340 sundancer generator or not

As long as the consensus is generator without hesitation, what are the thoughts on adding one to a '01 340 after the fact? I really like the 8.1 engine option and low hour aspect of this boat. If I can buy right, is adding it down the road feasible? I am prepared for $10k but if that value can be recouped on resale, I might be all in.

I know the panel has space fillers where the label says "generator" however I haven't been able to confirm if it was pre-wired for it (was that even an option in '01)


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As long as the consensus is generator without hesitation, what are the thoughts on adding one to a '01 340 after the fact? I really like the 8.1 engine option and low hour aspect of this boat. If I can buy right, is adding it down the road feasible? I am prepared for $10k but if that value can be recouped on resale, I might be all in.

I know the panel has space fillers where the label says "generator" however I haven't been able to confirm if it was pre-wired for it (was that even an option in '01)


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I have a '99 with a gennie. I seriously doubt your possible choice was pre-wired. Bean counters wouldn't allow it. I could be wrong..... But I doubt it.... Barring the lack of an ISO standard, It would make too much sense to pre-wire at the factory.

To to answer your question, you will NOT recover the value on resale. Value is a buyers only view. What you will get on install is the boat you want. On resale in any given market, you will be a step above the same boat w/o a gennie leading to a faster sale unless the non gennie boat discounts the selling price by a gennie plus retrofit cost. Unless one is a serious boater who has done the homework assignment (including the pros and cons of a Honda on the platform) it ain't gonna sell. It's part of the instant gratification mentality. Casting a wide net, anticipate a 20 to 50 cent on the dollar ROI.

I would do my homework as to the REAL selling price of this model year. KBB may be of some help to start. Then I would honestly reverse engineer the offer. Here is the KBB with a gennie. Here is the KBB without a gennie. Here is the local market price for your boat. Here is my offer. The delta is the average of three quotes to retrofit a gennie.

Or or you could give all your needs and wants and bottom line to a hired gun (buyers agent) and let him/her do the leg work.
 
That seems like a lot to go through to add the genny. I would just keep looking until "the boat" comes along. There has to be more than two 340's for sale in your area.

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I have owned my 330 Sundancer with NO generator for about 13 years, we use it a lot for weekend outings as well as fairly extensive trips (200-300 miles each). When we travel we primarily stay in marinas, but do occasionally do stay overnight on the hook but we choose our nights based on weather. I do not see a gas generator being a deal breaker on a gas boat, I would never sleep with a gas generator running all night anyway, if it was diesel I would definitely feel more comfortable sleeping with it running. I can run my boat on the hook with my TV, both refrigerators, lights, water pumps, and head for up to 2-3 days with no issues, we do have a engine heat exchanger for hot water and we do run a small inverter for small appliances. When at anchor with hatches open it is almost always very comfortable. If you plan on staying on the hook often I would say a generator is more important to you then to me as I rather stay in a marina other then just a handful of nights per year. Personally I think most gas generators are noisy and obnoxiously loud, I would rather spend $2k and install a large inverter with a few golf cart batteries if I really was concerned.
 
First, even prewired, a new generator for a 340 now cost $12 without installation... Second, I agree with Larry, the juice is not worth the squeeze... An invertor is good enough, as long as you don't live in the deep south...
 
No generator on my 330. It would be "nice" to have if I stayed on the hook a lot, but I don't use my boat much like that. I find with a butane burner and BBQ, along with the golf cart house batter bank and inverter for running the microwave, I am good to go for 2-3 days cooking whatever we need. Our summers can get hot, but normally nights are pleasant so AC on a boat is not necessary here. I think we are warmer than WI here in summer. Up here in the tranquil north, running a generator at night is considered rude, and I would not run a gas one while sleeping at all. IMO, the lack of a generator would not be a deal breaker, especially if you can us that as a negotiation point to get a better price.
 
I suppose the real answer to the question is what an individual owner wants to do. If the deal depends on a $10,000 install and 8.1s, then that deal probably will not happen. Adding a genny is more likely to run $15,000 at a minimum and maybe $20,000. If the 8.1s are the priority, then be prepared to enjoy fewer boating options and save the money. While we are at it, why add a Koehler genny if you are starting fresh? Westerbeck makes a 5Kw that is so quiet it is hardly noticeable. On a quiet evening we hear a little burbling sound under our swim platform at anchor and nothing at all from 20 feet away. Inside the boat the sound is from the bilge blower, also not very loud. We paid a little extra for the genny but our season is truly 6 months and it is comfortable regardless of the temps or rain. If you enjoy that sort of activity, the genny is the best way to go.
 
why add a Koehler genny if you are starting fresh? Westerbeck makes a 5Kw that is so quiet it is hardly noticeable. On a quiet evening we hear a little burbling sound under our swim platform at anchor and nothing at all from 20 feet away. Inside the boat the sound is from the bilge blower, also not very loud.

+1....the other day i had to ask one of my guest that was sitting in the cockpit rear seats if my Westerbeke genny was still running while on a slow speed cocktail cruise.....I could not hear it running from the Captain's seat......my guest had to visually verify that water was still pumping before she answered me.....

cliff
 
+1....the other day i had to ask one of my guest that was sitting in the cockpit rear seats if my Westerbeke genny was still running while on a slow speed cocktail cruise.....I could not hear it running from the Captain's seat......my guest had to visually verify that water was still pumping before she answered me.....

cliff

You guys are lucky. Our Kohler 5esz is incredibly loud in the cockpit, and we could never sleep with it running it's so deafening in the cabin. Much smaller boat that what you're talking about, but the thing is really loud.
 
My 9k Westerbeke is incredibly quiet as well.


Sent from somewhere in the Mist
 

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