Looking at 35'-40' twin cabin powerboat

[Bitumen Bullet]

Looking for our next boat with which we will continue to cruise the PNW, maybe down to Mexico, who knows.

Our background is full keel sailboats so powerboats are not that familiar but they offer more amenities at a lower buy in price and I'd like to try something different.

I'm getting an idea of the fuel consumption I can expect from something like a mid 80's 390 Sedan. Less than 1mpg for gas, about 1 mpg for diesel at cruising speeds, some do better than others but haven't found a site that does direct comparisons.

There doesn't seem to be as many fly-bridge models with dual helms. We tend to be out there when others are in so want a helm inside. I'm wondering if inside helms are not popular because you can't see from inside when on plane?

Also any comment on how these boats handle heavy weather would be great.

Links to info and specs would be great. I haven't found information like engines, fuel consumption, displacement, hull design and so on.

When I first looked at one with an eye to buying I really liked the large cockpit but figured that wide a beam on such a short boat (14' on a 36) would mean barge handling when not on plane. From what I've read wandering can be significant, best to cruise on plane.

I'll keep searching this and other sites but any links or info would be great.

 

[rondds]

Bullet
Are you looking for a bridge boat or an Aft (aka DOUBLE) cabin? As far as aft cabins, in the 80s, SR made this boat...
440AC
available with Cat 3208s. I found 11 on Yachtworld right now (none in the PacNW). Nice one in Tempe, AZ with a lower helm, but it's gas!

and this boat
360AC
Typically, 454s gas. Found 9 of them (1985-6) on Yachtworld.

I'd say your assumption about consumption is pretty correct for each of these boats. As far as seakeeping abilities, I would think the 440 with the extra 8K lbs and near 14' beam is the way to go. I'm somewhat of a SR fanatic and I have NEVER seen a 440 in person. I've seen a 360 for sale a few years back and I think there are a couple of owners on this message board. These are going to be tough to find in your neck of the woods.

If you are looking for a bridge boat, that's a whole other tutorial but I can provide it if you want!

 

[Bitumen Bullet]

Great links, thanks! Right now, this eve, we are comparing the 390 and the 360 both from the 1980's. The large cockpit is an attraction and the second cabin requirement is met with the bunk beds.

I'm looking at an upper helm because the idea of ripping through the log filled waters of the Northwest without an excellent view is just scary but that might just be me coming from a slow sailboat that still managed to hit several logs in less than a year.

I'm guessing a Bridge Boat is a boat with an upper helm and a tutorial will be in order. If I get either of these boats I will be getting lessons as my only experience is single engine and slow ones at that!

 

[rondds]

My boat is considered a "Bridge boat" or a "Sedan." Some companies call theirs a "convertible."

My boat was made in 1988 and 1989. Only the '89s feature a second stateroom and several can be found with a lower helm. Can't comment on visibility as I don't have the lower helm. I've seen a couple with diesels but they were all repowers. Earlier SR Sedan Bridges are more "sportfishey" for want of a better term. Not sure about a second stateroom in those either.

Another choice is the 370DB (Searay model numbers for the Sedan Bridge all end in DB), which was made I believe from 1992-7. Bigger boat, also a second stateroom. These can be found commonly with diesel and some with a lower helm. Both of these models (the 340DB and the 370DB) are easy to find. Do a yachtworld search.

There's a guy on these boards who did a great restoration of a 360 vanguard. Check out this thread... VANGUARD

 

[Bitumen Bullet]

Just figuring out the names and numbers is half the battle, thanx for the info. One of the boats we looked at was a Vanguard and got us interested. It is way out of our price range but one never knows.