300 Sundancer questions.

Terri,
One other thing. So I have the twin 5.0L MPI engines with BII drives package on my 05. I typically cruise around 28MPH and between 3550-3650rpms, and burn 9.5-11gph per engine (19-21 combined per smart craft) as I recall. When I had the survey done, the report shows that the boat was run as follows based on the OBC readouts:

Run history by RPM; P S (hours accumulated over time)
0-750 44.9 45.6
750-1500 28.6 28.3
1500-3000 9.7 11.0
3000-3500 10.6 11.2
3500-4000 30.3 29.7
4000-4500 1.3 1.5
4500-5000 .5 .5

The boat was kept on Lake George NY, so that makes sense as to the large amount of time at idle or under 1500rpm. The surveyor told me that 3500-3600 was where the engines were meant to run ideally, and that extended run times over 3700-3800 would be "running them hard."

I was just thinking about the balance of peak fuel economy and "hard running." Not being a mechanic, I personally I would have thought 3800 to WOT might be classified as harder running... but anyway... I hope to get out for a run this weekend and will take a look at my RPMs and associated GHPs.

Just for some thoughts with a different drive/engine package.. I've not run the boat WOT since I had my Garmin gps and radar installed to get a true WOT speed, but the pitot was saying just over 42 mph last time on a calm flat day in the river. Once you get out on the chesapeake bay, you often dont have that luxury. 27 to 30 MPH gives a nice solid stable ride. The boat handles great in up to 2.5 foot chop and I've run her in up to 3 foot chop briefly with head on winds. That was starting to get past my comfort and "still fun" level, but I think we were feeling it more than the boat was. After we dropped down, my guests were turning green sloshing around, and we had about 40 minutes left to go to the raft-up, so we pulled off and into a nearby marina with nice ammenties and enjoyed the weekend with shore power and pool instead.

I'd love to figure out how to get the boat to stay up on plane in the 19-23 MPH range so that I could follow some bigger boats when the seas snarl up. Just to experiment I've tried running the tabs way down to try to hold plane, but havent been able to sustain under 25mph for very long. On one occasion I when it got really rough I was I happy to follow a 75 foot-ish megayacht running fully up on plane under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and into Annapolis while he plowed the path for me. I cannot even imagine what that fuel bill looked like when he hit the gas dock afterward!

-James
 
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Hello JimfromMd

I just got out of my 2002 300da and I feel for you I tried everything short of loading the bow with weight to try to stay on plane at the 19 to 20 mph but it never happened I always had to run at the 3300 to 3500 rpm range the only time i could stay close to that speed was mostly empty which never worked out but I did enjoy her as long as I had her now I have other rpm and gph issuses now im running a 2009 350da with 8.1s have no problem keeping her on plane at 20 mph @28gph lol good luck one last thing anyone know of anybody looking for a cokpit cpver fpr a 2002 300da never been used brand new may of 2011 and good luck
 
Hi Jim,
I'm not sure going up 200-400 RPM from 3600 to 4000 RPM would make a difference between normal and hard. This is our 4th boat in 5 years, and then we've driven them all hard, if over the sweet spot is going hard, and used them way more than most people (hours/year) and they didn't suffer. Your propping must be a bit different with those speeds/RPMs. My theory on the 'efficiency hump' and it's really a bimodal hump with the first mode around 7mph and the second, depending on loading, between 38-4Xmph, is that it has to do with the attitude of the boat. I think the boat is too rear heavy to be at optimal plane angle (least drag) while going slower. But it's just a guess.
With respect to going into the wind and big lake chop, it's really hard to find a sweet spot. Personally I like to go a little faster and drive the nose down with the tabs. On the 4th of July we had a southerly wind (usually the nastiest for us) and when we headed south it was pretty bad around 25mph (and you go up and down in speed, constantly feathering the throttle). But eventually I decided to bring it up around 30-32mph, and honestly I thought it was better going.

