Official 1980's Weekender/Sundancer 300 thread

I looked at a HDTV antenna on the West Marine site that would sit on the radar arch. Trying to decide if I want to custom mount a DVD/Blue ray player in the hanging closet
 
Im comparing the 300 WE to the 340 EC and wondered what kind of performance numbers the 300 WE's are getting with twin 5.7 inboards? I know the 340 EC is 2500lbs heavier and runs 454's, both straight inboards. The 340 carries 250gal fuel vs 200 for the WE so Im interested in the range capabilities, cruise speed/rpm, WOT speed/rpm, GPH.

It'll be mainly the Admiral and I doing 2-3 day cruises across Lake Michigan.

Thank you!
 
6" x 15" drawer organizers lined with foam and edged with weather stripping. Two mini bungees/tie downs hook onto the inside of the vent; I cut off the second hook of each to thread through the tension clips.
 
Im comparing the 300 WE to the 340 EC and wondered what kind of performance numbers the 300 WE's are getting with twin 5.7 inboards? I know the 340 EC is 2500lbs heavier and runs 454's, both straight inboards. The 340 carries 250gal fuel vs 200 for the WE so Im interested in the range capabilities, cruise speed/rpm, WOT speed/rpm, GPH.

It'll be mainly the Admiral and I doing 2-3 day cruises across Lake Michigan.

Thank you!

I can give you an idea for the 300, but you can assume that the 340 with more weight and cubic inches will be worse. There are a lot of different results listed on this web site for speeds that people get out of their 300 Weekenders. Assuming that everyone has a properly tuned set of 350s, the only differences should be weight and props. I say this because mine must be heavier and/or propped poorly because I can't get the numbers that some people post here.

I'm getting a cruising speed of 19 kts at 3200 rpms. I'm not sure what my wide open speed/rpm is but I'd guess somewhere around 26 kts and 4300 rpms. For NMPG I'm getting somewhere between .8 and 1.2 depending on speed. What I'm finding is that slower is not always more efficient. I'm actually gotten my best mileage with the tabs down and running 16 its or so at 2800 rpms. Range depends greatly on sea conditions, fuel consumption, and how much of a reserve you want. But those numbers should at least give you something to think about. Let me know if I missed something.
 
Titan,

thank you you for the info. It does seem to me that your numbers are a bit modest. I do understand all the variables but consideration of a stock rig in terms of prop size 15 x 15 say, clean bottom, half tank gas, no water , 3 adults, the average I'm seeing is 25mph cruise @ 3000 rpm and WOT 38-42 mph at 4400 rpm.

Reading about fuel consumption in 1-2 chop in fresh water approx 10-14 gph/engine at cruise and as high as 20gph/ engine at WOT.

On the 340's the variances are absurdly wild. I guess there are major differences on vdrive vs straight inboard. The written rationale I'm finding is vDrives less efficient in time to plane and weight distribution aft causes slight more drag.

Who knows?

thanks again.
 
Titan,

thank you you for the info. It does seem to me that your numbers are a bit modest. I do understand all the variables but consideration of a stock rig in terms of prop size 15 x 15 say, clean bottom, half tank gas, no water , 3 adults, the average I'm seeing is 25mph cruise @ 3000 rpm and WOT 38-42 mph at 4400 rpm.

Reading about fuel consumption in 1-2 chop in fresh water approx 10-14 gph/engine at cruise and as high as 20gph/ engine at WOT.

On the 340's the variances are absurdly wild. I guess there are major differences on vdrive vs straight inboard. The written rationale I'm finding is vDrives less efficient in time to plane and weight distribution aft causes slight more drag.

Who knows?

thanks again.

Yeah. Who knows is right. I know there are variances and I do believe that some 300 WE owners are getting better numbers than me, but I would bet heavily against WOT being anywhere near 38-42 on a WE. Maybe on a Dancer, but not a WE.

To be honest, I haven't checked my props for sizing yet. They're in good physical condition and they look like they're an older style. I've been assuming they're stock, but they may not be. At one point in time someone cared enough to install dripless shaft seals, so maybe they updated props too. Maybe I'm way off on pitch. I'll figure it out soon.
 
The WE has 17x19x1 1/4 three blade props (inboard). According to SeaRay 4500 is WOT, I have never pushed mine that hard.

Currently I am running four blade props from Michigan Wheel and the girls need a tuneup.
At 2800 she is on plane, at 3000 to 3200 she is in her sweet spot.
Fuel consumption has been in the 12 to 15 range.
I don't know my speed, even if I did it would be by GPS.

Every boat is different. Weight, load, sea state, winds, and current all can change a boats speed and handling.
 
Does anyone else cover the bilge blower vents during storage/off season? Need some ideas. Thanks.
 
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Yes!! I had canvas made with snaps and I also use plastic bags placed in the vent openings. Many of the SeaRay owners have them. It's a must if you are using bilge heaters.
 
Thanks for the idea! I'm not to keen on drilling holes but I will use the plastic bag idea. The marina where the boat is stored only has shore power hooked up for battery charging for all boats dry-docked, so bilge heaters are a no-no.
 
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Thanks for the idea! I'm not to keen on drilling holes but I will use the plastic bag idea. The marina where the boat is stored only has shore power hooked up for battery charging for all boats dry-docked, so bilge heaters are a no-no.
I don't think I'm following what you're trying to do--if you're dry docked, are you winterizing the engines? If you're not heating the bilge or the engines in any way, vent covers may not be necessary....unless there's risk of major precip blowing around?
 
You hit the nail right on the head! I have winterized the engines and mask-taped all the exterior holes except the bilge vent holes. We had some very heavy rains last week which blew in every direction. There are screens behind the vents, but i'm preety sure water blew into them. Forgive me for OCD, I just want to cover all bases to assure a smooth recovery when the season starts in 2017.
 
Thanks for the idea! I'm not to keen on drilling holes but I will use the plastic bag idea. The marina where the boat is stored only has shore power hooked up for battery charging for all boats dry-docked, so bilge heaters are a no-no.

Im sorry I just got back on to checking CSR. You don't drill new holes, you can remove some of the screws (not all) and replace the screws with the male end of the snap set. The screw replaces the Phillips screw.
 
Wow! That is a great idea! Thanks
 
I need some help identifying how water is getting in my bilge. My boat is on a trailer at home and I have a tarp over the canvas to aid in keeping water out of the cockpit, but the rest of the boat is exposed.

I cleaned the bilge out completely and after a couple of days of rain off and on, I have 2-3 gallons of water in the bilge. The hull joint is freshly caulked. My radar arch is also freshly caulked around the front, back and top of the joint.

How else could the water get into the bilge?
 
I need some help identifying how water is getting in my bilge. My boat is on a trailer at home and I have a tarp over the canvas to aid in keeping water out of the cockpit, but the rest of the boat is exposed.

I cleaned the bilge out completely and after a couple of days of rain off and on, I have 2-3 gallons of water in the bilge. The hull joint is freshly caulked. My radar arch is also freshly caulked around the front, back and top of the joint.

How else could the water get into the bilge?

Are the side vents covered?


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I was concerned about the same thing until I realized water was getting in from the side vents. Trflgrl had a great suggestion: Use the screws on the bilge vents to add snaps and have canvas covers made.
 
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Are the side vents covered?

Oops. I meant to mention that I have those covered too. I don't know that they're 100% water proof but I don't see how they could let in that much water. I took some container lids, outlined them with weatherstripping, and attached them to the vents with bungie cord.
 
Is there water under the cabin step? How about in the small area in front of the batteries near the cabin door? Or is it only in the rear by the transom?


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