Looking to get started!

[ScottyD]

Hello group! I'm new to this world and looking for advice as far as model , length, features etc. i currently have a cuddy in Indiana but looking to move south ? First thoughts are a 2004 340 around siesta key/ and or gaspsrilla sound. I would love suggestions for a novice regarding features like winlass , thrusters , big block vs sm block . Frankly I'm clueless , I've been scouring pop yachts, yacht world, boat trader, and Craigslist and I'm overwhelmed . Any suggestions ? My plans are to do 3/7 day trips and focus primarily on southern Florida / keys / etc. Thank you CSR for allowing me to be a part of the group! Any suggestions are welcome ?!

 

[Steve S]

Where would you be based? Are you looking to tow the boat? A 340 is a big boat and would require permits etc to tow. And a special vehicle to tow it. IIRC she would be 36’ long, 11.5 wide, and weigh about 16,000 lbs.

Depending on the year you would probably want the 8.1 or 7.4 liter big block engines. You won’t need a thruster on that boat. I didn’t need it on my 340. She is pretty docile in docking.

 

[ScottyD]

Thank you Steve S, ideally when I find the vessel that suits my needs ( and then some ) I would love to find a spot somewhere near punta Gorda / port Charlotte or even possibly englewood area, so ideally I'd love to purchase a boat that is already somewhere near that area. Thanks for the tip on the thrusters , I'd love to even possibly find a rental boat outlet to try some out as this is a huge investment for me and also a major life decision . So far based on forums and sales sites I feel like that the 340 with the 8.1 might be the sweet spot for me . My current boat is a 26' Mariah with a 454 merc bravo III and and runs out and docks like a Vette, but it's a dinghy compared to this size vessel and just want to do everything possible as far as research and testing before deciding and inevitably regretting my decision or wishing I had bit the bullet and bought 2 more feet of boat. Thanks so much for the advice !

 

[JVM225]

With plans for 3-7 day trips you may want to think about the creature comforts you want to make life easy.
I know that a very big consideration for me when moving up was a separate shower stall. My wife insisted on it and is now much more willing to spend multiple nights on the boat.
Also, for longer trips you may need more fridge space.
A 380 of that era is a really nice boat that would give you both of those things.

 

[Steve S]

Twin engine boats are completely different animals from your 26’ with a B3. Near the docks you will only use the engines to steer while keeping the rudders straight. Twins will turn on a dime pretty much by putting one engine in forward and the other in reverse.

What JVM225 said is important also. The 340 has a combined shower/head and is very tight. A 380 would have a separate shower with door in the head. More storage and enough room that you won’t be right on top of each other.

You might also look for boats with autopilots. They make a world of difference on long cruises in fatigue levels. I just made a 7 hour cruise bringing my (new to me) 400 Sedan Bridge to my home port. Was a breeze. With my 340 I would have had to hand steer the whole way.

Getting a rental boat is a good idea. Where are you in IN?

 

[ScottyD]

Thank you JVM 225 and Steve S both for your input. I am currently in Terre Haute IN and typically boat in Marshall IL but love Ky/Barkley lakes. My brother and I have a 35' Carver in Port Charlotte which a a bit of a project Boat and is out of the water In storage redoing the bottom paint currently . I drove the carver from englewood to where she is currently which was the better part of a day trip and learned a lil bit but I'm nowhere near ready to say I was comfortable in the least . I can't move south full time yet but would love to start out flying down and spending the better part of the winter on the water exploring. Thanks for the input on the shower / head situation, which has been a big concern for me. I would love to have a boat that could accommodate my family and potentially a couple guests . I really need to spend some time on different models/ lengths to get a feel for our needs. My girlfriend and I currently spend long weekends on our boat which has a porta-head and sink but clearly isn't 'comfortable' by any means but we make do by pretty much 'on the water camping ' .

 

[M Prod]

We love our 340 ..it’s perfect for us, but it’s just me, my wife, and our two year old son. I would not consider inviting additional guests to overnight with us. No way. And the combined shower/head thing (as I’ve stated before on this forum) is the one thing that will eventually drive us to a bigger boat. That said, coming from a 24ft cruiser to the 340 was a very significant step up. I could not be happier. If you really want to have overnight guests with you in addition to any family, then I would suggest going bigger. Maybe even a DB (sedan bridge) in the 40 ft range. There are good deals to be had. I would even consider trying to find a freshwater boat in your area and having it shipped to Florida. You’ll probably find they will generally be in much better condition than many boats in Florida that sit in salt under that sun year round.

 

[ScottyD]

Thank you M Prod for your feedback , great advice about searching for a freshwater vessel! I've been scouring the net but feel like I need to board a few models and get a real feel for the space and arrangement before I can really look any further intelligently . By the way love ur boat logo and font , very classy! Thanks again

 

[be_prepared]

We went from a Sea Ray 230 weekender cuddy cabin boat to our 340 DA and it's been perfect for what we do at this point. Since we still work, the boat is mostly for 3 day weekends, with my wife and our dog, and it's perfect for us. My adult son and his girlfriend will join us sometimes, but typically not for the overnights. As some have mentioned, the shower situation isn't optimal, but it's ok for a weekend. We find that we're in marina's with nice shower facilities most weekends anyway, so it's only when we're on the hook or a mooring that it's a factor.

Water capacity is a factor, the boat isn't really designed for long distance cruising. There's a 40 gallon freshwater tank, and a 30 gallon wastewater tank, so sometimes we've had to pump out and refill on water when we've had extended stays on the hook. Fortunately, many well traveled harbors have pumpout boats and water/ice boats that will come service you on a mooring or on the hook.

As others have mentioned, the 340 with twin 8.1's is a pleasure to maneuver around the docks. Best investment in time I made when I moved to this boat was a couple weekends just practicing around the docks in early spring before many boats were around. It really helped when later in the season, we had to get into a tight berth, or snuggle up to a gas dock with little room to spare between other boats.

I would encourage you to make sure you find one with a generator, they were optional for that model, but it makes everything easier and more civilized on a mooring or on the hook.

Lastly, what ever boat you buy, have a professional survey, and spend the extra money to get an engine survey.

Best of luck!