320DA in Atlantic?

[adhir740]

Hey all - I've had a 2003 240DA for 3 years now, really enjoyed it - we keep it in Joppa, MD, off of Gunpowder River, off the Northern Chesapeake Bay.

Been lusting after a bigger boat lately - the 320DA has my eye - specifically a 2007 - I like the deck layout better than the 2008+ ones where they replaced the lounger with a grill.

Some questions:

1) how much smoother a ride is the 320 as compared to my 240? I'd like to go on long distance cruises - perhaps as far as Florida, but my wife doesn't like the way the 240 behaves in the chops - anything more than 2ft waves and we don't even go into the bay proper - we just anchor off of Hart Miller Island and hang out - which is fun, but doesn't satisfy my desire for long distance, extended cruising. Needless to say, open ocean, coastal cruising is out of the question in the 240.

2) Is the 320 a safe, smooth coastal cruiser in open ocean, where you might see as much as 4 - 6 foot waves? what's typical on the Atlantic coast?

3) In the 240, we were told not be be in the cabin while cruising. In the 320, can people go in and out of the cabin while cruising at up to 20 knots? Can the kids hang below and watch TV comfortably?

4) How many people can reasonably participate in a day cruise - out and back - with the 320DA? My 240DA allows a max of 8 persons and 1200lbs. I don't think this spec exists for larger boats. I've had 8 ppl on my 240 several times - usually 4 adults, 4 kids. Is 6 adults, 6 kids doable on the 320 - again, just for a short distance cruise, mostly anchored playing?

Thanks for any hints/tips.

Al

P.S. what happened to the food barge that used to be at Hart Miller??

 

[hack4alivin]

For starters, you are going to find a much better ride in the 320 over the 240 and much more enjoyable for you at the helm as well. Just put her in gear, throttle up to 20 to 25 knots and enjoy the ride. Now as far as going in the ocean, I can’t say because I have not done it. I have been in 4 and 5 foot ways in bay however, and I can tell you it is no fun at all. The boat handled it well; it is just not enjoyable, period!

As far as the cabin below, when my daughter comes on the boat and goes right down there wherever we go. In fact she was sleeping down there when I was fighting the 4 footers.

The one thing I can tell you is this, be ready for a big change in your gas money allowance.

Don’t tell me the food barge is gone!:smt089 Have not been to Hart Miller this season that would be a shame.

 

[rcknecht]

Answers nested in your original message...

Hey all - I've had a 2003 240DA for 3 years now, really enjoyed it - we keep it in Joppa, MD, off of Gunpowder River, off the Northern Chesapeake Bay.

Been lusting after a bigger boat lately - the 320DA has my eye - specifically a 2007 - I like the deck layout better than the 2008+ ones where they replaced the lounger with a grill.

Some questions:

1) how much smoother a ride is the 320 as compared to my 240? I'd like to go on long distance cruises - perhaps as far as Florida, but my wife doesn't like the way the 240 behaves in the chops - anything more than 2ft waves and we don't even go into the bay proper - we just anchor off of Hart Miller Island and hang out - which is fun, but doesn't satisfy my desire for long distance, extended cruising. Needless to say, open ocean, coastal cruising is out of the question in the 240.

Like night and day... the 320, especially with inboards will ride like a dream where you boat... You won't get spray on your wind shield... You can make it to Florida, but I would rather go bigger with diesels... We were in 7 footers in the ocean in our 250 and broke of the bimini top... The 320 can take anything under small craft warnings...

2) Is the 320 a safe, smooth coastal cruiser in open ocean, where you might see as much as 4 - 6 foot waves? what's typical on the Atlantic coast?

No problem with a 320... Especially following seas..

3) In the 240, we were told not be be in the cabin while cruising. In the 320, can people go in and out of the cabin while cruising at up to 20 knots? Can the kids hang below and watch TV comfortably?

My kids do that on our 340... same size as today's 320... Need a Co2 detector in the cabin for the kids...

BTW I am getting transfered to APG in MD... Is there a marina near you where I can stay on my boat year round?? I plan on comuting back and forth to NJ and living on my boat in MD...

Thanks for any hints/tips.

Al

P.S. what happened to the food barge that used to be at Hart Miller??

 

[trit21]

Just want to add something about the above quote, yes the 320 can handle rougher seas but 4-6 ft seas with a 3 sec interval is a lot different than 4-6 ft seas with a 15 sec interval.

So, I would have to answer your question " can the 320 handle 4-6 ft seas" with it depends. Alot of factor go into what I would take my 320 out in. Since we have a real nice intercoastal waterway from FL all the way to NJ ( guessing) I would take the intercoastal if the seas were calling 4-6 ft. and enjoy the ride and not get banged around.

 

[SeaHarley]

I did a 600 mile Delmarva Loop trip in our 310 last year. 180 miles of it were out in the ocean.
I'd do it again in a heartbeat.............

 

[tobnpr]

Can the boat handle "true" 4'-6' waves?
"Smoothly"- not on this planet. It's a white knuckle ride at best- and you don't want to be anywhere near 6' seas intentionally with that size boat.
The boat can handle it (just don't expect the interior to be the way it was when you left the dock), but it depends on your experience as an operator as to whether it can be done safely.

