Taking her out for sea trial with surveyor on Thursday. Any advice? 2008 400EC

TonyA

aero3113

Awesome, good luck! Can you give us some more details? Looks like the blue hull needs a good polish and wax.

TonyA

Axuis SeaCore 496 MAG H/O 501 hours. You are correct needs a good wax and polish. Hull and drives were already inspected while it was out of the water. Passed with flying colors. Interior in very good shape. Rear cushions on swim platform need to be redone and owner is paying for new canvas and glass. 

TonyA

Boat is in Sarasota FL but will be brought up to PA or Jersey shore.

aero3113

Has any moisture readings been taken on the hull while it’s been out of the water?

Aqua_Aura

Beat the heck out of her now while it's someone else's boat 😁. But seriously make sure you get her out at max power and really run it to make sure there are no issues with the engine and drive. 

aero3113

Aqua_Aura said:

Beat the heck out of her now while it's someone else's boat 😁. But seriously make sure you get her out at max power and really run it to make sure there are no issues with the engine and drive. 

Agreed!!

TonyA

My broker is bringing a Merc mechanic along to do compression test and take oil samples.

TonyA

Yes sounding and moisture readings were done on hull, transom and strings. Came back clean all around. 

TonyA

Anything on this model I should really lookout for? Some bad area that would be overlooked?

aero3113

As any survey, something can easily be overlooked. I would stick with the surveyor throughout the inspection and ask as many questions as possible. Keep your phone by your side to take videos and pictures. 

TonyA

Will do. Thanks

Aqua_Aura

Make sure they check the engine hours from the engine computer. Run the generator and run the AC and heat for some time while your out. The equipment on board may work just fine for a few minutes but may have issues after running for awhile. Run the windlass, I could see that getting overlooked since you wouldn't really anchor on a sea trial. 

TonyA

How long should gen run to get up to temp?

LaRea

I'm not aware of anything model-specific, but here's a stress test you should consider:

After you're warmed up and underway on open waters, take the helm.  Then, AFTER you have the wheel, tell the owner/broker you're going wide-open-throttle for one full minute.  Not ten seconds ... 60 seconds.  Assuming fair weather, their reaction should be joy-joy and woo-hoo.  If not, it's a warning sign. 

Assuming they don't freak out, set a timer and nail the throttles.  Watch the engine temperatures, or assign a mate to watch them.  A 400EC in good mechanical health should have no issues running WOT for much longer than a minute.  

Obviously, don't try this in rough water, congested seaways etc.  

TonyA

Surveyor did say after running wot and making sure it hits the proper rpms he will take temp readings at the manifolds and risers?? To make sure they are working properly. Make sense?

aero3113

Yes, you should be able to put your hand on the risers for a few seconds. It shouldn’t burn you but gradually get warm without burning yourself.

trip_n

make sure theirs enough gas for 2 = 1 minute @ wot = 

rasbury

And don't forget to post pics or you get banned from the forum...good luck!

TonyA

Will do and thanks.

Dream_Inn

I have the same boat. Nothing specific to model to check.  I agree with comments here.  Make sure the surveyor does everything you desire.  They are allowed to dig in to find any problems.  Make sure to follow them around while inspecting, they are more likely to tell you more that may not get written down.  Open every single space to visibly look in.  Take a good flashlight.  The AC under front berth is prone to rusting out from the bottom pan up.  Check for any large cracks around the structural bar on port side that meets the hardtop.  It will have some stress cracks, but shouldn't be much more than cosmetic.  

You should get a top end speed easily over 40mph.  If clean bottom, 45mph is a perfect top end speed around 4800rpm.  Does it have fuel flow instruments?  If so, cruise speed at 3600-3800 should get you 30-32mph and burn around 40gph.   Any signs of wet carpet or wet around front berth side walls could be porthole windows leaking.

TonyA

Thank you for the feedback. It has vessel view will that have fuel burn? The bottom was rough sanded waiting bottom paint (for next owner). Inside was clean on initial walk through no smell. One of my concerns is how bad it is oxidized but broker is confident that will come back. Drives were sanded and painted Friday.

Liberty44140

Nice boat! Drives look good although they painted the trim senders which they should not have done but it’s fine, lots of folks have them painted, as long as they work... I hope your surveyor looked at the drives before they were painted otherwise I’d wonder if they are hiding something. The hull will come back but that is pretty bad and will most likely require wet sanding. 

YYZRC

What is the wire for that runs up between the drives and through the transom (second pic)?

Aqua_Aura

That looks like a light

reneechris14

Look like the speedo tube running down the side off the drive. That hull will come back with some elbow grease, when you have dark hull this becomes a yearly event so be prepared.

Dream_Inn

Yes, wire is for underwater light.  I have the same.  Works ok.  I would also be curious if painting drives was hiding something. Probably just done because they typically look pretty bad after a season.

Willhound

Those props almost look a bronze color with a hint of stainless showing through. Did somebody coat them or paint them or something? Just stained?

Aqua_Aura

You can see the drives before they were painted in the first picture. They look really bad but it may have been taken after they scrubbed off all the coating. 

TonyA

The pic of the drivers are after they were sanded and ready for paint. Surveyor said no pitting or corrosion and has new boots on them and the trim senders were just replaced.

TonyA