Calling all 390 Sundancer Owners (Power Question)

brettcloak

brettcloak

Member
Jul 12, 2009
71
Maryland
Boat Info
282 XSF
Engines
Twin Yamaha 250
I took an 04 390 on a sea trial today.......

I believe the boat has a fair amount of growth on the bottom but there was a fair amount of vibration (not in the wheel) and the boat at 3800 rpm would top out at 15 knots

Questions....

What rpm do you cruise at and what are the knots? Do you feel the 8.1 horizons are sufficient? Lastly, what is your fuel burn?

Thanks for your help.

Brett
 
Sounds like you have two issues. Terribly fouled bottom - needs to be cleaned prior to valid sea trial. Bent wheen or shaft(s) (or terribly fouled wheels).

Most owners feel this boat is adequately powered. Most others would say it is an aweful lot of boat for gas engines. My buddy had one and cruised at 17 knots - 19 mph. You can plan to get about .6 - .7 mpg at cruise depending on weight (being nice). Fuel burn will be in the mid 30's per hour.

It's a very nice boat. If you are on a lake - no issues. For cruising, it burns a lot of gas and cruises relatively slowly.
 
Thanks,

I plan on requesting that the bottom be cleaned so that we can sea trial her again.

Brett
 
I think you should ask the new member Happy Times....I'll bet he has the answer.
 
Brett,

I had an 05 390 and my wife and I really enjoyed it, nice boat. As for the engines, for our purposes at that time (all lake boating) I thought they were fine. The boat did not feel underpowered at all. And I never had vibration except once when we hit something and bent up both props - doesn't take much damage to a prop to create quite a lot of vibration. Of course if you've got growth on the bottom that could be it as well, as you mentioned a good test would be to have the bottom cleaned (which you would want to do regardless) and try it again. Unfortunately I don't remember the fuel burn numbers or optimal cruising speed, sorry. PS - I will admit, now that we've moved to a diesel 48 there's no going back ... but of course, the 48 cost quite a lot more than the 390.

Regards,
Jason
 
thanks jason, i appreciate it. my buddy has an 06 48 with diesels and it is an awesome boat. i am anxious to sea trial her again with a clean bottom. if i cant be there when she is hauled i am asking for pictures to see the before and after

brett
 
I had an '06 40DA hardtop, which for all intents and purposes is the same boat you are looking at. Mine had the 8.1 HO's and was used for both short and long range cruising in almost all waters (bay, sound and ocean). If I remember I cruised at about 23 mph at 3800 rpm and burned 36 - 38 gph. Other than once in 6-8 footers and a nasty following sea I never thought the boat was underpowered, either out cruising or around the dock. As with JFF, we've moved on to a diesel and there's no going back.....unless I down size. Good luck.
 
Brett,

For what we paid for the 390 I thought it was a terrific boat, even with the 48 there are a few things I miss about the 390 in fact (for example, I still prefer the full 'U' style seating that the 390/40/44 have). We spent two weeks travelling around the Destin/Panama City area and living aboard the 390, it was a great trip and other than my running over my own anchor line (don't ask) the boat performed perfectly.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Regards,
Jason
 
We have owned many Searays and have a 2004 390 Sundancer right now. I think it is a very good boat that runs well give you enough space. It is small enough that I can clean it in about an hour and a half on Saturday. I too have the 8.1's and think they are fine on this boat. If I was moving to any boat larger than the 390 I would go diesel but I have a hard time justifying the $50-75k price on this size boat.
 
I'd like to add another thought on this topic. If you are a buy and hold kind of guy, I would seriously consider the diesel version of this boat. The only real issue with the 8.1's in this big of boat is the durability of gas engines being run at the top of their operating envelope for extended periods of time. No problem for someone who gets into and out of boats quickly, but if you're going for the long term, consider diesel.

On the other hand, if you're getting in and out of boats relatively quickly, consider diesel because they will market better in this size of boat and you will get your additional money back out relatively easily (additional initial cost of diesels).
 
Brett,
Are you serious? You just got the 340, are you looking to move up already? Damn you got it bad! Good luck.
 
