45 DA Performance Question

M

mikey18605

Member
Dec 3, 2006
52
Port Charlotte, FL
Boat Info
2003 48 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Cummins QSM11's
I am considering the purchase of a 98 45 DA with the 420HP 3126 engines. I was surprised at the slow nature of the boat, 22K at 2400 cruise and 26K at 2800 WOT.
Bottom paint was 18 months old in Florida, but clean. Props were 22 X 24 4 blade nibral cupped, in good condition. 26K however at WOT is what most owners quote. Sea Ray has provided two different sets of data, 25K to 29K and 29K to 32K, both at WOT. As such I would appreciate feedback on what’s real. As a further comparison, following are test results from somewhat similar boats, most of which perform much better than the 45DA.

BOAT DISP ENGINE FUEL WATER WOT SPEED
Rinker 390 23000 370 Cum 170G 100G 29.3K
Trojan 400 19500 330 Cum - - 30.8K
Sea Ray 410 22000 340 Cat 335G 100G 29.8K
Tiara 3800 22500 450Cum 205G 55G 30.9K
Regal 4160 20375 430 Cum 150G 0G 31.6K
Sea Ray 420 25500 430 Cum 280G 100G 30.9K
Chris 43 27000 440Yan 170G 70G 30.6K
Sea Ray 45 23500 420 Cat 300G 70G 26.0K

A general gauge of dividing total weight by HP for similar boats can give an approximation of expected performance. Dividing total weight by HP gives a range of 47.82 for the Regal which was the fastest to 73.95 for the Sea Ray 410 which was the sixth slowest.The 45 DA which at 62.28 puts it similar to the Chris and the Sea Ray 420. In other words the 45 DA should run at least 30K!!! Of further interest is the Sea Ray 420 runs 22 X 26 4 blade nibral cupped props with the same gears as the 45 DA and has only 10 HP more! This teas was with near full fuel and full water. I am of the opinion a 45DA running 22 X 24 4 blade nibral cupped props may be under propped. I encourage feedback from 45DA users regarding real world speeds and types of props used. Any an all other comments are welcome.

As an aside, I would also appreciate a fair price estimate for a Florida located 1998 45 DA with ALL the Sea Ray options, 420 Cats @ 350 HRS, new canvass and above average condition.

T H A N K S !!

Mikey18605@AOL.COM
 
If you ran the boat and achieved WOT of 2800 the boat is propped correctly. But, it should do this will full fluids plus gear and passengers. If you ran the test with less than full cruising weight, the boat is over not under propped.

The 3126 engines want to run at 2400 for continuous cruise. Personally I would use the cruise speed numbers rather than WOT to compare boats. The numbers you posted seem correct to me.
 
THis is a case fro Frnak Webster of course ... where is he? Remembering from previous posts, I think Frank will confirm the above performance data.

450s are no race boats!! :smt018
 
Other conditions effect the test results. Temperature, sea conditions and loading are variable. Most companies try to make the numers look good. Tiara, on of the boats you mentioned, lists the dry weight of a generic model on the web site under "Products". However, the test numbers on the web site are usually conducted with full fuel, full water, full holding tank, two POB and a specified number of pounds of gear on board. Each boat is weighed at the factory "as built." Make sure you are factoring in the weight of fuel, water, etc., when doing your research.
 
No there not raceboats, if you want to go fast, buy a formula.
Mikey search some of Mr.Websters posts on the 450 or on cats and you will see that they do perform and very economically at that. 2400 rpms should achieve a 22 kt max cruise.

Did you actually seatrial that 450 DA?
 
I have found the 450DA to be both very load sensitive and very sensitive to a fouled bottom. With full fuel and average load, my boat cruises at 21 kts @2400RPM.........burn off 2/3 the fuel and she'll run 23kts........WOT and its 26kts. I have 3116's and the wheels are right and the bottom is clean. With 3126's a 450 sholud run lose to the factory quoted numbers.......cruise at about 24kts and WPT at about 30kts.

Even a little slime on the hull costs you speed on a 450DA. If I leave my boat in one spot for 3-4 weeks in the summer, I lose 2 kts.

Life with boats is a series of trade offs.........spend 2X the money on a newer boat if you want to go faster and burn 47-49GPH, or buy a 450 with Cat engines and run a little slower and burn 22-23 gph......you pick.

As far as values on a '98 model boat, condition and service history mean everything. There is a decent '98 450DA in average condition listed at our marina for $229K.......and its worth about $180K. My boat is a '96, has a complete detailed service history, not a mark on it and is nice enough that customers often confuse it with new inventory boats parked in the next slip and if she were for sale, $229 would be laughable..........So, its all going to come down to finding the best boat and a seller who is ready to sell his boat. Unfortunately, you don't figure all that out until you write a deposit check and make a serious offer.
 
Just surveyed 45DA 3126's
27.4mph@2400rpm
31.7mph@2825rpm
3/4 fuel
1-2' chop
into 10kt wind
5 persons on board
light water on board

MY NEW TO ME BOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :smt038 JC
 
Bill, I hope to know how you feel early next month(will take ownership). Just got off the phone with the engine survey guy(Dan Mattos-He was terrific) tying up some loose ends(Per Franks Instructions) and the conversation was all GOOD! Cant wait to hear those babies PER! :grin: JC
 
I can hear Skips Thundering Torque herd right now in the distance. :grin: JC
 
I think Skip is still in that rental SUV watching the end of the movie on the CD player with his boys.... :thumbsup:
 
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