Can people go in and out of the cabin while cruising at 20 knots? Well, that all depends on the sea conditions, right?

Is six kids and six adults doable? Well, sure- all depends on how well you want to get to know each other. For me, any more than 8 on my 39 footer is a crowd- but then again I like a little elbow room. I don't get any enjoyment out of packing a bunch of people onto the boat like a sardine can...

If you know anyone with a big boat, ask them to take you out on a day when the wind is blowing 15-20 and the seas are 4'-6'. For real- then you'll know what it's all about.

 

[Alex F]

We've moved up from 240DA to 320DA as it was our dream boat at the time. We love the boat and as others said it's a day and night difference from 240DA. Just like rknecht responded pretty much "YES" to all your questions, I agree, but still would like to mention that despite the fact that 320 is much bigger and comfortable boat you still would want to look in to something bigger if your boating style will involve ocean cruising quite often with more people on board. As people say "buy the biggest you can afford". If $$$ is an issue I would look in to couple years older (03-05) 360-380. If the budget allows go for a diesel boat (more dependable and economical). If I recall, Skip had similar requirements and he went from 320 to 420 and is very happy. He might chime in with more specific info. At this point I personally think that 320Da is plenty for us and I'm looking to keep it for number of years. However, since everyone's situation is different I just wanted to help you make the right choice.

In summary, determine your boating needs and how you'll be using the boat, then make the right choice.

 

[Alegria]

Hi and welcome!!! We too keep our boat down on the Gunpowder, at MarineMax. We are over on J pier.

Like both of the previous posters said yep you will notice a big big difference in the ride of the 320. The weight increase from 5500 to 14,100 lbs is huge in the comfort level. Also the increase in deadrise from 19 degrees on your 240 to 21 degress will make the boat cut through the chop better and pound less. I would bet it rides better then my 330 because of the added weight and deadrise. My 330 only has a 17 degree deadrise so I have to apply some serious tabs in a chop to keep from pounding a bit, especially in that tight washboard chop that blows up on the bay and Gunpowder neck.

Having grown up on a 22' cuddy cabin that we used to take out into the Ocean regularly around Cape May I think you would be fine in a 320 in good weather and slowing down would be fine in the occational slop. But the normal mode that I remember is 2-3 ft swells off Cape May which is a touch different then the conditions I have normally seen on the upper bay.

As for your orginal post on ocean travel to Florida. That kind of travel in a gas boat would be challenging as the farther south you get range in my mind would be an issue with fuel stops being a bit farther spreadout. I would most likely want a diesel for that length of a trip. I am sure it can be done in a 320 no doubt with some careful planning around fuel, weather, and stop overs. But a 320 will take you all over the Bay for certain! My kids usually sleep either below on the aft berth or sprawled out on the sunpad in the cockpit.

Welcome down to ABD, the proving grouds looks like a pretty interesting place to work to say the least. Nothing beats detonating some nice ordinaces early in the morning! I am not aware of any year round liveaboard marinas as most shut off the water at some point in the winter and I don't know how your AC/heat pump would do with just above freezing water to heat your cabin. If you are only looking to live during the season - Mar to Nov, then I am guessing you would be fine most anywhere. I am thinking you will find Aberdeen to a bit different then Tom's River, NJ....

 

[adhir740]

Thanks for the responses all. I have my fingers crossed for next season. Just need to get my wife on board - I'm lobbying hard.

Gangplank Marina in Washington, DC does year round live-aboard - but it's pretty far up the Potomac, so you'd rarely, if ever, get to the Bay. Not aware of any in Maryland off the Bay.

http://www.gangplank.com/

 

[adhir740]

Here's some good info on Bay live-aboards:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f60/looking-for-chesapeake-bay-live-aboard-marinas-18969.html

 

[pog mo thon]

I used to have a 240 SD and my wife always had an heart attack every time we would come down to Manhattan.
As we all know it could get very ugly in NYC and she used to call it the death cruise.
Now with the 320 cruising at 20kts, she's making mimosas and cheese platter down below without a problem.
The only low point i have to say about the 320 is i miss getting sprayed by the big wave coming up....although not really in the hudson river.

 

[barryg]

Just to chime in.. I went from a 25' Doral single screw to my 320 twin inboards because I wanted a boat that I could take over to the Bahamas, and I've gone over twice so far and have been in 4-6 rollers when we went over to Bimini last year, and it wasn't fun but we made it fine...I really enjoy the boat and the cabin is very comfortable for my son and I and we are both over 6'2".

Of course I would agree that you should get the biggest boat you can afford..

Good luck!

