320s & 340s with sterndrives...how rare?

[EricW]

Thinking about moving up from my old 290 next year, and I've always been a fan of the performance & economy of sterndrives. The boat will be kept on a lift.

I was wondering how many of the early to mid 2000's 320s & 340s came through with stern drives. Either of the 340's (bolt-on or integral platform).

Should I even bother trying to find one? What percent of the production you think came through with stern drives?

Thanks!

 

[CliffA]

don't know the % of production for sterndrives but they are out there....I have a dock mate with a 1999 340DA with Bravo I sterndrives and 7.4L engines....

I have not looked at the numbers but a 320 and/or 340 will weigh significantly more than a 290 and of course will be physically larger....that must be some heavy duty lift to handle a boat that size....

good luck in the hunt....

cliff

 

[EricW]

don't know the % of production for sterndrives but they are out there....I have a dock mate with a 1999 340DA with Bravo I sterndrives and 7.4L engines....

I have not looked at the numbers but a 320 and/or 340 will weigh significantly more than a 290 and of course will be physically larger....that must be some heavy duty lift to handle a boat that size....

good luck in the hunt....

cliff

The lift is rated at 16k max. The boat I really wanted to find with sterndrives is the 1999-2003 340. Searay says that boat is 13k dry. The 320 & newer 340 are probably too heavy for a 16k lift.

Good to know there's one out there. I'd prefer Bravo III's though; now I'm really getting picky. Thanks!

 

[CliffA]

the 13K dry is without a generator and possibly includes the smaller and lighter 6.2 engines like mine has....by the time you account for a genny and fluids and 'stuff' and big block engines I would not be surprised if you are not at (or over) the 16K max limit of the lift....

just need to be careful and plan accordingly....

my dock mate said the Bravo III's were not available in 1999....not sure when they first showed up on larger cruisers....

good luck....

cliff

 

[Mike sandor]

I spent a fair amount of time looking for 2005 and up 320's and found a 2007 with stern drives and 8.1 motors. I finally close on it next week. I boat in fresh water and have a trailer for occasional haul out, and winter storage. In talking with various Marine max dealers, they were not common and most likely special ordered. I have the build sheet for this boat, the 8.1 option was $20,208.00 in 2007. Ouch...

 

[EricW]

the 13K dry is without a generator and possibly includes the smaller and lighter 6.2 engines like mine has....by the time you account for a genny and fluids and 'stuff' and big block engines I would not be surprised if you are not at (or over) the 16K max limit of the lift....

just need to be careful and plan accordingly....

my dock mate said the Bravo III's were not available in 1999....not sure when they first showed up on larger cruisers....

good luck....

cliff

Yeah, I think the Bravo IIIs showed up in 2000 or 01.

Like you said, I have been wondering if that 340 with a listed 13k dry weight would be safe for a 16k lift. Full fuel alone adds 1350lbs, plus 560lbs of full water & waste. Plus options. Plus stuff.

An easier choice is the 02-07 300. All sterndrives, and lighter for the lift. But I really like the space of the 340. I'll probably be going back & forth in my head on it for the next few months.

Thanks again for the input.

 

[EricW]

I spent a fair amount of time looking for 2005 and up 320's and found a 2007 with stern drives and 8.1 motors. I finally close on it next week. I boat in fresh water and have a trailer for occasional haul out, and winter storage. In talking with various Marine max dealers, they were not common and most likely special ordered. I have the build sheet for this boat, the 8.1 option was $20,208.00 in 2007. Ouch...

I bet a 320 with 8.1 sterndrives flies. 50mph at WOT?

 

[JimG]

Here's an article from Boating Magazine from several years back on my 310 comparing stern vs V-drive:
https://www.boatingmag.com/drive-train-boogie

 

[Mike sandor]

I bet a 320 with 8.1 sterndrives flies. 50mph at WOT?

Sea trail with dirty bottom and old gas. Wot only reached 4360 rpm. At 40 m.p.h. My surveyor expected more m.p.h and rpm and believes new gas ,plugs and fresh bottom paint and she should rev closer to 46-4800 at wot. I doubt it would hit 50 althought I am more excited at the cruise speed of 34 m.p.h at 3610 r.p.m.

 

[310sundancer]

I would also look at the 310 Sundancer's from 1999-2002.
I have a 2000 310 Sundancer with 7.4 MPI with bravo III and I couldn't be happier, similar layout to the 340 at a lower price point, My economy Cruz is 30 mph with a top end of 44 mph.

 

[Bridog]

Sea trail with dirty bottom and old gas. Wot only reached 4360 rpm. At 40 m.p.h. My surveyor expected more m.p.h and rpm and believes new gas ,plugs and fresh bottom paint and she should rev closer to 46-4800 at wot. I doubt it would hit 50 althought I am more excited at the cruise speed of 34 m.p.h at 3610 r.p.m.

I would think it might. My 300DA would hit 46-48 WOT early in the season with fresh bottom paint and twin 350's.

 

[Mittens]

I saw 2-3 last year when looking for my 340... if you are on a lift that’s the ticket.

My uncle and Grandfauther both had 330s with 454s and bravo drives... for a cruiser they moved! But if your leaving it in the water... skip out drives. I came from go fast World when I made the swap part of it was to stop trailering and have it wet year round....

 

[EricW]

I would also look at the 310 Sundancer's from 1999-2002.
I have a 2000 310 Sundancer with 7.4 MPI with bravo III and I couldn't be happier, similar layout to the 340 at a lower price point, My economy Cruz is 30 mph with a top end of 44 mph.

I have been considering the 99-02 310 as well. I love the massive cockpit. Way more cockpit space than the next gen 300, and actually feels more spacious than the 320.

A few things holding it back for me is that I would like smartcraft, I prefer a sofa in the salon vs a booth dinette, and the 310 cabin is a bit dated compared to the 300/320/340. Coming from our 94 290, my wife wants the cabin to have a "new & modern" feel. Right.

 

[Todd320]

My 320 is the largest my marina will lift. No 340s, too heavy, and probably too long, (maybe too wide?). My marina is one of the few in my area with a lift big enough for the 320, several others would not put me on a rack. I have v-drives, but I’m guessing my transmissions +shafts weigh about the same as your stern drives. I have merc 350 horizons. I love the layout of the 320, but mainly chose it to stay away from stern drives even though I was keeping boat in dry storage.

 

[Todd320]

The other nice thing about the 320, the beam. The 11.5’ beam makes a big difference in the salon compared to the 310/300s I looked at.