performance question on a 400DB ????

[37 Dancer]

Im looking at a 1999 400DB with 3116 Cats at my local MM dealer......... just wondering what my cruise speed will be ?..... and my fuel burn ? Where there any updates to those motors ?


http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...so=0&n=1%3A1%3A41372%3A41580%3A52&searchtype=


Is there anything I should look at in particular ?? ( of course it will be surveyed )

Its a bit dirty........but I have soap !!!

thanks guys.............

 

[fwebster]

Caterpillars in that time frame did have some problems and all the problems were a result of vendor quality problems and all were warrantied.

Only one affected the 3116 engine.....some soft TRW valves. When the valves failed, the stem snapped off causing the valve to drop into the engine which was usually a "terminal" event for the engine. If you had bad valves, the problem surfaced some where before about 100-125 hours. If the boat you are looking at has more time than that, it likely wasn't affected or was repaired long ago.

The 3116 cruises at 2400 rpm and the fuel burn is 22.6 gph total for both engines. These engines have a sweet spot at about 2250 rpm and the fuel burn there is about 9.0 gph/engine or 18 gph total.

The 400DB isn't a speed demon, but it is a great trade off in space, cruising comfort and economy. Similar boats with larger Cummins engines burn 36-40 gph but run in the 26-28 kts area. Expect 18-20 kts depending upon loading.

These boats do have some cored areas on them and at least one has had serious core damage as a result core damage or a structural defect. Be sure you have a hull survey and ask the surveyor to come prepared to take moisture readings on all cored areas.

You will also need a mechanical survey done by a servicing Caterpillar dealer. Ask them to check the Cat system for warranty repairs recorded for both serial numbers. If it were me, I would ask the Cat technician to do a blow by test on the engines. This is essentially a way to check for engine wear much like a compression test on a gas engine. Caterpillar has a proprietary test they use on their engines for this purpose. Fluid...engine oil, transmission oil and antifreeze in both engines and the generator should be analyzed. Cat had an in-house lab and the tests run about $20 ea. so for under $150 you can analyze everything.

Good luck............

 

[37 Dancer]

Frank.............. Thanks for the great info............ we're still in the preliminary stages of the purchase.....but will definitely have the engines surveyed and fluids analized along with a hull survey......when and if the time comes.

The motors have only 265 hrs on them......so I can assume any fatal flaws would have occured by now............ but will have it searched thru engine serial #'s by Cat

The fuel burn is about 8/9 gph less then my 7.4's now.....that's great news.......and the thought of gaining all the extra room and finally the possibility of owning a diesel boat is real exciting to us.

Thanks again.

 

[osd9]

Hey Don...I'm glad to hear that you're getting serious about moving into that diesel boat you've been wanting...I love the 400/420 DB....the admiral said :smt018 to a bridge boat.....

Lots of room and the view from up top is great...she just couldn't take the roll...

Listen to Frank on the purchas here....he has his finger on the pulse with these engines...

You working a trade with your 370....????

Good luck and keep us posted.....

 

[37 Dancer]

Dom......... thanks.........It's still only a dream at this point.......the admiral wants out of the " basement apartment " so its time to trade the 370DA for a bridge boat. When she seen the 2 heads with seperate shower stalls............it was a done deal !!! :grin:

..........and yes I trust Franks knowledge 100%.

We're hopefully the deal will all come together . :thumbsup:

 

[Converse48]

Lots of room and the view from up top is great...she just couldn't take the roll...

Dom- did the Admiral actually ride in a DB? I understand the theoretical concern about roll given the physics of a sedan bridge, but in practice it's not bad at all. I had a boat full of "trawler people" up on my bridge last weekend and they were impressed with the smoothness of the ride. I think the 18 degree deadrise hull helps a bit.

37Dancer- Good luck on the purchase, a buddy of mine has the 400DB and it's a great boat!