Official (1998-2002) 310 Sundancer Thread

Port vs Starboard fuel consumption question...I've been tracking my fuel consumption (>1,000 gallons) for the past 3 seasons and wondered if anyone else has one engine that burns more fuel than the other. Engines run fine, props are good, bottom is clean and no generator, but my port engine consistently burns an average of 1.5 gph more than my starboard engine. I've asked a number of people and all say that it is normal (they are separate engines after all).
 
Thanks, do you know by how much? Just trying to determine the threshold between what seems normal and when there should be some level of concern.
 
As you can see, I have the 310 with V Drive coupled to twin Mercruiser 350 MPI MIE. I need to change my shaft seals. Does anyone have a partnumber and source?
 
I am very interested in the 310DA (2002) as my next boat. Most of he boats I see for sale have V-drives. Were stern-drives a low production boat for Sea Ray? Was the 350 Mag the biggest engine or was the 6.2 offered?? Does anyone have pics of the boat with sterns I could see??
 
Stern drives were the standard, but many chose V's. You could get the 6.2's and even 454's with the i/o, but i don't think the 454 was ever offered with V's. Then again, the 496's were never officially offered with i/o's.
 
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wvsundancer said:
I am very interested in the 310DA (2002) as my next boat. Most of he boats I see for sale have V-drives. Were stern-drives a low production boat for Sea Ray? Was the 350 Mag the biggest engine or was the 6.2 offered?? Does anyone have pics of the boat with sterns I could see??
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Where I live (MI) it's the opposite. Mostly stern drives are for sale. I was lucky enough to come across one with v-drives when I looking for my current boat.
 
blorincz said:
Where I live (MI) it's the opposite. Mostly stern drives are for sale. I was lucky enough to come across one with v-drives when I looking for my current boat.
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I have driven my friends 310DA V-drive with 305'S and I think I would like stern drives after have also driven a 2008 310DA with 350 mag stern drive. I know the 2008 310 is really a 300DA but it think the compairson is close. 6.2 stern would be the bomb IMO.
 
wvsundancer said:
i have driven my friends 310da v-drive with 305's and i think i would like stern drives after have also driven a 2008 310da with 350 mag stern drive. I know the 2008 310 is really a 300da but it think the compairson is close. 6.2 stern would be the bomb imo.
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why???
 
wvsundancer said:
I know the 2008 310 is really a 300DA but it think the compairson is close. 6.2 stern would be the bomb IMO.
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I'm sorry, I just don't understand why you would want to go with the newer model. Every year Sea Ray ends up shrinking their boats more and more. There's no comparison in space and ride between a 1998-2002 models and the newer models. And I have the same interior styling, decor and amentities the newer models. Okay, so I don't have the stupid grill on the deck, that can only be used when hooked up to shore power any ways.
 
blorincz said:
I'm sorry, I just don't understand why you would want to go with the newer model. Every year Sea Ray ends up shrinking their boats more and more. There's no comparison in space and ride between a 1998-2002 models and the newer models. And I have the same interior styling, decor and amentities the newer models. Okay, so I don't have the stupid grill on the deck, that can only be used when hooked up to shore power any ways.
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Sorry for the mis-understanding I was just using these two boats to compair the performace with stern drives vs v-drives. I liked the perfromance of the 2008 310 with stern drive much better than I did the performance of the 2000 310DA with 305's and v-drives. The 2000 model took much longer to come up on plane. I was just using these two boats because I have had the opportunity to drive each of these. The 2002 310DA is the largest SeaRay that is allowed in my covered slip so that is the boat I want.
 
billnpat said:
why???
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That is why I am on here asking so many questions..I feel I will get much better feedback here that I would from salespeople or boat owners looking to sell their boat. My experience only goes as far as my first hand experience with the two boats I have driven right or wrong. I am trying to find test reports with the 1999-2002 310DA with Stern vs V-drive but cannot find any.
 
The decision around V-drives vs. IOs really comes down to personal preference. If you want more speed and potentially better fuel efficiency, go with IO's. If you want better handling and control, particulary docking in tight quarters, and possibly less maintenance, go with V-drives.

I love my V-drives! Comparisons to the smaller 2008 310 model are difficult because of different LOL, Beam and Weight.
 
Bob - At Last said:
The decision around V-drives vs. IOs really comes down to personal preference. If you want more speed and potentially better fuel efficiency, go with IO's. If you want better handling and control, particulary docking in tight quarters, and possibly less maintenance, go with V-drives.

I love my V-drives! Comparisons to the smaller 2008 310 model are difficult because of different LOL, Beam and Weight.
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+1

The only other comment I would add is regarding the waters you boat in. In freshwater, you can have the stern drive vs. v-drive debate all day long, but in saltwater, v-drives are heavily favored and preferred.
 
blorincz said:
+1

The only other comment I would add is regarding the waters you boat in. In freshwater, you can have the stern drive vs. v-drive debate all day long, but in saltwater, v-drives are heavily favored and preferred.
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This is the best responce to your question. If in salt and on a wet slip, hands down the vdrive is a better choice. If you plan to dry storage (which I think you are) you can go either way. They both have performance advantages at different RPM ranges with the IO's performing better. Just remember IO have more moving parts exposed to water like a gear case, props, trim actuators, a few seals, hydrolic hoses, etc... With vdrives its a shaft, props, rudder, and a seal.
 
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