The Official 450 Express Bridge Owners Club

[Jack O'Brien]

Pee

I had another discovery I thought I should share from this past weekend. I noticed some salt in my forward master stateroom hull compartment. Crawling down for a closer look I noticed it was coming from a containment “pocket” under the drain for the midship head/shower. There is one shallow pocket on the starboard side under this forward drain that can only be accessed from the master stateroom hull.
View attachment 130832
The forward pocket was dry, but again I found some evidence of moisture.
View attachment 130838
I found there is second much deeper pocket that is under the aft drain in the midship head.
View attachment 130830
I had a very difficult time reaching in to this pocket with drain hoses and pex lines in the way. To access it you have to go in my favorite compartment of the boat:
View attachment 130833
Here is the small opening with the drain line and pex lines:
View attachment 130834
This is difficult to see, but here is the deep pocket:
View attachment 130835
I had about a gallon of water that was trapped in it. I don’t know how or when the water got in the space. If it is a drain leak, we only have used the shower once, close to two years ago.
My suggestion is the next time you are cleaning that dreaded gray water sump, take your wet vacuum nozzle and run it down into this deep pocket. It might be hiding something for you.

Peering in again, seems to me a leak from the mid-head sink drain could be source while the floor drain, if leaked, would have water cascade into the gray water sump compartment. At least that's what I see beneath the floor drain area, a fairly flat surface. Can't really see a pocket beyond that but I do have that cutout hole on the left, not being used for anything, as if a hole for a hose to pass thru.

 

[Shoyrtt]

Pee

Peering in again, seems to me a leak from the mid-head sink drain could be source while the floor drain, if leaked, would have water cascade into the gray water sump compartment. At least that's what I see beneath the floor drain area, a fairly flat surface. Can't really see a pocket beyond that but I do have that cutout hole on the left, not being used for anything, as if a hole for a hose to pass thru.

Jack,
I know I complain about cleaning the gray water sump in “my favorite compartment” but this is even more difficult.
The only way I could reach the bottom of the pocket was with the nozzle of the vacuum. I can’t contort my arm/shoulder to do it. Even taking the picture was nearly impossible.
On your boat, I think you would have to remove the bow thruster batteries so that you could sit down there to reach in. This is a whole new level of Sea Ray engineering. While I appreciate the thought of a containment area or “pocket” why is it so difficult to access?
I’ll have to check if maybe the vanity cabinet in the midship head has a panel in the bottom or even the midship stateroom closet has something hidden to gain access to this area???

 

[ttmott]

Jack,
I know I complain about cleaning the gray water sump in “my favorite compartment” but this is even more difficult.
The only way I could reach the bottom of the pocket was with nozzle of the vacuum. I can’t contort my arm/shoulder to do it. Even taking the picture was nearly impossible.
On your boat, I think you would have to remove the bow thruster batteries so that you could sit down there to reach in. This is a whole new level Sea Ray engineering. While I appreciate the thought of a containment area or “pocket” why is it so difficult to access?
I’ll have to check if maybe the vanity cabinet in the midship head has a panel in the bottom or even the midship stateroom closet has something hidden to gain access to this area???

If you haven't re-bedded that portlite in the head you should do that also. If you are seeing water in the compartment under that area then it's is probably the leaking portlite. On my boat I noticed some water in one of those out of the way compartments and tracked it to the leaking window. SR didn't do the most precision cutting in the hull for the windows consequently there isn't much area to seal.

 

[Jack O'Brien]

Jack,
I know I complain about cleaning the gray water sump in “my favorite compartment” but this is even more difficult.
The only way I could reach the bottom of the pocket was with the nozzle of the vacuum. I can’t contort my arm/shoulder to do it. Even taking the picture was nearly impossible.
On your boat, I think you would have to remove the bow thruster batteries so that you could sit down there to reach in. This is a whole new level Sea Ray engineering. While I appreciate the thought of a containment area or “pocket” why is it so difficult to access?
I’ll have to check if maybe the vanity cabinet in the midship head has a panel in the bottom or even the midship stateroom closet has something hidden to gain access to this area???

Yes, midship head has an access panel left side bottom cab. Didn't pull it yet.

 

[Shoyrtt]

Yes, midship head has an access panel left side bottom cab. Didn't pull it yet.

I'll take a look this weekend and report back. If the panel allows access, I might also confirm the source of the water. I like ttmott's suggestion. I think it is time to rebed all of the portlites and address the caulking throughout the boat.

 

[LMBoat]

Also caulk around the shower water valve trim ring. If not caulked, water will leak past that when taking a shower.....both of them.

