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

Cocktail Time said:
Had a friend who is smaller reconnect and it still sounds like crap. Louder, but high pitched. I think the diaphrams are shot. He hung upside down from the anchor locker hatch and connected it. If you are going to go through the trouble, take the whole unit out and make sure it works before putting it back in.
Click to expand...
Thanks. If your friend is coming through WV let me know.
 
Good morning everyone. I’m looking to replace both bow navigation lights on my 98’ 400 Sundancer with some LED’s. Any suggestions with what’s the best fit & finish? I’m have some trouble finding decent replacements. Thanks.
 
zielke said:
Good morning everyone. I’m looking to replace both bow navigation lights on my 98’ 400 Sundancer with some LED’s. Any suggestions with what’s the best fit & finish? I’m have some trouble finding decent replacements. Thanks.
Click to expand...

You could buy the lights linked below and replace the lamps with LED's. I've read enough conflicting information on LED's in navigation light installations that I decided to stay with incandescents in my exterior lights. 100% LED on the interior, however.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005FCIBCM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
zielke said:
Good morning everyone. I’m looking to replace both bow navigation lights on my 98’ 400 Sundancer with some LED’s. Any suggestions with what’s the best fit & finish? I’m have some trouble finding decent replacements. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I upgraded to these last summer. I like that the LED is sealed, and the units have a tell tale on top that lets you know they are lighted. Very bright, will need the 2 mile version. Fit the current footprint exactly. as well. $60.

upload_2020-8-4_17-5-14.png
 
dtfeld said:
I upgraded to these last summer. I like that the LED is sealed, and the units have a tell tale on top that lets you know they are lighted. Very bright, will need the 2 mile version. Fit the current footprint exactly. as well. $60.

View attachment 89668
Click to expand...
I used the same ones. They look great. Then you will have to replace the plastic windlass covers with stainless.
 
dtfeld said:
I upgraded to these last summer. I like that the LED is sealed, and the units have a tell tale on top that lets you know they are lighted. Very bright, will need the 2 mile version. Fit the current footprint exactly. as well. $60.

View attachment 89668
Click to expand...
Hey Dave, why does the top light in the picture have two tell tales?
 
Ezsteps said:
I would say it's because it's a Red and Green. Like a single center light.
Click to expand...

Opps!! Didn't notice that!! The Attwood LED's come in several configurations. Our boats will need a separate Red/Green.

While the tell tale is a good reminder, these things are so bright, you can see the light on the bow rail reflection. Far superior in form and function to the original, and I'm never worried they are out due to a burned out or loose bulb.
 
Hey guys.
I’m upgrading to a Sundancer in the 40s and I found a 2000 410 Sundancer that I like. This boat is clean, probably the cleanest boat I have ever seen. The guy gets it washed by a professional every time he uses the boat. The engines are gassers, not sure if they are the 7.4 or 8.1s, but it doesn’t really matter to me since I’m just cruising down a lake. The only thing that scares me is the 900 hours on the engines. I do know that this guy maintains them well. ER is as clean as a whistle. He changes the spark plugs and wires on the regular. I think he mentioned changing out the hoses as well. I know this guy cares for his boat. He wraps his isinglass in sheets ffs. One of his transmissions went out, but he ended up replacing both trannies for the hell of it. Anyways what do you guys think of the hours? I’ve never seen a boat taken care of like this one, but I don’t want to run into having to replace an engine. Thanks
Nick
 
NickHadel said:
Hey guys.
I’m upgrading to a Sundancer in the 40s and I found a 2000 410 Sundancer that I like. This boat is clean, probably the cleanest boat I have ever seen. The guy gets it washed by a professional every time he uses the boat. The engines are gassers, not sure if they are the 7.4 or 8.1s, but it doesn’t really matter to me since I’m just cruising down a lake. The only thing that scares me is the 900 hours on the engines. I do know that this guy maintains them well. ER is as clean as a whistle. He changes the spark plugs and wires on the regular. I think he mentioned changing out the hoses as well. I know this guy cares for his boat. He wraps his isinglass in sheets ffs. One of his transmissions went out, but he ended up replacing both trannies for the hell of it. Anyways what do you guys think of the hours? I’ve never seen a boat taken care of like this one, but I don’t want to run into having to replace an engine. Thanks
Nick
Click to expand...

