Inboard vs V drive EC330

zekester

Member
Jul 25, 2009
74
Lake Huron
Boat Info
1987 Donzi Hornet3
1990 Searay EC310 twin 7.4 inboards
Engines
330 TRS, 7.4 merc inboards
I'm looking at a few different early to mid 90s EC330s, and am familiar with running inboards with the engines mounted midships, but not familiar with the engines rear mounted and running V drives...there seem to be many more available with V drives..pros and cons?
 
Do a search, plenty on this topic.
Are you saying the same model boat has both power options? That would be odd...
The V-drive setup frees up "bilge space" forward that can be used for an aft cabin, just like in a stern drive boat. Hence the reason the DA's are V-drives.

EC's (like mine) have the engines further fwd, no room for an aft cabin. Lots of guys here own v-drives for both gas and diesel. Many v-drive setups are too tight to have decent serviceability- particularly the stuffing boxes/shaft seals. Larger, wider beam yachts (natch) will have more space to work with.
I can tell you, that my mechanics told me over a lunchtime bs session that they HATE working on v-drives. I suspect that translates directly to the owners' wallet.

An important part of the boat buying process should include a long and serious look at the engine spaces, to determine access to mains and genset for both the routine maintenance stuff as well as more major repairs. A v-drive setup in a 33' boat is by nature going to be a lot tighter than one in a 45 footer.
 
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From what i'm told, there are EC330 s with both v drive and Mid mount inboards...but maybe they changed in the years when the syle change took place, in 93, with 94 and up being v drives, 93 and down being inboards
 
Searay's EC designation, almost by definition, has straight drives. DAs have v-drives. Maybe you're getting your EC and DA confused (?) Hell, I didn't even know they made a 330EC back then so don't take my word for it!
 
With straight drives having the engines further forward it usually provides a more "balanced" hull. This is very much the case when you have near full fuel/water and then add a group of friends (who usually sit near or at the stern). Throw in some rough water into the equation and you will usually find that it is preferrable to have weight more equally distributed from fore to aft - this is where the straight drive setup is a good thing.

If you need an aft cabing for your "snoring significant other" - that is where the straight drive setup is a bad thing.:grin:
 
I ran an '87 EC340, mid engine, standard transmissions and shafts, and loved the way it handled, and ease of maintenance...I have never seen a V drive EC, I have just been told by brokers that the boats they had were EC330s, and they had V drives...they are too far away to look myself...
 
I have been talking to a gent that had a 91 310, which I believe became the 330, it was an express and it had V drives, so that shoots my 94 and up theory to hell...
 
I have found that brokers usually know less about the boat you are looking for than you do, simply b/c you have done your homework and they have not. Whether it's because they have too many boats to be experts on or they just don't care, I can't say. I asked a MarineMax dealer at an in water boat show if the sofa in a 36DB opens into a bed and he didn't know, nor did he make any effort to ask or find out. Granted, it wasn't going to make him a sale but you'd think he'd want to know for his own edification.
 
But your '94 is a 370 correct? or did you have a 330?
 
Ec's and Da's are both "express stile" boats the differance being that an EC does not have an aft cabin there fore you have straight drives and a DA has an aft cabin and has V-drives.
Dave
 
looked up in the sea ray archives and it shows for '90 and '94 models having the option of stern or inboards for the 310 / 330 EC. '97 only lists inboards.
 
Larry
Where'd you get those archives? I thought SR took 'em down when they revamped the website.
RON
 
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13'-4" beam vs: DA ! You will sacrifice a little speed for one heck of a lot of stability and handling !! The platform on the EC makes it the 'SUV' of the Sea Ray line ! I'm biased, but put 6-8 people on the EC, and you'll truly see and feel the comfort!

If your trip south brings you to the Sarasota area, you are welcome to sea trial my 330 EC !!

Good luck - Ed.
 
The DA in the 90-94 era was a V-Drive boat. The ECs were available in both straight drives and with Bravo III outdrives.
 
I'm lost now, I am looking at a 1990 310 express, the OWNER, not broker, claims has V drivs and is an express...I asked if it was a dancer, he says no, it's an express....I can't see pics of the aft deck, if it has the flat floor, or the raised dancer area...

I don't get it...and I don't want to drive 3 hours if it's a dancer
 
The only difference I have experienced between running a boat with V-Drives vs straights is the turning or spin axis. Once you get used to that, "it's all good"
George


Why is this different? both have the props in the pockets? I can see a difference between outdrives and the straights, but V drive or straight the props are basically in the same place, maybe a different angle?
 
I'm lost now, I am looking at a 1990 310 express, the OWNER, not broker, claims has V drivs and is an express...I asked if it was a dancer, he says no, it's an express....I can't see pics of the aft deck, if it has the flat floor, or the raised dancer area...

I don't get it...and I don't want to drive 3 hours if it's a dancer


If this is the one in Tillsonburg, from the photos you can see the engine vents - and they're too far forward for it to be V-Drives as stated on the ad. I've NEVER seen a 310 EC with V-Drives and can't help but wonder what Sea Ray would have done with the additional engine room space in front of those motors! I'd put my money on them being straight shafts.:thumbsup:
 

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