1989 340 EC owners

rondds said:
Shawn
I expect to see those red dock lines COILED neatly in the next set of photos!
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Can't ever just let something slide can you....:smt001

OK. Normally, the RED dock lines are always coiled when we are docked for any length of time. This dock happens to be the fuel dock in our marina. And try as hard as I can I can't get Amy to coil them if we stop for less that 20 minutes.

BTW the RED dock lines came with the boat and were near new but this year I hope to buy new burgundy ones.
Shawn
 
wileecoyote said:
I got a pretty good deal (I think) and most of the problem is Ron has been filling my head with all these projects. My thing is I'm one of those people who likes to get in and figure out how stuff works and if I'm gonna do it I try to do it right. I could have just squeezed some silicone around the bow stanchions and bolts, but I went ahead and ripped the inside apart to make sure there was no more rot. I knew it would be a little project, but by next year I hope to have mine looking as nice as yours. I may change my mind after I use it for a while, but I'm not really a fan of the huge swim platform, never seen one in person, but they always look like you would have to dock 15' from the pier. I may end up putting one on eventually, who knows. I just want to get the stupid thing in the water and work out some of the bugs first. Just remember Shawn if you need to pull something apart chances are I will be able to tell you how!!:smt043:smt089
Don't know whether to laugh or cry about that!
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Your first mistake is listening to Ron. His boat is out of the water, all wrapped up and waiting for spring. He has nothing to do so to amuse himself he tricks you into doing stuff.

It looks like you are doing everything the right way and when finished you will have a very beautiful boat. Just remember, they are never done but certainly worth it.

BTW my larger platform has never gotten in the way of docking or running the boat. I never know its there except when I need it. I have said it before, it is the best money we have spent to date. Don't forget....the boat needs to be out of the water to install it.

Have fun.
Shawn
 
Hey Mark
Watch out. I think Shawn has stock in that swim platform company so he keeps on hawking the virtues of the "Mega Platform." My ideas wont cost you as much coin as Shawns ;-)

It is admirable that you do things RIGHT. That's precisely what the previous owner(s) of your boat did NOT do and look where it got the boat. I said it before, this is boat abuse and those POs should be caned.

Regarding the genny, drop in a model that is still MADE. Quicksilver gennys are great when they work; but, b/c they are out of production and Merc has washed their hands of them so it's damn near impossible to find parts and when you do you will pay dearly for them. Look for a Westerbeke! Best advice I could give.
 
Sprink, Good luck with the door. My pocket door slides good, but my main door is missing parts and has to be wiggled closed. From poking around looks to me like the helm needs to come off. If you take the black panel off under the helm you can look in and see some of the track. I know mine is missing the hard plastic spacer which keeps it centered, and I'm sure because of that the rollers are screwed up too. When you tear into it take pics! I want to see what needs to be done. Frank (fwebster) said he had his out on his 390 but he said he removed the upper teak trim and it lifted out. From what I can see the track has screws inside the channel and some are behind the helm. I need someone close to me so I can get some help! Interior looks nice, I think you should buy it so I have someone else to bounce ideas off of:smt038 Ron is no help with his big yacht! Just me being nosey, whats the asking price, if you don't mind me asking?
By the way, check the port locker inside for water traces, and does it have spots on the headliner near the horn location? Probably can't tell if the headliner is new.
 
"Big Yacht" my ass. Your EC is 3" longer than my DB. So there
raspberry.gif
 
wileecoyote said:
Sprink, Good luck with the door. My pocket door slides good, but my main door is missing parts and has to be wiggled closed. From poking around looks to me like the helm needs to come off. If you take the black panel off under the helm you can look in and see some of the track. I know mine is missing the hard plastic spacer which keeps it centered, and I'm sure because of that the rollers are screwed up too. When you tear into it take pics! I want to see what needs to be done. Frank (fwebster) said he had his out on his 390 but he said he removed the upper teak trim and it lifted out. From what I can see the track has screws inside the channel and some are behind the helm. I need someone close to me so I can get some help! Interior looks nice, I think you should buy it so I have someone else to bounce ideas off of:smt038 Ron is no help with his big yacht! Just me being nosey, whats the asking price, if you don't mind me asking?
By the way, check the port locker inside for water traces, and does it have spots on the headliner near the horn location? Probably can't tell if the headliner is new.
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Wiley,

I sent a complete "got to have it done list" to the owner this morning. He is out of the state and is being co-operative with repairs/solutions. He has already spent serious $ on this one with the engines, canvas, interior and cockpit...he's asking $27.5K. In this market I'm thinking low to mid $20K even with the desirable improvements made.

