I ran a friend's 05 320 DA - observations

[skolbe]

I do it only twice per season, at the beginning and at the end, to make sure the boat meets the specs and all is fine. I keep her at WOT just for couple of min or so. Any other times I ride @3650-3750RPMs ~24-26MPH. This is preferred cruising speed and sweet spot.

I do this 2 to 3 times a season. Once at the beginning - once during the season and towards the end of the season. No more than a minute or so. Just to make sure the props, fuel burn, rpm's and oil pressure all look consistent. I always cruise from 3600 to 3700 RPM's.

 

[EricW]

It sounds like my friend's 320 is slower than it should be. It's been in a slip on the Magothy river (Middle Ches Bay) since May. I don't think he's cleaned the bottom at all this year. I bet the dirty bottom is really holding it back.

 

[Alex F]

Eric,

If he's not using the boat frequently chances are the bottom is not clean. However, even my boat with use of every weekend has very thin layer of slime (no burneckles) and I still lost just a little of performance only in terms of fuel economy, not the speed or RPMs. I used to see .8-.9GMP, now I see .7-.8GPM. So, you can imagine what effects your friend's boat can have with some bottom build up.

 

[Bridog]

Eric,

If he's not using the boat frequently chances are the bottom is not clean. However, even my boat with use of every weekend has very thin layer of slime (no burneckles) and I still lost just a little of performance only in terms of fuel economy, not the speed or RPMs. I used to see .8-.9GMP, now I see .7-.8GPM. So, you can imagine what effects your friend's boat can have with some bottom build up.

Alex, Do you mean MPG?

 

[Alex F]

Alex, Do you mean MPG?

Yes MPG, thanks for correction.

 

[jimdavi]

I will chime in on rpm and speed. It seems your friend's 320 may need either a prop tune or bottom cleaned. I dinged my stbrd prop last season and had both props repaired/tuned. the boat was new and the prop repair (on a new boat) improved performance. i gaines almost 2mph at all ranges of rpm.

I typically cruise at 3600-3700 at 24-25 mpg. If I increase RPM's to 3900 I would be doing almost 30mph.

I boat in a freshwater river, (St. Croix) with a slight current.

 

[Bodkin Creek George]

Great review. That's what this club is about. You should try a 340 with 8.1 v- Drives. Our boat listed for $265,000 in 2004. We bought it as a trade to SeaRay for $135,000 and it came as a Certified Boat. All the bells and whistles. Now that's a deal. They even took our 95 Baha Cruiser in trade and gave us $32,000 for that. Great review!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks,
George