The Official 450 Express Bridge Owners Club

[Forrestkk]

And the Q-Tip for the WIN!

This is exactly what this looked like after I dried it up (dirty, I know). Had a huge down pour last night. Supposed to get some more rain this afternoon and will check again, but this is a move in the right direction. Feel like I can put some effort into cleaning now.

 

[Shoyrtt]

Apparently the q-tip clean is a necessity on these boats. I did it yesterday when the boat was dry in the slip. After washing the exterior I tried it again. The starboard side had nothing in it, but the port side was nasty!

 

[Forrestkk]

Port Engine Pan Leak (cont)

Well, not sure on this one still. Here is the time line.

5Jun - On our delivery trip we had no water in the port engine pan.
10Jun through 2Jul - Have taken the boat out a few times with no appreciable accumulation of water during the outing

19-20Jun - Had it fill up during Tropical Storm Claudette with the boat sitting at the dock.

2Jul - 8 hour fishing trip out into the gulf, and after the pic of the haul (the 450 can fish)are the images of my port engine pan.

And resultant water build-up...ughh. after TS Claudette is was much higher.

 

[Shoyrtt]

Port Engine Pan Leak (cont)

Well, not sure on this one still. Here is the time line.

5Jun - On our delivery trip we had no water in the port engine pan.
10Jun through 2Jul - Have taken the boat out a few times with no appreciable accumulation of water during the outing

19-20Jun - Had it fill up during Tropical Storm Claudette with the boat sitting at the dock.

2Jul - 8 hour fishing trip out into the gulf, and after the pic of the haul (the 450 can fish)are the images of my port engine pan.


View attachment 108184

And resultant water build-up...ughh. after TS Claudette is was much higher.

View attachment 108186


View attachment 108187

With your timeline, it seems the most likely source, the prop shaft seal is not the issue. It has to be coming in from rain on the cockpit (or in that area) that is making its way to the port pan. Can you confirm it is fresh water? How does the caulking look? How about the cockpit floor drain lines? Engine vent caulking? It’s going to be a process of elimination, but once you figure it out you might have fixed or improved other areas of the boat that also needed some attention.

 

[Forrestkk]

With your timeline, it seems the most likely source, the prop shaft seal is not the issue. It has to be coming in from rain on the cockpit (or in that area) that is making its way to the port pan. Can you confirm it is fresh water? How does the caulking look? How about the cockpit floor drain lines? Engine vent caulking? It’s going to be a process of elimination, but once you figure it out you might have fixed or improved other areas of the boat that also needed some attention.

Yes, shaft seal is brand new as of purchase as it was leaking on the sea trial, that doesn't mean it isn't bad again. Hard to confirm salt vs. fresh. I have actually bit (licked) the bullet but the port trans leaks a bit and there are some other flavors in the water. It doesnt taste as salty as the water when I swim, but hard to imagine there is enough rain water building up that it finds its way to the back and fills the pan.

Agreed, just going to be an item by item refresh on re-sealing at this point.

I also need to hangout in the boat while it is raining hard and see if I can find a source.

For starters, testing out this plug for my fishing pole holders rather than run more lines into the bilge.

 

[Shoyrtt]

Yes, shaft seal is brand new as of purchase as it was leaking on the sea trial, that doesn't mean it isn't bad again. Hard to confirm salt vs. fresh. I have actually bit (licked) the bullet but the port trans leaks a bit and there are some other flavors in the water. It doesnt taste as salty as the water when I swim, but hard to imagine there is enough rain water building up that it finds its way to the back and fills the pan.

Agreed, just going to be an item by item refresh on re-sealing at this point.

I also need to hangout in the boat while it is raining hard and see if I can find a source.