 

[Shoyrtt]

I took a look at the access panel in the midship head vanity. It appears to be designed to get to the toilet lines etc and not the pocket below. I’m going to seal up the portlites and continue to monitor for water/moisture in the pocket in the future.

 

[Shoyrtt]

Working in the engine room today to install the new Wakespeed unit, we discovered in the starboard side electrical control box the wiring diagrams for the control boxes in the engine room. The control boxes are specific for Caterpillar engines. I thought I should share these with the group if you need them. Zoom in for the details.

 

[Shoyrtt]

A left coast 450 finally hits the market in Northern California. This boat was for sale three years ago and is on the video in the first page of this thread. I think it’s priced too low.
Here is the HIN and internal number: SERP4594H900 450EB-516
https://www.simpsonyachts.com/2000-sea-ray-450
https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2000-sea-ray-450-express-bridge-8395695/

 

[Shoyrtt]

Short video at 20 knots heading to the island:

 

[Jack O'Brien]

A left coast 450 finally hits the market in Northern California. This boat was for sale three years ago and is on the video in the first page of this thread. I think it’s priced too low.
https://www.simpsonyachts.com/2000-sea-ray-450
https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2000-sea-ray-450-express-bridge-8395695/
View attachment 131057

Agreed, too low. That's a two yrs ago price.

 

[Shoyrtt]

If you haven't re-bedded that portlite in the head you should do that also. If you are seeing water in the compartment under that area then it's is probably the leaking portlite. On my boat I noticed some water in one of those out of the way compartments and tracked it to the leaking window. SR didn't do the most precision cutting in the hull for the windows consequently there isn't much area to seal.

Thank you again for your advice. I rebedded all four of the portlites on the boat this past weekend. They were pretty easy to do. I removed the outer trim ring and the old caulking. I used Sikaflex 295 UV again which I find easy to work with. After opening up the starboard side ring adjacent to the midship head, I believe I found the source of the leak.

 

[ttmott]

Thank you again for your advice. I rebedded all four of the portlites on the boat this past weekend. They were pretty easy to do. I removed the outer trim ring and the old caulking. I used Sikaflex 295 UV again which I find easy to work with. After opening up the starboard side ring adjacent to the midship head, I believe I found the source of the leak.

Cool! That is where my leak was coming from.

 

[Shoyrtt]

More stories from last weekend. My dock has thirty, 50’ slips on it with all power boats due to a nearby bridge. One of my neighbors has a very nice and custom 450 EB that I posted some pictures of previously in this thread. We spent some time getting to know each other and swapped lots of boat stories on Saturday. We also toured each other’s 450s. They modified and reconfigured the third stateroom to fit their needs by removing the bed and the washer/dryer and installing cabinets and more refridgeration to create a nice pantry. Here is a picture of the cabinets. I’m hoping they will join us on CSR soon.

 

[Jack O'Brien]

That's a nice remodel. Doesn't work for me to give up sleeping capacity. Btw, just had a week with 7 aboard. 4 adults, 3 grands. 8 yo slept fine on dinette couch. Adults in fwd & mid SR's, other two grands aft SR. For onboard meals we all fit around the dinette and I didn't have to convert dinette to a bed. Also btw, just bought two inside windshield reflectors. My exterior snap on black covers are shot and very unsightly. Trying this alternative for keeping the cabin cooler in the FL sun. Easier I think, even if it doesn't shield windshields in their entirety. Opens & stores like an umbrella. $27 each.

 

[Shoyrtt]

Back in the marina for the weekend. The Admiral and I took a sunset cruise around in the dinghy and met the owner of “Reel Estate”. #46 off the line in 1999. Lots of modifications from the soft goods to the crane up front. How about the marble table on the cockpit and bait tanks. Another good guy to talk to and share 450EB stories.

 

[Shoyrtt]

This modification really caught my eye. He removed the standard sunshade for the cockpit and added this custom rectractical sunshade with an integrated frame.

 

[Jack O'Brien]

This modification really caught my eye. He removed the standard sunshade for the cockpit and added this custom rectractical sunshade with an integrated frame.
View attachment 131316

Very much like the retractable cockpit cover.

 

[Shoyrtt]

Finished up the Wakespeed installation.

 

[Shoyrtt]

My friend Doug contacted the broker on the 450 EB listed in Northern California for more information. Does anyone have any experience with 3208 Caterpillars? I’m guessing that Sea Ray went with this package after some of the “soft block” problems they had with the earlier 3126s.