Number one on my list is the generator...you can't be without one running A/C underway in the Summer down here. Number 2 is the sliding door...I got a quote from the yard manager where this boat is kept of $1K. It's worth that if it is A~Z right. My list go's on and on to make sure all systems are go and in working order.

I spoke with the guys that did the interior and was told that another contractor re-caulked all of the bow rail mounts and any other through deck/hull while they had the cabin gutted. You can tell from my pics that the boat is on stands sitting out...I saw no evedence of leaks in the cabin except from that sliding door.

This is a solid boat with a year old survey that gave it a rating of "above average".

I looked at an absolutely perfect 34 EC in Ft. Lauderdale asking $29K...and I mean BRISTOL...there is a pending contract on that boat at $29K. If that boat is a 10 then the one that I'm negotiating is a 7.5...untill my wish list is complete. It will be close to a 9 at that point...we will see what a sea trial in the Atlantic reveals. Stay tuned and I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.
 
I wasn't talking to you Ron, I was talking to Sprink "about" you:lol:
Ron doesn't realize he bought a brand new boat that was just in storage for 15 years! Don't take any of his advise, although after seeing what has been done to yours, it's not far off! You will figure out soon enough I am just messing around. So far Ron has been a great help. There are very few of us "pre Clintonites" here and we need to stick together to try and keep our "ol girls" up with the big willies! NorCAL and Capt Don have also been a big help. If you join the club it will be the small group that is on here that know about a carbed 7.4 and QS generators. Keep in touch and we will try to keep these antiques in top notch shape. By 2012 I may catch up with the rest of you guys. You will come to find that I have no problems tearing into things, sometimes more than I should. One tip, don't fall for Shawn's sales pitch on the swim platform! :smt043
 
OK Guys, for the record....I get no kick backs on the swim platforms. BUT....there is somewhat of a connection.

After my dog had fallen off the platform 3 times just trying to turn around I knew it had to go so I started looking for a replacement. I did an internet search and Swim Platforms, Inc. popped up. So I went to their site, sent a picture of the stern of my boat and requested info and a price. I got a return email the next day from the owner, Scott Samuelson, who informed me that my info would come soon but he wanted to ask me some questions about the boat. He then preceded to ask me some weird questions like did the boat have this, or did it have that, did it have air horns (it does and I love them), and had I seen the number "538" anywhere on on the backs of panels and stuff. When I responded yes to all of the questions, he informed me that I owned his old boat.

So the saga continues....Scott was formerly a Sea Ray corporate employee living in Phoenix and in the summer of 1988 he was towing his 300da to San Diego, had an accident and rolled, and totaled, the boat and the sububan towing it. In the fall of 1988 he ordered a new 340da from the factory and while it was being built his friends in the factory added a few extra goodies. For one, he says I have the only pre 1990 340 da with a stainless ski tow eye at the transom.

He took delivery of the boat in Phoenix and kept it on one of the lakes nearby, then moved it to San Diego for a while, then back to PHX. He was then transferred to Sacramento to open a new dealership and took the boat with him to use and most likely sell. He says it sold way too soon. He has also told me that of all the boats he has owned this was his favorite and he feels one of the best models Sea Ray ever built. He worked for them for 17 years.

So he then asks me if he can make a deal on a platform for his new friends and I said hell yes. (I will never disclose the terms of the deal) So after dealing with Scott and his company and seing the quality of the product they produce, I tell everyone about them. These days when you find a company that truly understands what "Customer Service" really means AND builds a quality product, you want to share it with all your friends.

That scrawny, 22", miserable excuse for a swim platform is a joke. The new one is 39" and is so well designed that it does not detract from the syle of the boat, creates no handling or docking problems and is so vastly superior to the original that I can't imagine how I ever boated without it. Trust me guys, I know its pricey but so, so worth it. And dealing with the people at SWI is a joy. You don't mind spending the money when you are treated this well.

So that is the story behind the platforms. Is anyone still awake? :smt009
 
wileecoyote said:
I wasn't talking to you Ron, I was talking to Sprink "about" you:lol:
Ron doesn't realize he bought a brand new boat that was just in storage for 15 years! Don't take any of his advise, although after seeing what has been done to yours, it's not far off! You will figure out soon enough I am just messing around. So far Ron has been a great help. There are very few of us "pre Clintonites" here and we need to stick together to try and keep our "ol girls" up with the big willies! NorCAL and Capt Don have also been a big help. If you join the club it will be the small group that is on here that know about a carbed 7.4 and QS generators. Keep in touch and we will try to keep these antiques in top notch shape. By 2012 I may catch up with the rest of you guys. You will come to find that I have no problems tearing into things, sometimes more than I should. One tip, don't fall for Shawn's sales pitch on the swim platform! :smt043
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I'm with you about the "antiques." But I am somewhat of a traditional guy and some of the new boats look a bit too "spaceship" for my taste. And in 1990 Sea Ray began to narrow the beam. In '90-'94 310/330 was listed as 35'4" LOA with a beam of 11'5". Ours are 35'11" and 11'11". The early '90's 35/370 at 41' tip to tip only had a beam of 12'4".