I'm pushing in on 1,200 hours. If 900 is a number to be worried about...I'm in trouble :)

I have bought two boats that exceeded 1,000 hours when I bought them. Knock on wood...never had an issue, both boats have been properly maintained. I wouldn't hesitate for a second based on your description of the owners care for the boat.

Have a Merc mechanic look them over, check compression and enjoy those gas engines!
 
Stee6043 said:
I'm pushing in on 1,200 hours. If 900 is a number to be worried about...I'm in trouble :)

I have bought two boats that exceeded 1,000 hours when I bought them. Knock on wood...never had an issue, both boats have been properly maintained. I wouldn't hesitate for a second based on your description of the owners care for the boat.

Have a Merc mechanic look them over, check compression and enjoy those gas engines!
Click to expand...

I bought my 1994 400EC with over 1000 hours on them in 2013. Two seasons ago, with 1600+ hours on them, a coolant hose ruptured causing an overheat and a blown motor. I rebuild both engines myself and have been using them ever since. Maybe if the hose did not burst, I may have been heading to a rebuild anyway, but I likely could have gotten a few more seasons out of them.
Just like Stee, I say have them checked by a good mechanic with compression tests and a good sea trial, and if all checks out, go for it!
 
h_gerry said:
I bought my 1994 400EC with over 1000 hours on them in 2013. Two seasons ago, with 1600+ hours on them, a coolant hose ruptured causing an overheat and a blown motor. I rebuild both engines myself and have been using them ever since. Maybe if the hose did not burst, I may have been heading to a rebuild anyway, but I likely could have gotten a few more seasons out of them.
Just like Stee, I say have them checked by a good mechanic with compression tests and a good sea trial, and if all checks out, go for it!
Click to expand...
Thanks guys. My mechanic is going to be checking them out shortly. I don’t plan to keep this boat for more than a year or two before I’ll be ready to upgrade again, but who knows?
 
NickHadel said:
Thanks guys. My mechanic is going to be checking them out shortly. I don’t plan to keep this boat for more than a year or two before I’ll be ready to upgrade again, but who knows?
Click to expand...

Well that doesn't make a whole lotta sense? If you already know you'll want another boat, buy that boat now! If I were a betting man, which I'm not, the big-boat market is going to be a buyers market next year. And for a while after that. I wouldn't plan for a return of a 2020 sellers market anytime soon...personally.
 
Stee6043 said:
Well that doesn't make a whole lotta sense? If you already know you'll want another boat, buy that boat now! If I were a betting man, which I'm not, the big-boat market is going to be a buyers market next year. And for a while after that. I wouldn't plan for a return of a 2020 sellers market anytime soon...personally.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind I’m upgrading from a 30 ft cabin cruiser. I really like the 410 but the longer I own it the older it gets! That being said I want to see how much I really enjoy this boat before I start paying a lot of money for newer and bigger. The previous owner said he was planning on keeping this one for a few years but ended up driving it for 10 because he liked it so much.
 
I'm looking to get a tender to use on the Lopp in a year or so. What sizes do others on this thread have? And what types of davits work the best on a 400DA?

Thanks for the help
 
To Nick Hadel:
My 99 400DA shows 2000+ hours on both tach's. I had a tech with a laptop with merc software plug into the ECM's to get actual engine run hours. Both motors showed around 320 hours actual run time. The techometer hour meters run whenever the keys are turned on at the control panel. I leave my keys on all day and just float on the lake using no motors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,243
Messages
1,429,162
Members
61,123
Latest member
Tim Duncan
Back
Top