The information given said "you took a 390DA for a sea trail".........why get exercised about the cause of the performance and vibration problems? Tell the seller you won't even consider the boat until it performs at or near SR specs...go fix it! Then we'll try again.

BTW, the symptoms are of a boat that has sat idle for a period of time and has extensive bottom growth with hard growth on the props and shafts. And, 15 kts isn't close to what these boats will run
 
My 390 is my first diesel boat and I didn't consider gas versions when I went shopping for this model. I'm very glad I took that approach. Great boat and if longer trips, engine longevity and resale are drivers in your decision diesel is the clear answer.

I burn about 30 GPH @ 2600 rpm doing 24 knots (GPS).

Keep in mind also that in today's market diesel equipped 390's are out there at former gas-equipped prices. Ask me how I know....... :thumbsup:

Good luck with your decision......
 
Aerobaticflyer said:
My 390 is my first diesel boat and I didn't consider gas versions when I went shopping for this model. I'm very glad I took that approach. Great boat and if longer trips, engine longevity and resale are drivers in your decision diesel is the clear answer.

I burn about 30 GPH @ 2600 rpm doing 24 knots (GPS).

Keep in mind also that in today's market diesel equipped 390's are out there at former gas-equipped prices. Ask me how I know....... :thumbsup:

Good luck with your decision......
Click to expand...

Nice combo! Are you sure you burn that much? I though you'd be more like 25 gph with that combo at that speed. Maybe that's a little faster than your optimum cruise? Either way, Nice boat!
 
Hampton said:
Nice combo! Are you sure you burn that much? I though you'd be more like 25 gph with that combo at that speed. Maybe that's a little faster than your optimum cruise? Either way, Nice boat!
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'm still learning the boat and likely will find slightly better figures but when I drop down in speed / rpm to get 25 to 28 GPH the boat feels like it's kind of laboring. I like to run the diesels at about 85% efficiency and that's equating to about 24 knots and that's pushing me to 30 GPH as indicated by the "smart view" system. In any case I love the boat and the power package and the attractive cost of marine diesel relative to gasoline makes it all good! Can't beat the feeling when the turbos kick in and that 20K pound boat jumps out of the water like a 18 ft. runabout. :smt038
 
Everyone,

Thanks for all of your opinions, I really appreciate the feedback!

This is what I am taking from it....

1. If I can afford the diesels buy them

2. Gas does not seem underpowered but I will spend more in fuel costs

At this point in my boat buying career I dont think I can swing the 50 grand additional cost for the diesels but we want the bigger boat. We are not huge long range cruisers (our long is usually no more than 2 and half hours each way) so I think that my fuel costs can be somewhat controlled. As far as resale, I have traded my last two boats because I am usually too impatient to try and sell before moving up.

Sounds like I am talking myself into it doesnt it?? I think the sales guy should give me some of his commission!!!

In any event, they are hauling the boat and cleaning and putting new bottom paint on her and I am going to take her for another spin on Wednesday. I am anxious to see the difference with the hull cleaned up.

I will keep you all in the loop and again, I truly appreciate the help. I think that this site is a wonderful place to get the additional information necessary to make such a big decision.

Brett
 
Honestly, if that happened to me I'd walk away and find another boat.
I'd be fuming that the owner/broker saw fit to waste the time and money of myself- and perhaps the surveyor if he was aboard.

Most importantly-this is a telltale sign of a neglected boat and an owner that doesn't give a crap about it. Thanks, but no thanks.

No one even bothered to check the boat out before inviting you aboard.

Something very similar happened to me with another boat before I bought my SR. I was livid...just my $.02.
 
Brett,

In case you do end up buying it, a few tips from my 2005 390 days:

- there is storage under the couch seats in the salon (took me a *long* time to figure this out, I actually stumbled on it by accident)

- I suspect that you like me won't be able to run the microwave without turning off something else (eg: the AC or Water Heater), trying to run the microwave on my 390 without turning off something else popped a breaker every time

- the A/C unit you want to make *sure* works well is the salon unit, there is *no* easy way to get to that unit

Good luck!

Regards,
Jason
 
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