I think to go that slow in our boats, you're going to get into the speed-up, slow-down mode. I haven't been successful in staying on plane that slow or really anything near there. One thing I do wonder, is whether if our boats had a bigger set of tabs, or tabs that have full movement (I suspect ours have some spacers inside that restrict movement like my 260 did) that it might be easier to stay on plane slower. For exactly this reason I was tempted to change my 260 tabs but sold it before I got there.

Yea, following another boat is great. We don't have too many mega-yachts on Champlain but we get some. Mostly from Montreal. At both ends of my dock finger, we have a 56 and 50 foot sundancer, owned by father and son from Montreal. Father drives up in any number of exotic cars and suspect he isn't worrying about gas. And he's a nice guy to boot! (smile) I know these aren't mega-yachts, but the biggest boats in our small marina.
 
I purchased a 1994 300 with twin merc 5.7 FWC 260 hp motors, and alpha drives.
I'm curious if anyone else has this set up and what your crusing sppeds/and RPMs are.

I have to run at 3700 and (20-21 knots) to stay on plane. (WOT is only 4200 (should be 44-48)
Next season i'm doing a complete tune up and then will check my WOT. If all else fails i'll lookat props too.
 
Brian, those look really nice! Do those replace the entire stair steps or are they installed like covers? Seems you did the same to the table.
 
Brian, I like the upgrade to the steps. Looks like being the first was worth taking the chance.
 
Hey 300DA owners. How do you find your following seas ride? I am finding that following seas (in my case Lake Champlain) are far worse than going into the weather. Being my 4th boat in 5 years I can tell you that I really hated going into a south west wind on the lake on the smaller boats, it was typically brutal on the body at any speed (even in the 260) and with the 300, it's much much improved. But what I recall from other boats, is that a following sea was not uncomfortable at all (it's all relative), but in the 300DA I find we're taking a pounding. Now the 300DA does not really ride on plane at less than 30mph (at least on mine), so that may be part of the issue.
I suspect most of you are on the ocean, so you might now see the same short wavelength chop that we do on the lake. If you do experience this, what are your strategies? Does anyone use tabs in following seas? I don't because I've heard it's not recommended, but not entirely clear on why.
 
JimFromMD said:
Hey Brian,
How closely does that teak match the color of your cabinets and door to the head? May inquire to see if Rich can make a dinette table for me. (Yes that's still on the to-do list!).

The steps are a cool idea.

Thanks
James
Click to expand...
The pictures are pretty accurate. Very close in color but the steps are teak and the cabinets are not. Heres a picture of them closer togeter. Brian
 

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Just curious, but how do you guys access your ER? I mean, do you step on the battery rack?....something else? Those four batteries eat up all of the stepping space on my '05. I suppose those with three batteries might have some room to step, but mine sucks. I usually just step on the bracket of my AGM batts but it just feels wrong doing it. I could build something over the battery bank I guess.
 
I go in facing the rear of the ER, step on the tie bar on the battery hold down with my left foot, then carefully step on the ledge near the holding tank with my right foot. Its not ideal, for sure.
 
Hi all, just moved up from a 200 BR to a 2007 300DA. Loving it. wondering if anyone has done a long cruise in a 300, say 130+miles one way, open ocean. Thinking about doing one when I move my boat somewhere I can do it
 
Well, after two sea trials and three inspections/surveys, today I removed all my contingencies on this 2004 300 Sundancer. I guess its mine now - probably will close and sign papers next week after I get back from business travel. I have a big list of questions I am whittling down via the search function. I'm sure I will have a few left over for you all.

IMG_0496.jpg
 
ZZ13 said:
Well, after two sea trials and three inspections/surveys, today I removed all my contingencies on this 2004 300 Sundancer. I guess its mine now - probably will close and sign papers next week after I get back from business travel. I have a big list of questions I am whittling down via the search function. I'm sure I will have a few left over for you all.

IMG_0496.jpg
Click to expand...
Congratulations. She sure is pretty!
 
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