Newbie

[Toddah]

Greetings,

I am a newbie to the forum and hopefulnewbie to (cruiser) boat ownership.

My wife and I are exploring boating options and we are leaning towards a 2008-2009 330 with 8.1-8.2 V-Drives , I have had few conversations with boat dealers/brokers and the consensus seems to be 330 with V-drives.

We currently live in the Atlanta GA area and are planning to keep the boat in FL on the Gulf Coast from the panhandle to the Tampa Bay area, not sure exactly where just yet.

Any ideas/comments would be appreciated.

 

[bobeast]

V-drives are the right choice if the boat will be kept in the salt.

Keep the year model below 2010. In 2010, Sea Ray began including the swim platform in the model name designation, so the 2010 is actually 2 feet shorter than the 2009 and really closer to an earlier 310. More important, it has a narrower beam which means significantly less interior space. To get the same boat in 2010, you had to move up to the 350.

In terms of options, you're going to want the generator option as adding a generator after the fact is cost prohibitive. Having an express in FLA without HVAC / gen-set is a non-starter for most folks.

 

[Toddah]

Thanks for the feedback... I couldn’t imagine sleeping inside of a boat with no ac in FL

 

[Todd320]

The 05-07 320s is what I have(07), it’s 35’ overall (including the swim platform) and has an 11.5’ beam, but small enough that some of the marinas here in Tampa/st. Pete, and the one I chose, could easily lift it and put it in dry storage. Keeps it out of the sun, and out of the water 24/7. I know Panama City Beach has at least one marina that can dry store a 320, since that is where my boat is originally from. You just call an hour ahead and they put it in the water. Not sure if that is something you are interested in. You can have IOs in that case, but I would still recommend the v-drives, although, they are EXTREMELY hard to work on since there is literally no room in the engine room with v-drives on boats in this size range.

 

[Todd320]

Actually, the 08/09 330s have an almost identical hull to the 07 320. 35-36” overall, 11.5’ beam, but the 330 has a walkthrough windshield and the first two I checked out both had wood flooring in the salon, which is a really nice upgrade, could not tell if factory or after market. The 8.1s on those boats are bigger and will provide more torque over my 350s, so you should have really good maneuverability at idle.

 

[Ike]

I couldn’t imagine sleeping inside of a boat with no ac in FL

Not to rain on your parade but sleeping with the AC on and the generator running is a major cause of carbon monoxide poisoning. Run it all you want during the day but don't run the generator when you're sleeping.
https://www.carbon-monoxide-poisoning.com/article4-carbon-monoxide-boating.html

Now that I have said that, welcome to the club. If you are new to boating, take the family to a boating safety course. Boats are great fun but there are things you need to know. Your model choice sounds like a good one.

 

[bobeast]

Not to rain on your parade but sleeping with the AC on and the generator running is a major cause of carbon monoxide poisoning. Run it all you want during the day but don't run the generator when you're sleeping.
https://www.carbon-monoxide-poisoning.com/article4-carbon-monoxide-boating.html

Now that I have said that, welcome to the club. If you are new to boating, take the family to a boating safety course. Boats are great fun but there are things you need to know. Your model choice sounds like a good one.

Excellent point. Best to keep it running until bedtime, then button up the cabin. By the time it heats up. it'll be cooler outside and you can open up the hatches.

 

[Toddah]

Thanks to everyone for chiming in, very helpful to hear from people who actually own and use their boats. I am currently working on the BoatUS on-line safety course.

 

[Todd320]

Not to rain on your parade but sleeping with the AC on and the generator running is a major cause of carbon monoxide poisoning. Run it all you want during the day but don't run the generator when you're sleeping.
https://www.carbon-monoxide-poisoning.com/article4-carbon-monoxide-boating.html

We use our generator at night all the time. We have spent 20 years going to a lake for a week with 20 people staying on 2 85’ houseboats with gas generators running 24/7. Make sure your CO monitor works, buy a backup or 3, don’t silence the alarms, keep your windows closed, don’t raft up next to someone’s exhaust, and don’t let another boat block your exhaust, or get a diesel generator, and you will be fine.

