2008 340da

W

Windjammer

Well-Known Member
Nov 10, 2007
726
Acworth, GA
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2006
Engines
8.1 Mercruiser V-Drives
Yesterday we stumbled across a new left over 2008 340DA with the 8.1's and DTS. Since we had just finished a rather disappointing sea trial in an 04 320, the broker offered to take us out for a ride on the 340. We spent a couple of hours on this thing and were very, very pleased with it. Naturally the Admiral and daughter are in love and I was impressed with the performance and the DTS.

Sooo, I looking for any other 08 340DA's - experiences (good or bad) or any gremlins - particularily with the DTS? Also has the Smartcraft Vesselview - any "adventures" with this?

Thanks
 
Just curious, by any chance was the 04 320 in Savannah, named Blue Eyes? I drove down to Savanah last September to check this one out and it had a major vibration and would not go over 22 knots. The dealer told me it was normal. (Ahh.. yeah sure!) It might just have needed a good bottom cleaning, but I wasn't going to chance it.
 
Vince_nj1 said:
Just curious, by any chance was the 04 320 in Savannah, named Blue Eyes? I drove down to Savanah last September to check this one out and it had a major vibration and would not go over 22 knots. The dealer told me it was normal. (Ahh.. yeah sure!) It might just have needed a good bottom cleaning, but I wasn't going to chance it.
Click to expand...

Different boat but lots of vibration on port side between transom door and cockpit wetbar.
 
Love DTS! We test drove an 07 (without DTS), and performance, ride, etc. was identical with the 8.1's but the DTS was icing on the cake. Love having only "two" control levers to mess with as opposed to 4. The synch, troll, etc. features, all work perfectly. No issues (to date) at all with anything about the boat. We had a fuse blow on the power steering once, but that simply made the steering hard, at speed, until we replaced it.

By the way, our boat as V-drives and have topped out at about 40-41 mph on a slack tide. At bit slower than outdrives from what I hear. We normally cruise at about 3400-3500 RPM's which is about, give or take, 28-29 MPH at slack tide. It's showing about .8 -.9 MPG on Smart Craft at that speed.

The boat is very comfortable for overnighting and quite spacious in and out for entertaining.
 
Just bought mine 12/31/08 to take adavantage of the sales tax deduction! Anyway this is actually my second 340 DA. Had a 2003 in Lake Ozark MO and loved it. had to sell it when I moved to Austin but missed it immediately so what do you know, got a new one!

Love it though. The upgradede strereo rocks and the bow thrusters are really cool (didn't have either on the 2003). I had a Formula 260 BR for a few years between boats and though Formula's are supposed to be fine quality boats, we just seemed to have a lot of "little nuisances" that kept orruring like bad snaps, latches coming loose, screws coming loose and other things. I never had those problems on the 03 Dancer and was missing it from the start.

The only thing I miss is that I had V Drives in the 03 and I have outdrives in the 08. Yes it may be faster but I don't usually top it out anyway. Maybe I am still getting used to it but it is MUCH MUCH harder to dock/maneuver than the V Drives were. I could dock those V Drives like a champ time and time again. I have been out on the new one at least 20 times and have yet to have a flawless docking experrience -- even with the bow thrusters.

Anyway, that would be the only issue and it is a small one. We are blessed in Texas to be able to boat year round so am looking forward to many hours of fun on the Dancer!!!!!
 
We're very happy with our 340, only minor complaints even though its only an 03.

Chris R, what kind of steering system do you have with V-drives that has a fuse in the system? Mine is hydraulic with the pump under the helm driven solely by the steering wheel. I had assumed all v-drive boats were like that.
 
Newbie said:
We're very happy with our 340, only minor complaints even though its only an 03.

Chris R, what kind of steering system do you have with V-drives that has a fuse in the system? Mine is hydraulic with the pump under the helm driven solely by the steering wheel. I had assumed all v-drive boats were like that.
Click to expand...

