Feedback ---31DA 2000

S

Steve5

New Member
Dec 7, 2014
11
Long Island Sound
Boat Info
1996 25ft DA
Engines
383 Stroker. 350hp with Bravo 3
I am looking for feedback pros & cons - 2000 31 ft DA V Drives about 700hrs. New Risers & Manafolds FWC. I am looking for a new boat (bigger)presently have a 1996 25DA. The 31 will fit in my slip
Thanks
 
V drive on that boat is an extremely tight fit. Probably 50/50 between v-drives and outdrives. Otherwise a pretty good and popular model.

The 340 is about the same length and slightly wider which makes for slightly better engine room spacing for the v-drives.
 
Golfman25 said:
V drive on that boat is an extremely tight fit. Probably 50/50 between v-drives and outdrives. Otherwise a pretty good and popular model.

The 340 is about the same length and slightly wider which makes for slightly better engine room spacing for the v-drives.
Click to expand...
thanks do you have a 340
 
Steve5 said:
thanks do you have a 340
Click to expand...
No. But I looked at a bunch of the as well as the 310. The 310 was an instant “no”when compared to the 340. I eventually went with the 370.
 
I have a 310 and we love it. V-drives are so much more hassle free. No leaking bellows, less maintenance too. They do give up a little speed, but the handling makes up for it.
 
I'd take the V-drives over outdrives any day of the week, twice on Sundays. None of these boats are fun to work on down in the engine room. I had three near-death experiences trying to change the impellers on my 340 :)

Isn't the 340 going to be "quite a bit bigger" than a 310? I couldn't find the dims in under 10 seconds but I didn't think they were particularly close in this vintage hull...
 
Stee6043 said:
I'd take the V-drives over outdrives any day of the week, twice on Sundays. None of these boats are fun to work on down in the engine room. I had three near-death experiences trying to change the impellers on my 340 :)

Isn't the 340 going to be "quite a bit bigger" than a 310? I couldn't find the dims in under 10 seconds but I didn't think they were particularly close in this vintage hull...
Click to expand...
310 is 33'10 x 11'2
340 is 33'6 x 11'5
according to power boat guide. May want to check though because the 340 seems so much bigger.

Looks like they had it wrong. 340 is 36'2 with the swim platform. So you're talking about 2 feet longer and a couple of inches wider.
 
Golfman25 said:
310 is 33'10 x 11'2
340 is 33'6 x 11'5
according to power boat guide. May want to check though because the 340 seems so much bigger.
Click to expand...

I have to believe you're comparing w/swim platform 310 to a w/o platform 340. My 99 340 was 36'3 OAL w/standard (small) swim platform, 11'5" beam. It was indeed 33'6 to the transom. I assume the 310 is closer to 30' @ the transom.
 
Stee6043 said:
I have to believe you're comparing w/swim platform 310 to a w/o platform 340. My 99 340 was 36'3 OAL w/standard (small) swim platform, 11'5" beam. It was indeed 33'6 to the transom. I assume the 310 is closer to 30' @ the transom.
Click to expand...
Yeah like I edited, powerboat guide had it wrong. Still only talking 2 feet.
 
I have a 2000 31DA now. I like the cockpit as it can seat quite a few people. The ER is tight, but changing oil and fuel filters is easy. You have to take off the exhaust hoses to change the impellers.

Mine had a cockpit icemaker which is great, but it was not an oem option. A prior owner added it.

The refrigerator is a little bigger on the 340. The forward v-berth is a little tight for us. There is plenty of storage in the galley/under v-berth/dining seats/floor and mid-cabin.

The v-drives handle well around the dock. It handles 3-4’ seas well.

It’s fine for just the two of us and the dog now. I’ve had a 330 and 370 in the past.
 
Thanks for the feedback. After looking at 340 vs 310 the difference is not that much. I do like the performance & versatility of the outdrives. I feel like the yearly maintenance with all the moving parts in and out of the water is a constant battle. i know the saltwater does not help. It seems to me that with less moving parts in the water the maintenance would also be less. Leaning towards inboards.
Do V drives typically have Dripless Shafts?
How often should risers/manifolds be changed with FWC Inboards?
What is the routine maintenance for V-drives yearly?
commissioning, winterizing & in season weekly use?
 
I would say most people have dripless shafts. I’m in Lake Michigan. I’ve never changed manifolds. The members here who are in saltwater say every 3 years. I change transmission fluid every other year, some say yearly but I don’t put a lot of hours on each year. What’s also important is cleaning or changing the filter, too.
 
I have a 2002 310 for 10 years now .
I love the boat but the engine room is for yoga midgets.
Ive donated at least 10 pints of blood in my bilge over the years with everything being so tight to get to.
These are Horizon motors so only the engines are FWC.
The manifolds and risers are raw water cooled .Saltwater use 5-6 seasons
Its a great boat but I feel its underpowered with the 350 inboards.

Id go for a 340 with 8.1's
It has a regular bed in the front cabin
2 refrigerators the 310 only has 1 small one
Bigger swim platform the 99-2002
 
I have the 310 with V-drives. Definitely some tight bilge quarters, especially if there is a gennie. At this point, I hire young bilge-monkeys for any heavy work. I have changed my own impellers and it's not too bad if you pull the exhaust. You just learn the tricks.

I would never consider outdrives for salt water. Nothing but rubber between me and the deep blue sea? No thanks!
The 310s w/V-drives do use dripless seals. BTW. dripless seals aren't really dripless....just sayin'

I should also mention that close quarters maneuverability is significantly better with V-drives. You can spin the boat on its own axis. Just center the rudder, bring the throttles to idle, and steer the boat like a skid-steer using just the shifters. That said, you do lose a little performance but having driven both I'm hard put to feel the difference.
 
Steve5 said:
I am looking for feedback pros & cons - 2000 31 ft DA V Drives about 700hrs. New Risers & Manafolds FWC. I am looking for a new boat (bigger)presently have a 1996 25DA. The 31 will fit in my slip
Thanks
Click to expand...
I just put a 2000 290 up for sale great boat .Moving up
b2.jpg
 
I have a 99 310 DA and love it. V drives equal less maintenance, better handling.
 
cfd95 said:
I have a 2002 310 for 10 years now .
I love the boat but the engine room is for yoga midgets.
Ive donated at least 10 pints of blood in my bilge over the years with everything being so tight to get to.
These are Horizon motors so only the engines are FWC.
The manifolds and risers are raw water cooled .Saltwater use 5-6 seasons
Its a great boat but I feel its underpowered with the 350 inboards.

Id go for a 340 with 8.1's
It has a regular bed in the front cabin
2 refrigerators the 310 only has 1 small one
Bigger swim platform the 99-2002
Click to expand...
Does your exhaust come out the bottom ? Or does it come out the sides ? I havent seen the boat im buying yet , and am looking for a trailer for it .
 
Both, sides are so you can see that the water pumps are working, but under way, most exits underneath.
 
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