340 SUNDANCER THREAD

I dont know why they cant have a dedicated starting battery for each engine and leave two house batteries. This way starting the motors doesnt screw the pooch on everyting DC.

Piss's me off....




Rob
 
Alex D said:
Hampton said:
Bottom line - it seems that my right prop takes a bigger bite than the left. I have planned to swap them and test my data.

I don't think you can swap them since they are directional, one turning clockwise, the other counterclockwise.

Are they that way on the 340 inboards? I didn't know that. I've considered that, but I didn't know it was actually that way.

That being the case, I can't imagine them truly being different sizes.
 
They truly are different sizes and they do rotate differently. One is .25 inches different in diameter.

To update you all on my genset woes:

The generator side of my genset must have developed a short in it. That short alledgedly caused my earlier battery issues by allowing them to drain. The dealer replaced the back half of my generator under warranty. It took 3 days and we were up and running. Our dealer is A-1 when it comes to customer service.

We used the gennie all weekend without further incident.

Now my coffee maker/microwave threw out an error code- P1. calling the dealer today to find out what to do about that one.
 
What's the verdict on different props, port vs stbd?

I still don't get it.

John
 
John,

I'll make a guess on the prop thing.........

Your props are counter rotating. Your engines are not. Counter rotation is achieved by turning one transmission in forward and the other in reverse. There is a very slight difference in the forward and reverse ratios. For example, and I didn't look up the 600 series gear in your boat, but a 2.0:1 Hurth has a 1.97:1 in one direction and 1.93:1 in the other. To make your boat run as smooth as possible and to make it where it is easier to get in sync, Sea Ray probably adjust the prop size to make up for the fact that one side runs at a slightly slower speed than the other.

And, no your props are not reversible....that would be like switching the left and right props on a King Air.

Several years ago in a rush to get a boat in the water for the Bill Fish Tournament at Bay Point, a 54 Hatteras was out of the water at Lighthouse for paint and to have the props checked. At about 7 PM the yard guys got the props back and stuck them on the wrong side. They splashed the boat and the captain fired up the big Detroits and put her in reverse to back out of the haul out slip. With the props on the wrong side, reverse became forward and vice versa. They fished the tournament with with the shifters reversed as well as with a huge divit right on the nose where the big Hat slammed into the head wall.
 
Now that makes sense!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Frank.

So, if they did a little bad math, or over-corrected the difference, would that explain a higher fuel burn on my stbd side? I'm burning about 15.3 vs 13.5 (1.8gph) on my stdb vs port. I have confirmed these numbers through gas consumption.

By the way, the burn is the same on both engines up to very slow cruise speeds. If they were 4-barrels, I would think that the 2nd barrels were opening up earlier on the stbd.

Should I have it looked at regarding this?

Or, maybe when I had the props tuned, the guy shaved the port one more than the stbd.
 
John,

Your fuel burn numbers are not a product of a math mistake. Something is going on with the engine controllers that is making them feed one more than the other.

If you had your props trued and balanced by Marine Wheels in Southport, quit worrying about them. Buck is the best in the west as far as prop work and your props are back to new blue-printed status.
 
fwebster said:
John,

Your fuel burn numbers are not a product of a math mistake. Something is going on with the engine controllers that is making them feed one more than the other.

If you had your props trued and balanced by Marine Wheels in Southport, quit worrying about them. Buck is the best in the west as far as prop work and your props are back to new blue-printed status.

My props were tuned by the Cuban Bro's in West Palm before I cruised her home (Not sure of the Co Name right now).

Maybe I'll take 'em over to Marine Wheels, just to be sure. That being said, It wouldn't suprise me to learn that they are not tuned to spec, but just "cleaned up."

If one were inappropriately smaller than the other (due to grinding out nicks), and I matched the RPM's, I would expect a lower FF on the side with the trimmed-down prop.
 
I have started looking for next boat. For owners of 2003 and newer 340DA...do you use the shower? Can you stand up while showering? In my 300DA, I cannot stand completely up, as my head touches the ceiling. Also the area is fairly small on the 300DA, I normally use the shower house at the marina. Thanks for the input.
 
I'm 6'4" & use the shower standing up comfortably....my only problem is spitting into the sink while brushing teeth..it's located under the cabinet & takes a contorsionist (sp) to hit cleanly. When I remember, I brush my teeth while showering; if not, over the kitchen sink.

We've been very happy with the layout of BON DIA
 
Alex D said:
We moved up from a Four Winns 248 Vista and couldn't be happier. Looking at the two styles of 340s, we decided to buy the older style. Even though the looks of the new style are clearly more modern, the cocpit and interior of the old style suits us much better.

There is a reason the 340 is Searay's best selling express cruiser by a far margin.

Alex - what did you not like about the Four Winns? My wife likes the cockpit layout of the new 358, but I would rather have a 340 DA or 38 DA.
 
