OFFICIAL - 450DA Owner's Thread****

DjDaoust

Member
Nov 4, 2015
213
La Crosse, WI
Boat Info
1998 450 Sundancer - 3 Boys & A Blonde
Engines
Cat 3126's
Just because there isn't one out here and I know of a lot of 95-98 450DA owners in the CSR. Let's start one!
 
I'm in... 2016-01-19 16.57.39.jpg
 
Love our 450!
 

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Hi 450 people. Just sold my 400 express and looking at 450's. only been a few days of looking. Found one with 3116 cats in it. The 300 hp ones. Everything I read says " stay away". Wondering y. Underpowered? Low resale? Any info would be great. Btw. It's a 97 w/ 840 hours. Thx
 
Hi 450 people. Just sold my 400 express and looking at 450's. only been a few days of looking. Found one with 3116 cats in it. The 300 hp ones. Everything I read says " stay away". Wondering y. Underpowered? Low resale? Any info would be great. Btw. It's a 97 w/ 840 hours. Thx

Frank Webster will be the man you need to talk to....
 

In a nice heated boat house for the winter! That's very nice.

Fastphil, you would have to change your name to Slowphil..... just kidding, honestly the 3116 isn't bad, but you would be missing 240 hp which is pretty significant. I think a 450DA with the 3126 is just a fantastically balanced boat that will be a pleasure to cruise nicely.

And I agree, you need to search out all posts that have been written by Frank Webster. He's an icon with the brand and a wealth of knowledge (expert is the term that comes to mind).
 
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Any way you cut it, the 450DA is a big boat. If you plan to run it like a ski boat or even your 400EC, then you will think the 300 hp 3116 version is underpowered. The truth of the matter is t hat the 450 wake is large enough that you have to run the 450 with an eye over the transom in high traffic areas. My boat has 350 hp engines and it is fine for us; I'd probably be happy with 300 hp Cats and the 420 hp 3126's do make the boat plane quicker and run a couple of kts faster.

The real answer to your question is in a sea trial. Go run the 300 hp version and ask your self if you would be happy with it.

If your question comes from some internet forum where a bunch of folks who have never owned a Cat engine are discussing all that is wrong with them, them stop wasting your time. Cat had a few problems with some vendor supplied parts in the late 90's but they are all worked out of the system since they occurred at 150 hours or less.....any other problems are typical problems from running the engines overloaded or overheated that you would have with any diesel engine. I fully researched the Cat issues some time ago and have written a summary of what they were and what to look for that I can send you if you are interested.

The 450DA is a great boat; one of the best sea Ray has ever given us. With Cat 3100 series engines, it also happens to be more efficient than any common rail engine offered today.
 
Well said Frank! You are a blessing to this site! We have the 3126's and it has plenty (if not more than needed) power.
 
Sad day at the marina. Here winter home.
 

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When hydraulic swim platforms go bad....
 

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I guess the bow thruster was a better choice? Still, I bet the hydraulic platform is nice to have when its working properly.
 
Nice looking boat. I did notice the stains from the a/c and bow drains. What I do is measure the inside diameter of each and cut about a three inch piece of hose to fit in snugly. The water being discharged never touches the hull and keeps it clean.
Just an idea....

Tommy
 
Tommy,

Just regular plastic hosing or solid PVC pipe? Do you glue the pieces in or just friction fit?
 

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