New to saltwater, some general questions.

Scott3430

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Nov 11, 2019
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My plan in the spring is to shop and buy a used Sea Ray in Florida, probably the Sea Ray Sundancer 340. I am very confused whether or not it can be docked full time in saltwater in a marina. I’ve heard the boat should be pulled out and bottom cleaned every two weeks during the summer. Or should I look for a marina that has the high and dry service? In which I’m sure is more expensive. I am new to saltwater boating and could you any advice you could give me.
 
My plan in the spring is to shop and buy a used Sea Ray in Florida, probably the Sea Ray Sundancer 340. I am very confused whether or not it can be docked full time in saltwater in a marina. I’ve heard the boat should be pulled out and bottom cleaned every two weeks during the summer. Or should I look for a marina that has the high and dry service? In which I’m sure is more expensive. I am new to saltwater boating and could you any advice you could give me.

Always better to pull the boat if you can. I'm a Florida guy and have a diver clean my boat once a month. Don't forget bottom paint. Figure a new bottom job every three years, give or take , if the boat lives in the water.
 
Always better to pull the boat if you can. I'm a Florida guy and have a diver clean my boat once a month. Don't forget bottom paint. Figure a new bottom job every three years, give or take , if the boat lives in the water.
What do you mean by “new bottom job” every 3 years? If you mean stripping the paint that’s kind of excessive.

You can absolutely be in water full time. Millions of boats do it all the time. Pulling the boat every 2 weeks seems crazy to me.

You need to have an anti fouling paint appropriate for your area applied to the bottom. Depending on the local conditions and boat usage, you may need to hire a diver to intermittently scrub the bottom. Also check in the zincs regularly to ensure protection. Going the high and dry rack route may have certain advantages, but you should still have the bottom painted.
 
I pull the boat out once a year, clean up and add bottom paint and good as new.
 
What do you mean by “new bottom job” every 3 years? If you mean stripping the paint that’s kind of excessive.

You can absolutely be in water full time. Millions of boats do it all the time. Pulling the boat every 2 weeks seems crazy to me.

You need to have an anti fouling paint appropriate for your area applied to the bottom. Depending on the local conditions and boat usage, you may need to hire a diver to intermittently scrub the bottom. Also check in the zincs regularly to ensure protection. Going the high and dry rack route may have certain advantages, but you should still have the bottom painted.

Antinfouling paint Is a must if the boat stays in the water. Not so much if you have it pulled after every use. Guys at my marina have 32 to 34 footers that are pulled after every use and they just run with jell coat. I had a 33 ft Chaprell that was pulled, washed down, engines washed out and stored in the barn every time I brought her home. I still had bottom paint. Hey, if it stays in the water then 3 years is about when I start thinking about pulling it out, cleaning it up and slapping on another coat.
In my neck of the Emeral Coast we have divers clean the hull at least once a month. Might also have a cleaning if I'm taking her out and want to insure there are no issues with getting on plane. That might go to every six weeks when the temps cool off.
 
Very few marinas in the Tampa st pete area to choose from where you can high/dry a 340. So, the 340 is built for in water storage. Several can handle the 320, even more can handle the 300/310. The 340s are almost all shaft drives (probably all), so those are best for keeping in the water full time, you will pay a diver monthly to clean/scrape the bottom, they will come weekly or every other week, depending on salinity (the diver I spoke to said he visits weekly, but only cleans the boats that need it). I’ve heard every 2-3 years you have to haul the boat out of the water and get new bottom paint, but I don’t know if that is too frequent or just right.

I have a 320 and keep it out of the water, my length of boat is pretty much the limit for my high dry. I have shaft drives, so if I had new bottom paint installed, I could keep it in the water full time. As it is, I just pay my 550$/month to keep it out of the water and out of the sun unless I’m using it.

In my case, my marina quoted me 630$ for a wet slip, so the wet slip is more expensive than the dry dock. However, most of the other quotes I received (in 2016), the wet slips were less expensive.
 
Very few marinas in the Tampa st pete area to choose from where you can high/dry a 340. So, the 340 is built for in water storage. Several can handle the 320, even more can handle the 300/310. The 340s are almost all shaft drives (probably all), so those are best for keeping in the water full time, you will pay a diver monthly to clean/scrape the bottom, they will come weekly or every other week, depending on salinity (the diver I spoke to said he visits weekly, but only cleans the boats that need it). I’ve heard every 2-3 years you have to haul the boat out of the water and get new bottom paint, but I don’t know if that is too frequent or just right.

I have a 320 and keep it out of the water, my length of boat is pretty much the limit for my high dry. I have shaft drives, so if I had new bottom paint installed, I could keep it in the water full time. As it is, I just pay my 550$/month to keep it out of the water and out of the sun unless I’m using it.

