340 SUNDANCER THREAD

2020 will be our first full year on the water in our `99 340. We're planning a trip this summer, ~170 miles with 4-5 stops for food/supplies/gas on the Cumberland River. We have twin 7.4L Mercs and I'm trying to estimate/guess fuel mileage. We're considering electronic GPS options to be installed this spring. Any info or data you can share is much appreciated.
 
2020 will be our first full year on the water in our `99 340. We're planning a trip this summer, ~170 miles with 4-5 stops for food/supplies/gas on the Cumberland River. We have twin 7.4L Mercs and I'm trying to estimate/guess fuel mileage. We're considering electronic GPS options to be installed this spring. Any info or data you can share is much appreciated.

If you plan for 0.5mpg (statute) you'd be in good shape, quite conservative. I'd imagine your actual should be closer to 0.75mpg but it certainly depends on a lot of things.

I believe you have 225 gallons of fuel onboard? Plan to go no more than 90/100 miles between fillups and enjoy the ride. If you're already planning for 4/5 stops within 170miles you should not be having a fuel issue.
 
2020 will be our first full year on the water in our `99 340. We're planning a trip this summer, ~170 miles with 4-5 stops for food/supplies/gas on the Cumberland River. We have twin 7.4L Mercs and I'm trying to estimate/guess fuel mileage. We're considering electronic GPS options to be installed this spring. Any info or data you can share is much appreciated.

I have the same set up as you, 7.4 MPI's and can "comfortably" run about 115 miles when the boat fully loaded and in decent sea conditions.

When we go to Block Island we burn about 7/8 of a tank over the 115 mile trip. We usually run with the tide, and try to stay between 3,400 and 3,600 RPM's. The boat is always fully loaded for this trip (provisions for a few days, full water, full fuel, lots a spare parts, tools, inflatable on the platform, folding bikes, ets…).

I think you could easily split the trip up into 2 stops and be OK.
 
I have the same set up as you, 7.4 MPI's and can "comfortably" run about 115 miles when the boat fully loaded and in decent sea conditions.

When we go to Block Island we burn about 7/8 of a tank over the 115 mile trip. We usually run with the tide, and try to stay between 3,400 and 3,600 RPM's. The boat is always fully loaded for this trip (provisions for a few days, full water, full fuel, lots a spare parts, tools, inflatable on the platform, folding bikes, ets…).

I think you could easily split the trip up into 2 stops and be OK.

I'm pretty surprised at that range. I always had the impression that the bigger boats like a 340 had a lot more range than that. My 270 AJ had an effective comfortable range (at 90% of capacity) of roughly 130-135 miles. At cruise of 28 mph, my current boat gets about 1.5 mpg for a range of 230 miles.

By the way I took delivery of my boat right around the corner from you, at DiMillo's.
 
I'm pretty surprised at that range. I always had the impression that the bigger boats like a 340 had a lot more range than that. My 270 AJ had an effective comfortable range (at 90% of capacity) of roughly 130-135 miles. At cruise of 28 mph, my current boat gets about 1.5 mpg for a range of 230 miles.

By the way I took delivery of my boat right around the corner from you, at DiMillo's.

Beautiful boat!

I think if I tried to max it out, I could squeeze more range out of it. But I don't want to take that chance. My data on long range might be slightly off being that I am always loaded to the max when I take a long trip.
 
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Your bottom condition will drastically change your range. It is best to plan to be conservatively when travelling... We usually plan on Less than 100 miles between fuel stops...
 
I have a 2002 340DA with 8.1s and vdrives. For trip planning I assume 3400 RPM gives me 20 KTS and burns 30 GPH. 5 hours running on plane moves me 100 NM, and burns 150 gallons, leaving 75 gallon reserve (1/3 of 225 gal capacity).

I don't have smartcraft fuel consumption gauges on the '02 model, but when I've tracked it on longer runs and filled up before and after, the real speed at 3400 RPM is more like 22 KTS, (or 25MPH) and consumption is more like 27GPH. So I'm being conservative, but I think the extra slop I build in helps deal with some wind/weather issues, and also would cover some generator consumption if it's really hot and the admiral wants a/c down below.

Bottom line, is I love my 340, but these boats were never built for any sort of long endurance cruising, not just range based on fuel, but also freshwater capacity and blackwater holding tank size.
 