It was a fuse that went to the pump. I actually called the dealer to come out and trouble shoot-that is what they found. It was one of the tiny automotive-like prong looking fuses.
 
sfergson727 said:
Does your boat have a supplementary pump? Most 340 DA (all that I have seen) only have the manual pump that is integral to the helm wheel. You activate it by turning the steering wheel, there is no power to it anywhere in the system.

I am interested in learning if you really do have an aux power steering system on your boat. (I am assuming also that you have V-drives)
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Yes. On the my options list it shows "1227: Power assisted steering". There is a black pump with high pressure hoses, forward of the generator and just aft of the starboard battery bank. The tech clued in on a power issue when the pump's little red light was not on.
 
If you haven't already I'd be at the NAPA auto parts store picking up some spare "blade" fuses for that pump...Pull your current one and note the amp # on it...Then off to the store. I blew one on my windlass relay in the e.r. and spent $200 replacing numerous other parts till I discovered it was a .25 cent fuse I could by at NAPA.......
 
The Bill Collector said:
If you haven't already I'd be at the NAPA auto parts store picking up some spare "blade" fuses for that pump...Pull your current one and note the amp # on it...Then off to the store. I blew one on my windlass relay in the e.r. and spent $200 replacing numerous other parts till I discovered it was a .25 cent fuse I could by at NAPA.......
Click to expand...

Same here. Fortunately, the auto parts store was one block away from the marina. I was able to run up there and get a box of them while the tech was there so he could install it and who me where it was.

Thinking of making that jump to TYC, Mark. I'll keep you posted!
 
sfergson727 said:
You wouldn't by chance mind snapping a photo of your power steering setup and either posting it here, or emailing it to me would you? I'm curious if I could install the system on my boat, as that is the one thing I was spoiled on when I was operating the 420 and 480 last year.
Click to expand...

Be glad to next time I'm down at the boat. The pump is average size plus a hydraulic ram on each rudder.
 
Here are the promised pics:

IMG_2673.jpg


IMG_2671.jpg


IMG_2672.jpg
 
Thanks for the pics, looks interesting. I can't really say mine is hard to steer but at times, it can be tougher when on plane in a turn. I'm guessing its the prop wash against the rudder which makes it a little harder. Is there any noticable difference in your steering effort whether at idle or on plane? My main issue with my steering is the wheel typically being out of sync with the rudders, ie, my rudders steering me straight but the top of the wheel is at 3 o'clock. You have the same issue?
 
I agree. It's a nice install/setup. The price shown on my option sheet was about 2600.00

It really makes it almost a one finger steering effort at any speed. Not that I drive with one finger, but you get my drift:) That is unless some yahoo cuts me off in a narrow passage, then the one finger is busy.
 
Newbie said:
Thanks for the pics, looks interesting. I can't really say mine is hard to steer but at times, it can be tougher when on plane in a turn. I'm guessing its the prop wash against the rudder which makes it a little harder. Is there any noticable difference in your steering effort whether at idle or on plane? My main issue with my steering is the wheel typically being out of sync with the rudders, ie, my rudders steering me straight but the top of the wheel is at 3 o'clock. You have the same issue?
Click to expand...

There is hardly any difference in effort at any speed. I've done 180 degree turns at 30 mph with zero effort. That's when I knew something was amiss (blown fuse) when I had to use two hands to steer at speed.

My wheel and rudder alignment drives me crazy. I think mine is cocked about 9 o'clock. I gave up looking at the wheel. I'm thinking of investing in a rudder angle indicator.
 
I have the Raymarine chartplotter/radar setup and the Smartcraft guages. It's funny how they option these boats out. That seems it would be a desirable option most people would want.
 
Have an 07 negative DTS.
Had a lot of issues early on.
Gel Coat
QC issues
Snapped driveshaft ( why they issued the collar recall )
all prior to120 hours.
We love our boat, and have 99% of the bugs worked out.
It is a little short on range tho.
 
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