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L650 issues...

Discussion in 'Sea Ray Yacht' started by L650Captain, May 31, 2021.

  1. L650Captain

    L650Captain New Member

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    florida
    Hello All,

    Looking for some advice on a few issues I'm finding aboard a L650 I've just taken command of.

    1. Water system:
    Hard to tell if it's factory or not, did Sea Ray not install a pressure tank, or has mine been removed after build?

    2. Retractable sun shade on aft portion of fly bridge (not the sunroof)
    There is a "Retract Button" which deploys it, but how does one re-roll it up???


    Any advice appreciated.
  2. Sea Gull

    Sea Gull Member

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    It’s been over 2 years since we sold our L650FLY, so memory is a bit fuzzy. There was no factory installed expansion tank. We added one along with upgrading the water pump.

    I seem to recall a single rocker switch to port of the flybridge helm that controls the canopy. Both extend and retract in one switch.It’s possible I’m remembering it wrong and it is two separate switches. I believe the “brains” of the shade are buried under the upper helm.
    LARRYH likes this.
  3. L650Captain

    L650Captain New Member

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    Thanks for the feedback Sea Gull.
    Yeah, I am running on the assumption that the two way rocker switch is the fault in the system, it deployed but won't retract.
    Just wanted confirmation I'm not missing something obvious.
  4. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Not sure about the L650, but I've seen several boats equipped only with fresh water pump starting automatically with their own pressure sensor, and no accumulator tank.
    Nothing wrong with that, until you run several taps in parallel of course, demanding more water flow than the pump is sized for.
    But beware, an accumulator tank alone doesn't necessarily improve that.
    If the main hoses were sized according to the pump capacity, you would still experience the same problem also after fitting an accumulator.
    And quite often, replacing the hoses with larger ones is a total PITA...
  5. Sea Gull

    Sea Gull Member

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    No problem with pipe size on this vessel. The problem is an undersized, noisy OEM pump and no accumulator to smooth out the flow, especially for smaller draws like the ice-maker.
    daydreamer4 likes this.
  6. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    I see. In this case, an accumulator would definitely be an added value.
    Personally, I don't drink tank water, also because I like to add a bit of chlorine to it upon refill.
    Therefore, I prefer to feed also the ice maker with bottled water.
    But each to their own on that, of course.
  7. L650Captain

    L650Captain New Member

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    Thanks for the input.
    We aren't drinking the tank water, just listening to the pump ad nasueum...
  8. GPO

    GPO Member

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    Upgrading the pump, to perhaps a Headhunter Mach 5, is one possible solution. If the pump is undersized, adding an accumulator may not solve the problem. I upgraded from an OEM pump to a Mach 5. Better pressure, quieter.

    However, if the pump is "running ad nauseam" is it because it takes a long time to pressurize the system, or is it kicking in continuously - even when water isn't on demand anywhere on the boat?

    If the later, you have a leak somewhere, pressure is declining and the pump kicks in again...and again.
  9. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    I got that, but what I meant is that if the reason why the pump constantly turns on is to feed the icemaker, you could kill two birds with one stone by filling its tank with bottled water instead, and keep its connection to the onboard fresh water circuit closed.
    Unless your icemaker can only pick water from a direct connection to the fresh water circuit, that is.
  10. gr8trn

    gr8trn Senior Member

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    Listen to the pump ad nauseam is subjective. Pumps run. If it is running again and again and becoming annoying I get it, that’s ad nauseam. Here is my question, is the pump running with no taps open, running continuously with only one tap open or are there multiple taps open before it runs as nauseam? I would be annoyed y a fresh water pump running and hearing it on a 65 foot boat too. Probably just need to spec the system and max out your pump gph rating based on hose runs and sizing, which I have no idea how to do, that would take some reading and learning.
  11. Sea Gull

    Sea Gull Member

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    Unfortunately on this vessel the water pump is just forward of the master stateroom. Sound is transmitted from the water system bilge under the steps leading down to the master and can be extremely annoying.

    Since there is no AC wiring in this area we opted for a Headhunter X-Caliber 24vdc as our solution. This is a variable speed pump that is MUCH quieter than the OEM pump. That pump coupled with the expansion tank satisfied us, but the next step would have been to install sound insulation between those bilge spaces.
    LARRYH and gr8trn like this.
  12. LARRYH

    LARRYH New Member

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    I also just bought a L650Fly and the rear shade is operated by a rocker .. not sure if there are limit switches' like the sunroof which I had issues with ...
    re the water pump mine is smooth and quiet never had an issue ... hope you are enjoying your boat... as we are..
  13. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    It's nice to see some L650Fly owners even if just over problems. I do wish you would start a thread and enlighten us on your total experience. It would be nice to hear the positive as well.

    My personal opinion was great design, horrible execution. We were so close to purchasing one until reviewing another happy owner's punch list and I never would have had the patience for that. You are all several years later so how have things gone over time. I hate that Sea Ray handled it all so poorly.
  14. fajng

    fajng Guest

    I just got my pre purchase survey on 2016 L650 .
    We got a very long list with small items to fix , but two items that make me very concern .
    Fresh water tanks where cut open at the top and installed Bladders in the tanks.
    I am told that sea ray had a recall, sea ray fix to the problem was installing the bladders.
    Do all L650 have the same repair done ?
    I was not inform by Marinemax or the the broker .
  15. LARRYH

    LARRYH New Member

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    As far as I can tell mine has not had that issue. Did they tell you what was wrong with the water tank??.. have you discussed it with sea ray I have found them to be very quick in answering questions and pretty helpful....
    also did you find any hull problems you mention two serious concerns what was the other??I bought my L650 Fly a few months ago ..
  16. Sea Gull

    Sea Gull Member

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    During the 4 years I owned my L650FLY I was aware that water tanks had been an issue on some boats. I never had such issues.

    Adding bladders isn’t ideal, but seems to have been the path of least resistance. I’d imagine they would last well and be easily replaced if there were ever a problem.
    LARRYH likes this.
  17. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Alloy, roto plastic or glass tanks?
    I wonder what work was done on the tanks before adding a bladder? Cutting out the baffles?
    Or, the problem with the tank,,, No baffles and tank failures??
  18. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Bladders suck. I was on one boat that had to add one for freshwater and you could only use about 1/2 the bladders capacity
  19. Sea Gull

    Sea Gull Member

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    The tanks are rotomolded and buried under the companionway and stateroom interior walls.

    Here is a photo of the tanks in place before the cabin sole was installed.

    upload_2021-10-4_6-46-40.jpeg