For starters, testing out this plug for my fishing pole holders rather than run more lines into the bilge.
View attachment 108379

I like the pool plug as a cap for the rod holders. Keep us updated on what you find as far as the leak. Even after replacing the caulking on my engine vents, I get a little fresh water in the bilge aft of the port engine, under the fuel filters every time my boat washer cleans. It isn’t bad, maybe 6 to 8 ounces of water to deal with. I really need to be down in there and have the Admiral spray the area to see if I can trace the source.
My next project is to replace my hatch over the master stateroom. With my work and the distance from home to the slip, I have to do the project on a weekend. The good problem I have is most if not all of the weekends are booked, so the hatch is collecting dust for the time being. Hopefully I can eventually get at it.

 

[Forrestkk]

Here is the pool plug in one of my outrigger holders.

Think I need the next size down for the pole holders and need to swap out the plastic wing nut for stainless.

 

[Forrestkk]

Got the last two CRTs out of the boat today. Wow, what a huge increase in access behind the salon TV. I can get to all the A/C ducting, wiring, and other important stuff. Going to be easy remove the clarion changer now too. Going to build a hatch to keep stuff from falling into the electrical work (pulled a remote control out of the AC panel).

Also, found why the port arch drain is so important.

TV removed

Behind TV and penetration to arch

Close up of where the water was coming through when the arch drain wouldn't drain fast enough.

 

[Shoyrtt]

Kevin, where do believe most of the water comes from to fill the arch drain? Does it enter from the flybridge floor?

 

[Forrestkk]

Kevin, where do believe most of the water comes from to fill the arch drain? Does it enter from the flybridge floor?

A great question, and have same one I have. I have a pretty rusty FM antenna on the arch so to have to open it up to replace...will take a look around.

What I find strange, is during heavy rain it seems like only the port drain has a lot of water coming out, the starboard is nearly dry.

 

[Shoyrtt]

Over in the "Dinghy" section there is a post about the miracle in a can that is Boat Cleaner Pro (BCP). I have used it now on the dinghy, shore power cable and other areas around the boat. When we got back to the slip this past weekend, I decided to use it on the "Four Fifty" script on the sides of the boat. I looked at replacing these, but Sea Ray doesn't carry them and the font they used isn't easy to duplicate, so I thought I was left with living with the weathered relics.
The script on my boat after 23 years was a little rough, with a dull, sort of pebbly texture to it. Here is the port side before using the BCP:

And here is the starboard side after using the BCP:

The BCP took that top layer of the decal off to expose the gold underneath. I spent maybe 10 minutes per side on the job. If you are looking to freshen up the script on you boat, I would highly recommend this product.

 

[Forrestkk]

Over in the "Dinghy" section there is a post about the miracle in a can that is Boat Cleaner Pro (BCP). I have used it now on the dinghy, shore power cable and other areas around the boat. When we got back to the slip this past weekend, I decided to use it on the "Four Fifty" script on the sides of the boat. I looked at replacing these, but Sea Ray doesn't carry them and the font they used isn't easy to duplicate, so I thought I was left with living with the weathered relics.
The script on my boat after 23 years was a little rough, with a dull, sort of pebbly texture to it. Here is the port side before using the BCP:
View attachment 108613
View attachment 108614

And here is the starboard side after using the BCP:

View attachment 108615
View attachment 108616

The BCP took that top layer of the decal off to expose the gold underneath. I spent maybe 10 minutes per side on the job. If you are looking to freshen up the script on you boat, I would highly recommend this product.
View attachment 108617

Looks great, did you just come back with wax immediately? Assuming it stripped everything on/around those letters?

 

[Shoyrtt]

Looks great, did you just come back with wax immediately? Assuming it stripped everything on/around those letters?

I ran out of time, but yes, I will be waxing the area later this week. I also used the BCP on the molding trim on the bottom of the swim step. In the past, I would clean that molding with a white eraser or two, with a lot of scrubbing. With this miracle in a can, I can just wipe it and its clean.

Here is the dinghy thread for reference: http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/clean-diesel-soot-from-hypalon.104851/

 

[Forrestkk]

Anyone done a sharkfin instead of a runner duck FM antenna

Found an article on CSR with other folks goong this direction. I don't listen to AM/FM much, but still want the capability and need a new antenna.