I purchased a radar panel cover in burl wood finish from FP. However, I am not going to use it.
There's a 20% restocking fee if I send it back to FP, and before I send it back to them, I figured I see if anyone needs a radar panel and if so just pass the 20% discount to a CSR member.

I paid $109 for it and would be happy to get $80 and I'll split the shipping.
Hello Suss, did you ever sell this?
 
2020 will be our first full year on the water in our `99 340. We're planning a trip this summer, ~170 miles with 4-5 stops for food/supplies/gas on the Cumberland River. We have twin 7.4L Mercs and I'm trying to estimate/guess fuel mileage. We're considering electronic GPS options to be installed this spring. Any info or data you can share is much appreciated.
I have a 1999 340DA with 7.4s. Cruising at 26MPH and 3450RPMs I consistently get close to 1 mile per gallon. I'm up in the Canadian San Juans and the Broughton Islands every year starting in Anacortes, WA. I have 840hrs on both engines.
 
My wife and I are completing our first season with our `99 340 Sundancer and we couldn't have made a better decision for our family, it's been the best summer ever. We boat on Lake Barkley in Kentucky, and it's a challenging lake to navigate even for a seasoned captain. We stay in the channel in the main lake and follow the buoys when leaving/entering the channel to/from our marina. We are interested in a GPS/Navigation system as we continue to explore the lakes (Barkley & Kentucky) and plan trips to Nashville, TN. Any recommendations based on what we are looking for?
I have a Garmin 4210 that I put in 6 years ago. I had to "massage" the factory opening a little. I have the Garmin Inland Rivers and Lakes package and the San Juan Islands and North charts. Very happy with it. I also got the Garmin radio which interfaces with the chart plotter. Enter an MMSI number so your DSC works if you have an emergency. I also have AIS which displays on the chart plotter. I also have a Garmin HD radar.
 
Hello,

We are in the process of buying a 2003 340 and this will be our 1st boat. My question is what fenders do you use, how many and the size. Also how many dock lines and lengths do you buy to keep it tied.

Thanks in advance
 
Hello,

We are in the process of buying a 2003 340 and this will be our 1st boat. My question is what fenders do you use, how many and the size. Also how many dock lines and lengths do you buy to keep it tied.

Thanks in advance

Hi Chad!

Welcome. I carry six fenders on board. I keep 4 8x20 HTM (Hole through middle) in baskets in the bow and a couple smaller loose in the aft storage. Those are for easy access.

Ropes for home dock depend on your slip setup and poles. I like my home lines to be neat so I cut them to fit.

For travel I carry 8 lines 4x25', 2x20' and 2x15'. I also have a heavy long line used when we tie to poles instead of anchoring.

I prefer double braided as they stay more flexible.

-Kevin
 
Hello,

We are in the process of buying a 2003 340 and this will be our 1st boat. My question is what fenders do you use, how many and the size. Also how many dock lines and lengths do you buy to keep it tied.

Thanks in advance

Fenders will probably depend quite a lot on what you're tying up against. If you'll regularly be against other boats, or perhaps corrugated seawall, you can't beat the buoy style fenders. I've used two 27" buoys for both my 340 and now my 400. They are unbeatable...unless you're trying to use them against a dock :) ha. I keep four 8" cylinder style fenders onboard as well. But they don't get used a whole lot.
 
Good morning. If anyone is interested in moving up to a great 370 DA I just put one up for sale in the classified section. Thank you,
IMG_1226.JPG
 
We have a 2002, 340 with 6.2’s- vdrives.
According to everything I have read, the fuel tanks should be 125 gallon each. However, we filled up yesterday, with the tanks, according to the gauges, were really almost empty, they would only hold 75 gallons each. Anyone else ever heard of this?
 
And another question.
With the tranny in neutral, engines off, of course, should the props spin freely or with much resistance? (V-drives)
Possible cutlass bearing and packing providing the resistance?
 
We have a 2002, 340 with 6.2’s- vdrives.
According to everything I have read, the fuel tanks should be 125 gallon each. However, we filled up yesterday, with the tanks, according to the gauges, were really almost empty, they would only hold 75 gallons each. Anyone else ever heard of this?

I believe the tanks on the 340's of this vintage are not the same size. One actually holds 10-20 more gallons than the other, if I recall correctly.

Gauges are generally regarded as only moderately reliable. When you filled did you go until you could hear the fuel coming up the filler or did you stop when the pump stopped you?
 

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