How Do You Get at Stuff in the 320 Engine Compartment

Touche' :smt043 But remember... Mike has the new and improved Mercury "SeaCore drives" that don't have any issues.:grin:

We bought our boats about the same time. Overall I am happy although, I have had a few issues with the Kohler 5ecd. I would prefer to buy marine technology that has been out for years, because you are a beta tester when it comes to Mercury.
 
We bought our boats about the same time. Overall I am happy although, I have had a few issues with the Kohler 5ecd. I would prefer to buy marine technology that has been out for years, because you are a beta tester when it comes to Mercury.

The Bravo III has been out for 16 years. It has been improved over the years thanks to the beta testers. The SeaCore package adds more corrosion resistance. Basically, its the same drive with a hard anodized surface, painted just the same, with stainless in areas that they learned were prone to corrosion, fresh water cooling, and the heavy duty Mercathodes. Improvements to years-old technology. Sea Ray put the SeaCore Bravo III package on everything up to the 38DA in 2009. Properly maintained, even the late model non-SeaCore Bravo III won't corrode. Its a pretty bullet proof drivetrain.

Back to the subject. I think it is funny to hear someone say it is easy to work on a generator heavily guarded and surrounded by two 6.2L V8s and a transom under the hinged end of the hatch in a 320.

I'm not bashing the boat. Its a great boat.
 
One word (or is it two??) SPIDERMONKEY! If you dont have one then you can use a large furniture (moving) pad folded multiple times, nothing makes it easier unless you move up to a bigger boat!
 
The engine impellers are the only really big issue. The generator is easy to get around.

I just recently changed the oil and filter and the impeller on my generator. Now I am not going to say it was an “easy” job, but as things go when working on boats, it was not difficult either.

Climbing over the engine and laying on top the generator was not difficult. The key is to make sure you bring everything you need including the right tools into the engine room with you. Once you have managed yourself in there you don’t want to have to keep coming out because you forgot something. And again as I said in my previous post being caring where you step will avoid issues of knocking out plugs and other bad things that can happen when you put weight on things you shouldn’t.

Now changing the impellers on the engines, that is a different thing all together. That is a job I would rather pay someone to do.
 
So..... I am 6' 3" about 225 lbs and trying to pick up a 320, and I tend to do a lot of my own maintenance. I am screwed?
 
So..... I am 6' 3" about 225 lbs and trying to pick up a 320, and I tend to do a lot of my own maintenance. I am screwed?

No, those long arms will come in handy. Now, the v-berth, that's another story altogether.
 
I'll try to explain how I do it, but a picture would be worth 1000 words.

First, I don't ever lay on top of the engines and would hate seeing anyone do it in my boat. I have one of the flame arestor covers cracked, which I guess is the result of someone sitting on it. This was before I got the boat.

Placing your feet is the key. So, here're couple of shots.

320DA_ER_Step_Spots.jpg


I use spots #1 and #2 very often (same goes for the brockets on the other side). These are transmission brackets and are very solid, so no way to harm them.

An example of getting to batteries or starboard side seacock I would place myself facing the starboard side, place my right foot on spot #2 and right foot on spot #4 (can't see it very good in the picture but there's a spot to the right of the seacock).

To get to the port side seacock I would face port side placing my left leg in the spot #3 and right foot in spot #1.


320DA_ER_Step_Spots_Stern.jpg


While working either on back of the engines or genny I would place my feet on top of the muflers (spots 5, 6 or 7 and 8) and sit on those large exaust pipes coming from elbows.

The fact that I'm not a big person helps a lot in this engine room, but even for anyone larger size the key remains placing their feet in good spots. When I just got the boat I first took some time and analyzed possible safe and solid spots to step onto and then tried a few times. When this part was clear the rest was just mechanics.

Btw, to get to the back of the engine room I always step on the elbows (solid metal, whcih no way to hert).

