Is There a Doctor in the House?

[dwna1a]

I've got the perfect boat for my area. She's fast, FWC twins,comfortable cabin and best a low profile to clear the bridges in my area. So why then am I looking at a 390ec?

What is it that makes us this way? I'm not jumping 2' I'm jumping 9'. Next question would be is this something I can handle on my own? Can I back her in without fear? What's a 39ec like to handle

 

[sbw1]

Just a bigger version of what you have. I've run both and they are similar in the Express version. The sport fisherman is a kite and hard to handle in tight quarters on windy days.

 

[northern]

New boats come with training paint one gas jockey once told me after some one slammed into his dock.
Practice will help and ask for assistance until you get used to it.

 

[dwna1a]

Well after the holiday I'm going to take a break from work and ride up to MD and take a good look at the boat.

 

[KevinC]

Doesn't make sense to jump two feet anyway. Not enough value for the small change and more expensive when you jump another 4 feet down the road. I think 6 feet is the sweet spot in jumps unless you go larger.

-Kevin

 

[NorCal Boater]

I jumped from 26' to 36' then to 52'. The 52 was the easiest to handle of them all and I took it out alone often. Because it weighed 48,000 lbs. I could back it into a slip and make my way from the bridge to the dock without killing myself as the wind and current had little effect on her....unless it was howling.

I think we go bigger because we think, "....if I can have this much fun in a 30 footer just think how much more fun I can have in a 39 footer." But I also found out that a bigger boat also means more stuff to take care of. I had 2 helms, 2 sets of electronics, 2 stereos, 2 VHF radios, 3 TVs, 2 heads (Vacuflush), 2 refers, 2 water heaters, stabilizers, 12 batteries, 2 generators, 2 washdown pumps, well I think you get the picture. Boy, do I miss her.
Shawn

 

[electricaldoctor]

The last jump that we made was from a 29' Chris Craft 10 years ago with Twin 4.3 I/O's and had no problems making the 10' jump. We love our 390.

 

[Golfman25]

I have been looking myself. What keeps me from the 10 foot jump is the amount of washing and waxing that would need to be done. That's a lot of extra area.

 

[Sublimetime]

The 390ec is a GREAT boat. I owned one for 10 years. It does have prop pockets, so it takes a little more finnese with the throttles when backing up because it loses the paddle action you would normally have, but nothing you don't overcome in a few tries.

I would probably still have it if it didn't get totaled by the insurance co.

 

[fwebster]

I also owned a 390EC for 10 years. The prop pocket thing is a blessing because it nets you a 28" draft. I regularly ran my boat in water so skinny that guys with single I/O stayed away. Handling a gas 390EC is a cross wind can be a challenge but it isn't because of the pockets, but rather that there is so little boat under the water that they blow around on you like a cork. It is easy to handle once you get the hang of using a little bit of power to give the gears a little bit of authority.

If my 390 had been diesel powered, I'd still own it. But, now after owning the 450 a while, I'd never go back. I will tell you that the 390EC with 7.4 Mercs is a gas hog.........look for a diesel one. It will have 3208 Caterpillars which are pretty much bullet proof engines.

 

[Soulshine]

Plus 1 on the 7.4 gas hogs.

I have a 36 EC and it’s really a pleasure to dock. As mentioned, a bit of throttle input around the dock is often needed, but it responds predictably unless there’s a stiff wind.

Go big or go home.

Good luck in your search.