operating costs for a '07 Sundancer 44 twin diesels

[scottroy128]

I am wondering what types of fuel consumption and maintenance fees people are seeing on 44 Sundancers with twin 500hp diesels. I have typically run lake boats that are a bit smaller and not diesel so this is new to me. Just looking for a rough estimate.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Glad to know this Forum exists.

Scott

 

[Tonka Boater]

Other with more knowledge can help you but....welcome aboard!

 

[Hampton]

You will get about 1 mpg running at about 25 knots (30 gallons per hour and 30 miles per hour). So, if you pay $3.00 per gallon, it'll cost about 90 dollars per hour and you will travel about 30 miles. Fixed costs will be highly dependent on a million variables, but plan on $2500 for bottom paint every few years (highly variable), maybe $3000 per year in insurance for lakes (highly variable), $3000 per month in payments (highly variable), $7,500 per year for dockage (highly variable), and maybe $5,000 per year in maintenance (highly variable).

That should just about nail it all down.

 

[shinsr]

I just got the same boat in April - Hampton, I wish your consumption was accurate but its not! I burn at 2350 (which is around 25.5 knots), 18 gallons per engine, so 36 total. I know 2 others with same boat and their consumption is the same. If I drop down to 2280 (which is a real nice cruise), consumption drops to around 15.8 gallons per engine at just over 24 knots. High cruise is 2400, boat really moving but consumption up proportionately. Boat runs like a champ though, I have found other operating costs are completely variable based on your marina and thier rates. Good luck!

 

[fc3]

This looks OK in edit mode, then gets all munged up when saved. Showing it in a scrolling window is the best that I can do with it.
Crappy forum software.

Boattest.com claims:
est Power: 2 x 450-hp Cummins 6CTA 8.3-M3 - Diesel
 	Range	 
RPM	MPH	Knots	Total GPH	MPG	NMPG	Stat. Mile	NM  	KM   	KPH   	LPH   	KPL  	dBA
600	6.9	6.0	2.4	2.88	2.50	919	799	1479	11.1	9.1	1.22	73
1000	9.8	8.5	5.8	1.68	1.46	537	467	864	15.77	22	0.71	76
1250	10.8	9.4	9.9	1.09	0.95	349	303	562	17.38	37.5	0.46	77
1500	13.4	11.7	16.0	0.84	0.73	268	233	431	21.57	60.6	0.36	82
1750	19.9	17.3	21.1	0.94	0.82	301	261	484	32.03	79.9	0.4	82
2000	25.3	22.0	24.5	1.03	0.90	330	287	531	40.72	92.7	0.44	84
2250	30.9	26.8	32.2	0.96	0.83	306	266	492	49.73	121.9	0.41	85
2500	33.8	29.3	39.6	0.85	0.74	272	237	438	54.4	149.9	0.36	87
2700	36.3	31.6	45.9	0.79	0.69	253	220	407	58.42	173.7	0.34	88
Speeds measured with Stalker ProSports radar gun. Fuel consumption (gallons per hour) measured with Floscan digital fuel-flow meter on gas inboards, sterndrives, and outboards, TechMate electronic scan tool on gas EFI inboards, Caterpillar digital fuel-flow meter on diesel engines, or permanently installed fuel-monitoring equipment. Range is based on 90% of published fuel capacity. Sound levels determined using Radio Shack digital decibel meter on A scale. 68 dBA is the level of normal conversation.

Performance Chart

Test Conditions
Test Power: 2 x 450-hp Cummins 6CTA 8.3-M3 - Diesel
Time To Plane	10.5 sec.
0 to 30	18.6 sec.
Test Power	 2 x 450-hp Cummins 6CTA 8.3-M3 - Diesel
Transmission	ZF 280 IV
Ratio	1.56:1
Props	N/A
Load	full: Fuel, full: Water, 3 persons: Load, min. gear: Gear
Climate	75-degrees: Temp, 80% :Humid,

 

[jrirvine1]

My boat has the 480CE’s which are the Cummins generation just prior to the QSC engines, so my numbers will be close to what you may find. I typically have about 50% to 75% fuel 50% water and perhaps 5 adults and two dogs aboard.

Typical cruise at 22 knots = 30 to 32 gph / 2150 RPM depending upon wind, tide, bay wave height and bottom condition.

24.5 knot cruise = 35 to 36 gph / 2350 RPM

For maintenance costs I may not be of much assistance here, as I do all my own general and seasonal maintenance, which I would highly recommend that you learn how to do ASAP.

 

[Skip]

My 6CTA 8.3M3 450 fuel burn numbers are in line with the table that FCIII posted, based on five seasons and 600 hours of use.

As regards maintenance-I do all my own annual services: (oil/filters/racors/transmissions/generator oil and filter/sacrificial anodes in the engines and generator, plus full winterization) and the filters, fluids, and other parts typically run ~$600. I take two full days to do all the work properly. To have the local Sea Ray dealer do this same service would be ~$5K

I sample engine and transmission oil at mid season, which is another $100 or so for the sampling kit and sampling service, but this is a necessary step to monitor engine health.

As others have noted, the other ownership costs--bottom paint, detailing, bottom cleaning, etc. are dependant on where you boat and what your local yards will charge.

Great boat. We love the 420/44DA