We get people all the time that come on board who are amazed at how much room the boat has below. My wife loves the size of the galley.

I know down the road my needs are going to change and we will be in a bridge boat of some kind. Maybe the mid '90's 44 Express Bridge or something. But I promise you it won't be too new.
 
NorCal,

You are "spot on" re: the swim platform. It is probably the worst I've seen on a production boat. As soon as I own this 34 I'm chasing, that is one of the first issues I will address.

I may run up the coast to this place:http://www.fpmarine.com/

These guys are right down the road from the 3: Merrit Island Sea Ray plants and get a lot of left over factory goodies. It would be fun to take a wish list and scrounge around a bit.....there is no telling what I might come up with "upgrade" wise...maybe even a "better" swim platform.

Anyway, the Miami Boat Show is comming up next month and I'm sure your platform friends will be there....I'll try to go by their display and tell them of your testimonial.
 
I finally got all the updates, looks like a great boat! You may not be in the 340 club, but you are still a member of the Pre-Clintonites! Congratulations!! You'll have to ask Ron to describe what you've won.
 
tmikesh81 said:
the 39 is a great boat.. its going to be my next sea ray
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Look at the title of the thread, this is only for the 340 owners, we're not here to talk about 390's take all the old boat posts to the pre-Clinton thread! :smt043:lol: Just kidding, It's good to know there are at least a smattering of us with the ancient cruisers still keeping em alive! Congrats Sprink on the new ride, really nice looking boat. I can't imagine the buffing and waxing it would take for a big sedan bridge, 340's and 390's are enough to keep you busy for a good long while.
 
Mark
Are you saying you don't serve our kind here??? :smt001
 
I don't think I have yet to find anyone to fit the bill yet. I'm pretty sure NorCal is the closest with the 340SD. If you are referring to buffing the big sedan bridges, I know yours was still like brand new and probably has only required some spray polish to keep it clean. How many 89 340EC's were built? Are they just all in the big boatyard in the sky?:huh: I can't afford the newer bigger boats the FL crew has, so I guess I'm just left with trying to figure it all out one problem at a time:smt089
I know one thing, after a few years I should be able to diagnose any problems I have!
By the way Ron, I haven't seen and games or polls from you lately?
 
I haven't been inspired for games or polls lately. Nothing has popped into my head. As for the gel coat on this boat, it was actually really difficult to get it up to snuff when I first got her. Lotsa oxidation, didn't appear to be waxed at all for probably more than a year and had sat on land all winter until late July 04 til I had her splashed for seatrial and survey. Once in the water, I had all to do to get get the soot and dirt off with soap and water to make her presentable. I didn't get to waxing til the spring of 2005. And that was a bear. I took all kinds of rubbing & polishing compound, even softscrub and COMET in some areas. Waxing is still difficult. I have tried rotary buffers and random orbitals with every type of wax (paste, liquid) and every type of pad (terry cloth, cotton). Any machine I have tried and any product winds up just clumping up. SO the entire boat is done by HAND. The hull is fairly easy at this point (after 3 springs of agony) b/c it isn't subject to much UV light. Topsides is a nightmare each and every year that leaves me crippled for days, even when I premedicate with 400mg of ibuprofen. To make matters worse, the waxed finish does not hold up for very long. Part of the problem may be that our marina is not paved and there's TONS of dirt kicked up by car traffic. It's almost like being slipped next to a rock quarry.

Definitely NOT all fun and games come April for me. But it's all good and I look forward to it every year!
 
I've made the command decision that I will be wetsanding and polishing the rubrail down prior to spring. During the season I will be able to finish the rest at my leisure. I'm doing lots of curls to get my arm strength up but my shoulder still may come dislodged. Next year I will do the all over wax job and hopefully do something about the crappy stripes. Must be nice to have your boat in control finally, where maintance is all you have to keep up with(even though thats no picnic!)
 
Mark
Some may think I'm nuts but Softscrub with bleach on a wet scotchbright pad is very easy to work with - MUCH easier than rubbing compound. You might want try a small section prior to starting the wet-sanding project.
 
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