I have a freind looking at a 40 Express and I'm looking for any opinions on this boat. The one specifically he's looking at is a 1994 in Michigan with T-454 gas engines and 1000+ Hours. IT appears to be in great shape, but I'm telling him to budget in an engine overhaul for the future, and it's priced accordingly. Was there any major flaws with this design? For him, the biggest selling point for the Express over the DA is the bunks vs. the mid-cabin layout.
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Sea Ray 40 Express (not Sundancer) opinions
- Thread starter TIMEOUT90
- Start date
quote:
Originally posted by TIMEOUT90
They are a very nice boat. Personally, I like it better than the dancer. Better weight distribution. Straight v. V drives. Actual guest stateroom (albeit a small one). Nicer cockpit. etc......
A friend has one for sale in Hampton, VA. We are negotiating a trade for Saint Max. You want his #. It is a mid 90's with ~100 hours on the engines.
David, I'm with you on the weight distribution, but I wouldn't refer to the process of closing off the fwd end of the sofa an "actual guest stateroom"!?
In my 400DA, I have a guest stateroom far from the master, which features: a solid pocket door, standing headroom, en-suite head, overhead lights, reading lights, hanging locker, shelves, opening vent window, and a TV (added).
Most people consider the EC's guest accomodations a compromise at best, so I'm surprised to hear comments from two different sources who PREFER that guest layout.
Art, the 330EC had a much wider beam than the 330DA of that era, but in the 400's, it's reversed. The Sundancer is 13'10", the Express is 13'.
In my 400DA, I have a guest stateroom far from the master, which features: a solid pocket door, standing headroom, en-suite head, overhead lights, reading lights, hanging locker, shelves, opening vent window, and a TV (added).
Most people consider the EC's guest accomodations a compromise at best, so I'm surprised to hear comments from two different sources who PREFER that guest layout.
Art, the 330EC had a much wider beam than the 330DA of that era, but in the 400's, it's reversed. The Sundancer is 13'10", the Express is 13'.
Thanks for the info. I had a 94 330 Dancer that I enjoyed but I always liked the express models due to the lager beam (I guess it was just the 330 model) & the roomier Cockpit. Also the express appeared to be a more Seaworthy boat?
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 1580
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- 243
In the 330 size the EC consumes a lot more gas than the dancer but as mentioned above has a larger beam. I would have to believe that a 40 w/gas engines is underpowered. I have a 330 dancer w/the same engines and would not buy a 370 let alone a 40 EC w/gas engines.
Bob, you'd be surprised. I too had a 330DA, and I never would've thought that the 40 would handle so much better. It's not as fast, but faster than most people run their 3116's - both in gettin on plane and at cruise. Neither the 400DA nor the EC feel as stern-heavy as the 330DA does, so it doesn't take much wave action before the bigger boats become faster.
"Sluggish" doesn't begin to describe low speed manuevering, but that helps tune skills.
A caveat with the boat mentioned above is that in '94, he'll have carbs. It's very common for people to live in "4-barrel fear" and cruise signicifantly slower.
"Sluggish" doesn't begin to describe low speed manuevering, but that helps tune skills.
A caveat with the boat mentioned above is that in '94, he'll have carbs. It's very common for people to live in "4-barrel fear" and cruise signicifantly slower.
quote:
Originally posted by SLW
David, I'm with you on the weight distribution, but I wouldn't refer to the process of closing off the fwd end of the sofa an "actual guest stateroom"!?
In my 400DA, I have a guest stateroom far from the master, which features: a solid pocket door, standing headroom, en-suite head, overhead lights, reading lights, hanging locker, shelves, opening vent window, and a TV (added).
Most people consider the EC's guest accomodations a compromise at best, so I'm surprised to hear comments from two different sources who PREFER that guest layout.
Art, the 330EC had a much wider beam than the 330DA of that era, but in the 400's, it's reversed. The Sundancer is 13'10", the Express is 13'.
Must be a newer model. A club member has 400 dancer and IIRC, only 1 head. Kinda looks like my 330 on steroids.
David, maybe that's the older 420DA. There has only been one 400DA. It was introduced in 1996 as a 1997 model. Production ran into the 2000 model year, which was an "overlap" with the 410DA model which replaced it. 400DA's have 2 heads. The fwd head has separate stall shower, the aft head has a hose on the faucet and a drain in the floor.
The later generations btw, were introduced as the 390DA, but that is of the 380DA lineage. (less beam, 1 head) That boat has since been renamed the 40DA.
With gas engines, I cruise at 24 knots at 3500 RPM, returning .72 MPG. Slightly faster, but about 30% less efficient than the diesels.