If I need to sit on top of the engines or generator I would use one of these to soften the weight distribution.

throable_cushions.jpg


Hope this helps a little.
 
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So..... I am 6' 3" about 225 lbs and trying to pick up a 320, and I tend to do a lot of my own maintenance. I am screwed?

I am 6' - 2" and 215 lbs. I don't have issues, the engine impeller(s) is/are one thing I have not tackled. I sleep great in the forward berth with my wife. I slept terribly on my 260 in the aft cabin.
 
Alex - what do you have you bilge heater sitting on?
 
So..... I am 6' 3" about 225 lbs and trying to pick up a 320, and I tend to do a lot of my own maintenance. I am screwed?

Guys, I heard (read) many of you say that the 340 is the same. It is not. If you are big and a do-it-yourselfer, check out the 340. The forward berth is larger than that of the 320 and 360, and there is about 8X as much working room in the ER. I sit behind the engines to do work at that end.
 
Guys, I heard (read) many of you say that the 340 is the same. It is not. If you are big and a do-it-yourselfer, check out the 340. The forward berth is larger than that of the 320 and 360, and there is about 8X as much working room in the ER. I sit behind the engines to do work at that end.

Show us a picture of your spacious 340 engine compartment so I and others can see what we are missing!:grin:
 
Give me a few days. I didn't say spacious. Just way different from a 320.
 
Give me a few days. I didn't say spacious. Just way different from a 320.

I'll help you out with a photo from a 2004 340 for sale boat. Does this look like your engine compartment?
 
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Huh, so where is the genset located in the 340DA?

To the original poster - some tasks in the engine compartment are easy, most are not.

Changing the oil in the mains is easy (so long as you don't overtighten the filters), the genset is not too bad either. Checking the oil level in the mains is easy, the genset not so much. Checking the trannys is easy, and I imagine changing a starter would be easy as well.

All coolent (FWC) and the tab fluid level is easy to see, moderate to a pain in the butt to actually add fluid. Acess to the hot water heater and fresh water pump is not bad. Access to the batteries is ok for the inboard pair and a pain for the outboard pair.

Seacocks for the mains are a bit of a stretch but not too bad. Strainers for the mains are easy to get to. Seacocks for the A/C and genset, as well as those strainers are a pain in the butt. Acess to the bilge pumps and switches is horrible.

It does get better once you figure out where to step and how to get around, but it is a compromise design. Go to an auto parts store and buy an inspection mirror on a stick, a magnetic grabber on a stick, and one of the finger grabber thingies as you will drop things and they will instantly vanish.

The older I get, the more inclined I am to write the check...

-CJ
 
Give me a few days. I didn't say spacious. Just way different from a 320.

You didn't say spacious that is true, you said 8X the room. I have worked in both a 320 and 340, and yes there is a difference but I don't care what boat you are in, working between the engines is almost impossible on both boats.
 
That's the ER. As you can see in the pic, behind the engines there is room to sit down and clean strainers, service all of the accessories, service the genny (to stbd), and just about anything you need to do back there. You can slide in between the engines from behind to get at fuel filters...

Don't get me wrong. It's not that I'm dissin' the 320. It's a great boat. I've tried to help a friend in his bilge. I was no help. I do most of the work on my 340. They are different.
 
I'll help you out with a photo from a 2004 340 for sale boat. Does this look like your engine compartment?

What model boat is this picture from, looks like plenty of room?

ER3.jpg

That's the ER. As you can see in the pic, behind the engines there is room to sit down and clean strainers, service all of the accessories, service the genny (to stbd), and just about anything you need to do back there. You can slide in between the engines from behind to get at fuel filters...

Don't get me wrong. It's not that I'm dissin' the 320. It's a great boat. I've tried to help a friend in his bilge. I was no help. I do most of the work on my 340. They are different.


Which ER you talking about my post with the picture from a quote from another, JuliaValentine or the 340 ER from 320Bob?
 
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