.

That sounds interesting. Do you have any pictures of it mounted?

 

[JVM225]

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


I did, good memory! I cut in a hatch behind the transom door on the port side and ran the hose up there that connects to a Big Orange filter. BTW, I am 6' 2" and 225lbs (or more) so working in my bilge sucks!

Sounds nice, but I lack the skills to finish an access hatch nicely so I'd have to pay a fiberglass guy to do it which is more than I should probably invest in it.

 

[JVM225]

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

Humph did as I recall - hopefully he'll chime in. At 5'10' and 190 I had "fun" back there too on my 410. Don't get me started on the genny HE maintenance!!! LOL! Requires the same "pretzel" contortions!

Haven't had to do any maintenance on the genny yet, but did have to top off the anti-freeze in the overflow for it and that in itself was an adventure. I can't imagine what it's going to be like to service the raw water pump. That might be something that is best to pay someone to do.

 

[carterchapman]

Haven't had to do any maintenance on the genny yet, but did have to top off the anti-freeze in the overflow for it and that in itself was an adventure. I can't imagine what it's going to be like to service the raw water pump. That might be something that is best to pay someone to do.

JVM - I found a way that worked for me: Leave the main hatch closed and open the genny hatch. Lay on the main hatch and reach down. I could change the oil filter, fuel filter and impeller pretty easily that way. One "Catch 22": Either order some spare screws for the impeller cover or be extremely careful unscrewing them - ask me how I know! LOL!