Carpe Mundun said:
Alex D said:
We moved up from a Four Winns 248 Vista and couldn't be happier. Looking at the two styles of 340s, we decided to buy the older style. Even though the looks of the new style are clearly more modern, the cocpit and interior of the old style suits us much better.

There is a reason the 340 is Searay's best selling express cruiser by a far margin.

Alex - what did you not like about the Four Winns? My wife likes the cockpit layout of the new 358, but I would rather have a 340 DA or 38 DA.

On the 248 the mid berth was way too small, but only the Regal 2465 really had a useable mid berth in that size. other than that I think that above 33-34 feet you gt more useable space from a Sea Ray SUndancer than from a Four Winns. Depreciation and market size is also better on a Sea Ray, but up to 30 -33 foot size, I think Four Winns beats out Sea Ray in layout and room. I think the 340 has still a better layout than the FW 358 and you get more room. Looking at a 320 though. From a quality, rigging and manufacturing perspective all Four Winns I have seen where top notch and judging from my dealer and the comments on the iFOurWinns form the factory is really striving to satisfy customers whe we owned ours.
 
Carpe Mundun said:
My wife likes the cockpit layout of the new 358, but I would rather have a 340 DA or 38 DA.
Mine as well. The port side lounge seat is her favorite. It allows better relaxation and interaction with people seated in the cockpit. This isn't a go-fast boat, why the put that type of seating there is a mystery. It doesn't even swivel around.
 
Carpe, I've got to tell you, the ergonomics on a 38 are not very good. The cockpit looks very pretty with the wrap around seating and center door, but it's entirely impractical and uncomfortable except for the one that faces straight back. The head is cramped and forget about using the galley when the TV's down. There's no spitting into the head sink, either. Heck, on my 44 I can't spit into the sink for the same reason already mentioned... it's tucked under a cabinet.

To test layouts, I wonder of they ever actually sit a human being in the cockpit, force him to relax, and see if he can?
 
I appreciate the feedback.
I will have to ask my local dealer about the "spit test". I will post his reaction! We are going to take a closer look at the 340 and 330.
I would hate to leave the SeaRay family, but I gotta listen to the admiral!
 
I appreciate the feedback.
I will have to ask my local dealer about the "spit test". I will post his reaction! We are going to take a closer look at the 340 and 330.
I would hate to leave the SeaRay family, but I gotta listen to the admiral!

Carpe Mundun

I am considering buying a new 340 DA, but I would prefer the Four Winns 358 (however, the FW dealer where I live doesn't bother with bigger boats). Here's why I think it's superior:

1. Better cockpit layout - people have already mentioned the lounger opposite the helm area. In my view, this is better than the single chair in the Sea Ray.

2. Walk-thru windshield: this is easy to get through, with a nice sturdy grab handle to help get up the stairs. It also maximizes cockpit room, because you don't need extra wide gunwales.

3. Electronic throttles as standard: syncro-ing the engines is a snap.

4. Better shade: the rear bimini extension on the Sea Ray barely covers the seats just behind the helm, and certainly doesn't cover the rear of the cockpit.

5. More efficient hull: the 358 with 6.2s and V-drives will top out at over 40 mph. The Sea Ray with 8.1s and V-drives tops out at less than 40 mph. This is probably due to the 21 degree deadrise on the Sea Ray - good if you're punching into head seas. Even so, the FW has its hull designed by Raymond Hunt, so it's no slouch.

6. Quality: there are a lot of touches on the FW that are just superior to the SR. For instance, solid wood doors inside, better quality laminates on the cabinetry (and lots more of it), in-laid ceilings, solid wood stairs into the cabin, ultra leather sofa as standard, Corian counter on the refreshment center in the cockpit, slide covers on all the overhead hatches, wand-style of faucet in the kitchen sink, etc etc. The more you look, the more you see.

One final thing: the 340 DA is nearing the end of its model life, whereas the 358 Vista is only a couple of years old. That may not mean much, but it always feels stange when you pay top dollar for a new boat, only to find a newer, shinier version the following year.

That's all I can think of at the moment, but a heck of a lot of stuff that comes with the Four Winns as standard is an option on the Sea Ray. Have a look at the price builders on both websites and you'll see.

Don't get me wrong: the Sea Ray is a fine boat, and one that I would be very happy to own. I also think the styling is slightly superior, and it has a couple of useful benefits of its own, such as:

- A better shaped boarding platform
- A better layout to the kitchen, with deeper, longer bench space
- A larger screen TV
- The extra torque of the 8.1s as standard
- Resale value is more proven

Don't know if this helps, but good luck in your decision :)
 
Ref brushing teeth in the head....wife advises if you stand facing the bow & not the sink, you can easily lean over, turn your head towards the sink & spit into the sink quite successfully...maybe a little dribble down your right cheek....I'm headed for the boat tomorrow, will report ASAP on her technique.

*************

Back from the lake & new spitting technique worked as advertized.
 
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