In my case, my marina quoted me 630$ for a wet slip, so the wet slip is more expensive than the dry dock. However, most of the other quotes I received (in 2016), the wet slips were less expensive.
Hi Todd, if you don’t mind, I’d like to pick your brain some. First of all, I’d like to tell you my plans. My wife and I live in the western upstate portion of New York State. I am semi retired and love the Florida weather and lifestyle but we don’t want to live there full time. I’ve had boats all my life up north here, all freshwater, nothing bigger than a 19’ boat. Our local airport offers round trip flights to St Pete airport for about $150. That all being said, my plan is to buy a boat, used of course, in the $50,000-$80,000 range, 32’-35’, express cruiser, but also a boat we could do some fishing off of to. Fly down to St. Pete’s like twice a month for a 4 or 5 day stay each trip, staying on the boat. I do like the Grady White express 330, but even used too far outside my budget. I believe your in the St. Pete area, what marinas would you recommend that are nice, with all the amenities and laundry, etc. As well as walking distance to restaurants and taverns. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated
 
Hi Todd, if you don’t mind, I’d like to pick your brain some. First of all, I’d like to tell you my plans. My wife and I live in the western upstate portion of New York State. I am semi retired and love the Florida weather and lifestyle but we don’t want to live there full time. I’ve had boats all my life up north here, all freshwater, nothing bigger than a 19’ boat. Our local airport offers round trip flights to St Pete airport for about $150. That all being said, my plan is to buy a boat, used of course, in the $50,000-$80,000 range, 32’-35’, express cruiser, but also a boat we could do some fishing off of to. Fly down to St. Pete’s like twice a month for a 4 or 5 day stay each trip, staying on the boat. I do like the Grady White express 330, but even used too far outside my budget. I believe your in the St. Pete area, what marinas would you recommend that are nice, with all the amenities and laundry, etc. As well as walking distance to restaurants and taverns. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated
I assume the airport is st pete Clearwater international airport? Not a huge airport, so easy to get in and out of.
Harborage Marina (wet and dry storage), for example, we are staying there tomorrow night, my girls too, (4 of us on a “tiny” 320!) and walking to downtown st pete to see the FSU UF game at 7:30, after boating all day. One daughter is attending FSU, one graduated from there, as did the wife, I went to UF for a year, but was forcefully converted to an FSU fan by my kids, some type of illegal hypnosis.

St pete municipal marina, (wet slips only, inexpensive), not sure on the amenities, but everything is listed on the website.

The Vinoy renaissance marina (wet slips only, expensive?) super close to downtown st pete, this really is an amazing location. We pay the 99$ night slip fee for a 35’ boat, and enjoy the nice showers, pool, spa, etc. great staff.

Boating at the above marinas, I don’t go boating in 15-20kt winds or higher. If it is just 15, I’ll go, but depends upon the wind direction and wave height. Anything below 15 is great.

Gulfport Marina, not close to downtown st pete, but close to its own set of restaurants and bars. This marina is located in a much more protected area, so better if the winds are up that weekend.

Suntex Marina st pete - dry and wet slips, a bit pricey, not much near this marina, but a quick Uber/Lyft ride to downtown st pete. Great location for a boat, even on windy days you would have protected boating to Bunces Pass and other great locations, and never hit any open water.

There are many more, I would do some research on the Internet, then jump on a plane and come down and just drive around, visit some of the marinas, go see some boats up close and personal!
 
I would recommend a sea ray 300-320, store it out of the water, I think these are fine for long weekend stays, and better for you when living in away from the area, you never have to worry about your boat. My marina offers free wet slips to dry stack boats for weekends, or other short durations, and most others do too.
 
Todd
What is an estimated monthly cost for the diver to clean/scrape a boat?
That I am not sure of, I want to say 50-100$ per month, but I’m sure it is based on the length. I want to say in 2016 the harbor master said he thought it would be 65/month for my boat? Others on this forum might have better knowledge.
 
Scott3430

let me just give you my .02. Your plan is fine but it sounds like you’re trying to build a budget. I will say this. Whatever you pay for the boat expect to spend that same amount over 4-5 years. If you think that’s doable then you’ll have a reasonable expectation of ownership in my opinion. Now those in the local area may be able to calculate it closer but the boat is least expensive part of boating and that’s not an exaggeration.
 
Scott3430

let me just give you my .02. Your plan is fine but it sounds like you’re trying to build a budget. I will say this. Whatever you pay for the boat expect to spend that same amount over 4-5 years. If you think that’s doable then you’ll have a reasonable expectation of ownership in my opinion. Now those in the local area may be able to calculate it closer but the boat is least expensive part of boating and that’s not an exaggeration.
Excluding the boat, we spend close to 20k-25k/year boating, that includes maintenance/repairs(3-4k/year, this would be less if it was an outboard powered cruiser), upgrades(3k), gas 3-4K/year, insurance (1k/year), storage (6k-7k/year), food/bars/dockage/tips/restaurants/liquor/you-name-it wife adds it to the boating expenses even if tangentially related to a boat trip... worth every freakin penny...!
AFF9073D-128B-44B7-B039-3C1E33E1240A.jpeg
 
Excluding the boat, we spend close to 20k-25k/year boating, that includes maintenance/repairs(3-4k/year, this would be less if it was an outboard powered cruiser), upgrades(3k), gas 3-4K/year, insurance (1k/year), storage (6k-7k/year), food/bars/dockage/tips/restaurants/liquor/you-name-it wife adds it to the boating expenses even if tangentially related to a boat trip... worth every freakin penny...!