 

[Nick70]

I had a 2009 330 last year. 496’s w/Bravo III’s/Axius
I would not ever consider V drives, myself.
Between the overall performance and gas mileage gains,
Stern drives are my only choice. Plus, Axius is pretty sweet too.
Mercruiser has come a long way with corrosion prevention.
By performance, here’s a few things..
You will plane quicker and easier.
By being able to adjust your drive trim, you’ll get that sweet spot and maximize ride quality, fuel mileage, which btw the stern drives gives much better gph than V.
You can also stay on plane at much lower speeds if needed in
Rough seas. I could stay on plane as slow as 13 mph in mine.
I can also say, with the Bravo III’s, that boat loves going on long trips and eating up the distances.
She topped out at 48 mph like clockwork.
Docking was awesome.
I got good at just using the separate sticks, but if the wind was kicking, the Axius joystick is a Godsend.
I only have a few seasons under my belt so far.
But I did have a long busy season last year (130hrs) on that 2009 330.
Definitely get the 8.1L 496 engines.
And DO NOT be skeptical of the Bravo III stern drives.
There is an absolute world of difference in performance and
Technology between them and V drives.
V drives can break too..they also have much less room in the engine bay to work around. Mercruiser makes very robust systems..mechanical and electrical.
That boat is an absolute rocket ship if you want it to be, and a four year old can dock it.
Best of luck with whatever you go with!

 

[Toddah]

Can anyone speak to the pro/con of choosing a 310 over a 330 or vice versa?
Also, we may keep the boat on the hard while in Atlanta GA and have it in the salt water only while we are there in FL......probably 6-7 times per year 4-5 days at a time.
Additionally, I read a post on the forum about showers....what are the downfalls to wet heads etc.... ?

 

[Korkie]

We love our set up - the 496mag Br 3 drives. At 37 ft, our 340 performs very well. Turns on a dime and WOT speed is 46mph with a light load and trimmed out. Cruising speed is 29-30mph @ 3500 rpms. This gets us 1mpg with a full load. Although we do not have axius, we do have bow thruster. The outdrives are much less maneuverable around the docks than the V drives. The bow thruster more than makes up for that though. The other major benefit is the space in the engine room and ease of working on the motors. I help my brother in law work on his 320 with V drives from time to time, what a difference. Br3s do required more maintenance and do have more issues with them. Bellows, Boots, Shift cables, trim sender units, fluid changes and the dreaded steering pin issues on the transom assemblies to name the biggies. If you are keeping her in the salt water, as said above - V drives are the way to go. The salt will eat up your outdrives and they will become a large expense to maintain. We are in the salt, but keep ours on a lift with rinse out / off after a weekend of use. Best of luck on your purchase and Welcome to CSR.

 

[Toddah]

Thank you Korkie, that was insightful and helpful... I’ve been a member for just a few days and I am really impressed with how many people are willing to help us understand the realities of the boating life... thanks again to everyone who is weighing in.

 

[NotHerDecision]

As far as size.

Buy your second boat first and you will thank me later. Boats shrink after you’re on them a couple trips so bigger is almost always better. The advice about v drives in saltwater is spot on as well. It’s a fact that outdrives will eventually have issues and it’s hard to beat a shaft and prop of a v drive.

If you’re going to keep in in the water in Florida remember your slip costs, insurance costs, and hurricane plan. Just don’t want you to have an surprises.

 

[Toddah]

“buy your second boat first”
I have given a lot of thought to that notion.... I’ve saved 290’s and 310’s on Boatrader.com only to delete them after looking at a 290 in person... 290 was claustrophobic IMHO.... we have never set foot on a 330, however, we are going to attend the Ft Lauderdale Intl Boat Show for the first time this fall and are planning to meet a broker and look at a 2012 350. That should help us determine which boat/size is right for us.

 

[bobeast]

The wet head in my 310 is pretty cramped. I'm 6'1" and cannot stand in the head without hunching over. Showers are fine if you are sitting down, but really, most showers on my boat occur using the transom sprayer which is plumbed for both hot and cold. If you shower in the wet head, keep a squeagy on hand for quick cleanup afterwards.

 

[El Capitan]

As far as size.

Buy your second boat first and you will thank me later. Boats shrink after you’re on them a couple trips so bigger is almost always better. The advice about v drives in saltwater is spot on as well. It’s a fact that outdrives will eventually have issues and it’s hard to beat a shaft and prop of a v drive.

If you’re going to keep in in the water in Florida remember your slip costs, insurance costs, and hurricane plan. Just don’t want you to have an surprises.

The biggest item for a newbie is to have a plan A and plan B in case of hurricane.

Understand that plan C is to beach it.