The later generations btw, were introduced as the 390DA, but that is of the 380DA lineage. (less beam, 1 head) That boat has since been renamed the 40DA.
With gas engines, I cruise at 24 knots at 3500 RPM, returning .72 MPG. Slightly faster, but about 30% less efficient than the diesels.
Great info all, thanks. Does anyone know when they switched from carbs to EFI/MPI? I'm thinking that Merc switched to an EFI (throttle body) in '96 and to MPI in '97 or so, but I don't know if that was the case for sure.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 1580
- Messages
- 243
I have a 97' with carb's and I know that the engine model year is 96 so it will depend on the boat.
billybokay
Member
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2005
- RO Number
- 18354
- Messages
- 218
I have the 94 40 express. I cruise the south shore of long island and i prefer gas most times due to how often I am forced to run at 1000 rpms. I cant stand that diesel smell. The bunks work out great as that is where the teenagers who want to sleep late end up.
The boat cruises at 20 knots at about 3200 rpms. About 35 gallons per hour. Docking is quite easy, even though they are pocket drives , the boat spins nicely and visabilty is great.
I never hook up to dockside water as the water pump actually provides better pressure. The ac works great and cools the boat almost instantly.
The more forward engines on the express lets you jump on plane. No tail dragging on this boat. You will get wet in rough seas. The long bow will push the water out, but the wind has planty of time to push it back in your face.
The vaccuum pump is in a tough spot to get to when guests dont follow the rules (holy crap)
The carburetors were an issue when ethanol started being added to the gas, but since rebuilding and cleaning them , they have been fine.
One time i wished I had diesels when I entered shinecock inlet with big seas behind me and an outgoing tide creating a washing machine scenario. I would have liked some more torque to battle through it, but we survived.
I do something new every year (carpet,stereo,tvs,fridge,electronics,) whatever needs updating the most gets done and people cant believe it is a 94.
love it
The boat cruises at 20 knots at about 3200 rpms. About 35 gallons per hour. Docking is quite easy, even though they are pocket drives , the boat spins nicely and visabilty is great.
I never hook up to dockside water as the water pump actually provides better pressure. The ac works great and cools the boat almost instantly.
The more forward engines on the express lets you jump on plane. No tail dragging on this boat. You will get wet in rough seas. The long bow will push the water out, but the wind has planty of time to push it back in your face.
The vaccuum pump is in a tough spot to get to when guests dont follow the rules (holy crap)
The carburetors were an issue when ethanol started being added to the gas, but since rebuilding and cleaning them , they have been fine.
One time i wished I had diesels when I entered shinecock inlet with big seas behind me and an outgoing tide creating a washing machine scenario. I would have liked some more torque to battle through it, but we survived.
I do something new every year (carpet,stereo,tvs,fridge,electronics,) whatever needs updating the most gets done and people cant believe it is a 94.
love it
billybokay
Member
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2005
- RO Number
- 18354
- Messages
- 218
I am fresh water cooled and the risers have never nor will they ever need changing. Stainless steel. I have had the boat for about 6 years and last year I asked the marina about the risers. He was a little nervous that he never recomended changing them since we had no idea about when the previous owner did them. What a pleasant surprise when the bill was zero! I did have one engine blow a rod once and need to be replaced. When I purchased the boat one engine was not original. It was a "dealers marine" which was replaced by the dealer who maintained the boat. The story I got was an inexperienced machanic ran the boat on a sea trial, overheated it and desroyed it. I bought it anyway not knowing that "dealers marine is crap". The rebuilt long block was about 10 k to purchase and install by my excellent mechanics at my Marina. We were 130 miles from home when we blew the enginge and made the trip on one screw.
The original engine on the port side has 570 hours and runs beautifully. This year I had to add some west system epoxy to one muffler as it had a few pin hole leaks.
One minor issue has been the raw water intake that goes to the transmission coolers, only has room for one hose clamp. Check that periodically cause it can and will fail.
please feel free to ask any more questions as I will be happy to reply
The original engine on the port side has 570 hours and runs beautifully. This year I had to add some west system epoxy to one muffler as it had a few pin hole leaks.
One minor issue has been the raw water intake that goes to the transmission coolers, only has room for one hose clamp. Check that periodically cause it can and will fail.
please feel free to ask any more questions as I will be happy to reply
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2005
- RO Number
- 19626
- Messages
- 1,074
It's not so much the hours on an engine; its the amount of fuel burned, which is why we alwasy log fuel stops.
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2005
- RO Number
- 19626
- Messages
- 1,074
It's not so much the hours on an engine; its the amount of fuel burned, which is why we alwasy log fuel stops.