That sounds about right. (Including the worth every penny part, and I only get 5 months out of the year up here)

And the only variable cost is upgrades (to a degree) and arguably fuel, but if you don't use it, why have a boat? FYI to the OP, your fuel cost will be based on about 1mpg of cruising burn rate for a 310/320.

For me, once I retire, the plan is to buy a place on a canal on the Gulf and buy a decent sized used center console or maybe walk around, and keep the 330 and cottage on Georgian Bay for the summer months.
 
My plan in the spring is to shop and buy a used Sea Ray in Florida, probably the Sea Ray Sundancer 340. I am very confused whether or not it can be docked full time in saltwater in a marina. I’ve heard the boat should be pulled out and bottom cleaned every two weeks during the summer. Or should I look for a marina that has the high and dry service? In which I’m sure is more expensive. I am new to saltwater boating and could you any advice you could give me.

We have kept our boat(s) in the water for years. We have it cleaned every few months in the winter and every month and a half or so in the summer. Bottom Paint every few years.

You should research, because many marinas will allow you to install a boat lift. A 34 could easily be kept on a lift. Just run a dehumidifier into a drain to prevent a science experiment.

Ken
 
I'm a boater and have been since I was 4 years old. I LIVE to go boating. I don't LIVE to work, I work to live.

In my 50's I was offered a tremendous opportunity to move and get a big promotion. I probably would have offered me the chance to retire 5 years early, and enjoy boating even more. The downside was that I would have to move my boat to salt water.

I said "yeah right" and quit my job. the end result was having to work a few extra years, but I'm still in fresh water.

Obviously, just me.
 
Excluding the boat, we spend close to 20k-25k/year boating, that includes maintenance/repairs(3-4k/year, this would be less if it was an outboard powered cruiser), upgrades(3k), gas 3-4K/year, insurance (1k/year), storage (6k-7k/year), food/bars/dockage/tips/restaurants/liquor/you-name-it wife adds it to the boating expenses even if tangentially related to a boat trip... worth every freakin penny...!
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Thanks a bunch Todd, and everyone else who replied with advice. I will look into the slightly smaller boats, 300-320 like you said. I also like to advice on the extra expenses. I will account for that . I do have a budget, as I believe most people do. If money was no object I’d have a 200’ yacht. Haha. I do have money put away for unforeseen repairs and such. I believe I will be looking for a high and dry marina that will let me have a wet slip for my stays, less than a week most likely. Another question as far as engine hours on a used Sea Ray 320 for instance. What you say would be high hours, medium hours? Low hours is obvious.
 
Thanks a bunch Todd, and everyone else who replied with advice. I will look into the slightly smaller boats, 300-320 like you said. I also like to advice on the extra expenses. I will account for that . I do have a budget, as I believe most people do. If money was no object I’d have a 200’ yacht. Haha. I do have money put away for unforeseen repairs and such. I believe I will be looking for a high and dry marina that will let me have a wet slip for my stays, less than a week most likely. Another question as far as engine hours on a used Sea Ray 320 for instance. What you say would be high hours, medium hours? Low hours is obvious.
Well, I was buying a 10 year old boat, so only 335 hours told me they either did not use it much or they made only short trips. The generator had over 500 hours, but you couldn’t tell since the board had been replaced and that wiped the hours. I would not shy from a 10 year old boat with 750 hours, heck even 1000, if they kept great service records and it checked out by a mechanic. That means they used it, and could use it because the engines actually ran. I would not focus on engine hours, focus on the service records and then get a mechanic in to look at the engines.
 
Well, I was buying a 10 year old boat, so only 335 hours told me they either did not use it much or they made only short trips. The generator had over 500 hours, but you couldn’t tell since the board had been replaced and that wiped the hours. I would not shy from a 10 year old boat with 750 hours, heck even 1000, if they kept great service records and it checked out by a mechanic. That means they used it, and could use it because the engines actually ran. I would not focus on engine hours, focus on the service records and then get a mechanic in to look at the engines.

Good advice. Boats need to be run to keep the systems healthy.

I’ll give an example for what it’s worth. I sold my boat this year with 380 hours. It was a 2006 and averaged 31 hours per year. A lot of them were putting along to our mooring. I considered this a good low hour boat - not so low that the lack of hours was a red flag. I did lots of preventative maintenance to keep things in shape and it showed.

Others may think this was not enough hours, but we used it regularly. I would be suspicious of something under 15-20 hours per year.
 
Good advice. Boats need to be run to keep the systems healthy.

I’ll give an example for what it’s worth. I sold my boat this year with 380 hours. It was a 2006 and averaged 31 hours per year. A lot of them were putting along to our mooring. I considered this a good low hour boat - not so low that the lack of hours was a red flag. I did lots of preventative maintenance to keep things in shape and it showed.

Others may think this was not enough hours, but we used it regularly. I would be suspicious of something under 15-20 hours per year.
Again, Thank You for the great advice. What is your opinion on the Sea Ray Amberjack 290 with v drive and Horizon engines?
 

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