Thoughts?


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014SL5CS6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_QBFKV540W1Z5METPDKXP?psc=1

 

[Shoyrtt]

Anyone done a sharkfin instead of a runner duck FM antenna

Found an article on CSR with other folks goong this direction. I don't listen to AM/FM much, but still want the capability and need a new antenna.

Thoughts?


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014SL5CS6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_QBFKV540W1Z5METPDKXP?psc=1

View attachment 108626

I never listen to the AM/FM on the boat after installing the new Fusion head unit with Bluetooth. The Admiral likes her Spotify. I do like the look of that antenna. I believe I have a “stubby” flexible FM antenna on the spoiler. Replacing it with a “Shark Fin” would allow for a nice new bead of caulking and the opportunity to inspect and repair as needed other possible sources of water intrusion. The only negative is getting up on a ladder from the cockpit. I added LED lights to the spoiler on my boat this past year. I love the lights, but getting up on the ladder if there is any sort of a swell can be a little sketchy.

 

[Forrestkk]

I never listen to the AM/FM on the boat after installing the new Fusion head unit with Bluetooth. The Admiral likes her Spotify. I do like the look of that antenna. I believe I have a “stubby” flexible FM antenna on the spoiler. Replacing it with a “Shark Fin” would allow for a nice new bead of caulking and the opportunity to inspect and repair as needed other possible sources of water intrusion. The only negative is getting up on a ladder from the cockpit. I added LED lights to the spoiler on my boat this past year. I love the lights, but getting up on the ladder if there is any sort of a swell can be a little sketchy.

Lol, I did the LEDs right before the 4th (bridge red, spoiler white, and cockpit blue). I had a 20' extension ladder with a seat pad life preserver to keep from messing up the arch...it was sporty, especially when a boat came by! Our bayou is popular with skiiers and wake boarders, plus 2x marinas with boats coming and going.

Also have the Fusion and all we do is blue tooth over, but like you I have a hole and possibly a leak to fix so this seems like a nice way to fix it. Have to figure out what to do with the old school TV antenna too. There are no signals left for it to recieve anymore, so just another piece of legacy gear just rusting in place.

 

[Shoyrtt]

Lol, I did the LEDs right before the 4th (bridge red, spoiler white, and cockpit blue). I had a 20' extension ladder with a seat pad life preserver to keep from messing up the arch...it was sporty, especially when a boat came by! Our bayou is popular with skiiers and wake boarders, plus 2x marinas with boats voming and going.

Also have the Fusion and all we do is blue tooth over, but like you I have a hole and possibly a leak to fix so this seems like a nice way to fix it. Have to figure out what to do with the old school TV antenna too. There are no signals left for it to recieve anymore, so just another piece of legacy gear just rusting in place.

Lol! An extension ladder sounds fairly stable. I did it on a step ladder with my son holding the bottom for dear life at times!
Our spoiler also holds a newly antiquated Trackvison satellite system. I’m going to just leave it for now and deal with it at some point when I’m running out of projects. And with a never ending list the Trackvison might never come down. Lol

 

[The Bill Collector]

newly antiquated Trackvison satellite system

What's the issue with the KVH ?

 

[Shoyrtt]

What's the issue with the KVH ?

I was told in July of last year by my boat broker that on 8-1-20 that Direct TV no longer supported my KVH unit and Direct TV box. With all of the streaming options and with both cell and WiFi service available in our slip and where we travel on the boat, I haven't even looked at weather or not the broker's statement to me was true.

 

[The Bill Collector]

I was told in July of last year by my boat broker that on 8-1-20 that Direct TV no longer supported my KVH unit and Direct TV box. With all of the streaming options and with both cell and WiFi service available in our slip and where we travel on the boat, I haven't even looked at whether or not the broker's statement to me was true.

It's not true for my M3 KVH, I spent $100 and it's working great !!!