Barry

 

[Bodkin Creek George]

My advice to you and it comes from experience from working on charter boats and work boats and making the passage thru the C&D Canal to the Atlantic is to enjoy the 320 in the Bay. If you want an ocean boat then buy one. A bridge boat with no windshield. Let me tell you from experience that it only takes one wave to break the window and two to swamp the boat. Hell I have been fishing 30 miles off of Ocean City Md. and had a 16 foot jon boat next to us with 4 extra gas cans in it. You can take anything into the ocean, but can you make it back. The worst I have ever encountered is the Delaware Bay. It will test most boats metal. Common sense should be the order of the day if you risk any other life but you own. Take care and safe boating. Be a sober skipper and "Bring em back alive"
George

 

[Alegria]

Hell I have been fishing 30 miles off of Ocean City Md. and had a 16 foot jon boat next to us with 4 extra gas cans in it. You can take anything into the ocean, but can you make it back. The worst I have ever encountered is the Delaware Bay. It will test most boats metal. Common sense should be the order of the day if you risk any other life but you own. Take care and safe boating. Be a sober skipper and "Bring em back alive"
George

Well put George! :thumbsup:

 

[adhir740]

Wow - that's sobering, but not for the reason you'd think.

We were planning on doing the trip from northern Chesapeake, through C&D, down to ocean city via Atlantic -- THIS weekend.

I was plotting it out in a trial version of Coastal Explorer (which is really nice), but there was nothing to indicate that the Delaware Bay was something to be feared any more than Chesapeake. The trip was cancelled due to potential for T-storms saturday. Been caught in a storm on the bay - wasn't fun.

What makes the Delaware Bay so much more challenging?

Thanks

My advice to you and it comes from experience from working on charter boats and work boats and making the passage thru the C&D Canal to the Atlantic is to enjoy the 320 in the Bay. If you want an ocean boat then buy one. A bridge boat with no windshield. Let me tell you from experience that it only takes one wave to break the window and two to swamp the boat. Hell I have been fishing 30 miles off of Ocean City Md. and had a 16 foot jon boat next to us with 4 extra gas cans in it. You can take anything into the ocean, but can you make it back. The worst I have ever encountered is the Delaware Bay. It will test most boats metal. Common sense should be the order of the day if you risk any other life but you own. Take care and safe boating. Be a sober skipper and "Bring em back alive"
George

 

[SeaHarley]

Essentially, the Delaware Bay is more open and straighter out to the ocean than the Chesapeake Bay. This issue is, when the ocean waves come in closer to land, they go from deep water to the more shallower and shoal areas of the Delaware Bay in a rather short distance and period. That makes the waves build up higher than normal and it gets really, really, crazy out there.........

 

[Bodkin Creek George]

The Delaware Bay is one giant shoal off of and facing the Atlantic Ocean. There is no easy hiding place to duck into once you enter it heading south to Ocean City. I am a commercial crabber and it is so bouncy out there at times that the crabbers run double floats. It has been so rough that at times you are more than thankful to finally enter the ocean. One of the keys to success is to have a boat with sufficient length to keep two waves under the boat at all times. This is the reason Chesapeake Bay work boats are usually 33' or longer and a good dead rise. I would strongly urge you to make a practice passage with at least one other experienced boater and no children. Run the canal to the D. Bay and enter the Atlantic. Be sure to do this on a day with moderate seas and not calm ones. Once in the ocean you will see the difference in wave height and duration. Run down to Indian River Inlet to refuel and have lunch before your return to the Chesapeake. Once you get this first passage under your belt you will feel better about yourself and your boating skills. One other thing. When going thru the C&D Canal keep a sharp eye for floating logs and other large trash in the water. Can't remember ever going thru it without something bouncing off the hull. Even had a prop hit once and had to have a diver remove it and sent out for repair. As I said before. In the ocean Bigger is Better but there is no substitute for common sense. Be sure to call up some of the buoys for wave height and duration before you go and get a good weather report. That being said. SAFE BOATING to you and your loved ones.
George

 

[adhir740]

Thanks a ton for your advice - I intend to do just as you advise.

This forum is terrific - thanks to all of you for making it so.

The Delaware Bay is one giant shoal off of and facing the Atlantic Ocean. There is no easy hiding place to duck into once you enter it heading south to Ocean City. I am a commercial crabber and it is so bouncy out there at times that the crabbers run double floats. It has been so rough that at times you are more than thankful to finally enter the ocean. One of the keys to success is to have a boat with sufficient length to keep two waves under the boat at all times. This is the reason Chesapeake Bay work boats are usually 33' or longer and a good dead rise. I would strongly urge you to make a practice passage with at least one other experienced boater and no children. Run the canal to the D. Bay and enter the Atlantic. Be sure to do this on a day with moderate seas and not calm ones. Once in the ocean you will see the difference in wave height and duration. Run down to Indian River Inlet to refuel and have lunch before your return to the Chesapeake. Once you get this first passage under your belt you will feel better about yourself and your boating skills. One other thing. When going thru the C&D Canal keep a sharp eye for floating logs and other large trash in the water. Can't remember ever going thru it without something bouncing off the hull. Even had a prop hit once and had to have a diver remove it and sent out for repair. As I said before. In the ocean Bigger is Better but there is no substitute for common sense. Be sure to call up some of the buoys for wave height and duration before you go and get a good weather report. That being said. SAFE BOATING to you and your loved ones.
George

 

[Vince_nj1]

I don't let my kids stay in the cabin when I am on plane. A moving boat on plane is not a safe place to walk around in any conditions.

 

[Bodkin Creek George]

I agree with Vince.
George