Opinions please? (320 with outdrives)

Groucho

Groucho

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2008
1,614
Albany/Lake George NY
Boat Info
2004 320 DA
Engines
6.2 V-Drives
I currently am looking to move up. I really feel the 320 is almost the perfect boat for me. The only thing I will miss is my camper canvass in the rear part of the cockpit...we enjoy sitting in the back even while it is raining.
My question is this...I found one nearby. 5.7 twins with outdrives..fresh water only use with 200 hours (2006). Looks pristine from pictures, I haven't seen it in person yet. I'm wondering if anyone could pitch in as far as performance as well as price. The asking price is wayyyy above book (108,000) he is asking 137,000!! The broker said he accepted a 125,000 offer. I am considering offering a bit above book to get a bit above normal clean boat. No GPS ot chatplotter, and doesn't seem to have many options.
Help please??
 
Personally I would not do anything 32 foot or up with Outdrives. They work fine on the 280 but it is easy to pull out an service them like they need to be. Also, not sure about the 5.7s on something that size- maybe an owner can chime in. I am fairly sure I would not pay that kind of money for a 2006 320. I have seen them listed for quite a bit less. Heck, I have seen a couple mid-00s 340s with Big Blocks and all kinds of other options in excellent condition go for near or less than 125K.

I would try to find someone who can run you some soldboats.com comps for you before you make an offer. Book and asking means nothing really, it is all about what they are actually selling for.
 
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Did you make any comparisons to what is listed on yachtworld? I'll venture a guess that most 320s have seen salt water, and therefore some distance away from you, so if those two things dont interest you it may not help. However a quick look & I saw some blue hulls, 6.2s, V drives, electronics, 260 hours, asking <$100k.
 
The 320 with outdrives with 350 mags would be a very nice running boat. I think the price at 118k book is typical. This boat runs well with 350 mags and would run nice with outdrives. Extra maintenance is what is. If you want outdrives - go for it.
 
Is a 3' move worth it? I would think you would want to make a bigger move to make the move worth while.
 
I have a two year older 300DA with the same propulsion - twin 350Mag with BravoIII. Excellent in water performance - we love cruising in it. The 320 is a couple feet longer, a foot wider, and 1500lbs heavier. I would think that propulsion setup would still do pretty well pushing 1500 more pounds. My boat is slipped and I can't trailer/haul the boat myself so I pay the Sea Ray dealer for all the following:

Bottom paint every 2 years - $800
Haul out - $180 every time
Annual drive preventative maintenance - $125 per drive
Annual drive painting - $250 per drive
Annual drive lube change - $125 (price for an hour of labor here)
Mercathode testing and maintenance

Everything else I try to do myself and the engine room is really a good setup to do that work. On the 320 with sterndrives you will have even more room. Can't comment on the price or the reason you want it - those are personal things and you'll do what works for you there. There are many 320s of that era at the marinas here in Northern Virginia. Haven't run across one yet that has stern drives. I suspect there are some, but everyone I've been on is v-driven.
 
I have a 330DA with 454's and Volvo duoprop stern drives. It runs extremely well, handling is good, even down at 4-7 knots, there is no time delay at all on getting out of the hole and onto the plane.

Engine bay has heaps of room.

Boat lives in Saltwater.


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Thanks to the posts so far. Outdrives are probly more common here in upstate NY. The local dealer had a pretty stock order list, and the lake I'm on shows it. I have heard pro's and cons of the V-drives, and it seems in fresh water it is a toss up between slighly better performance vs. less maintenence. I like the size of my 290...my list of dislikes though....

The driver seat is large...but not large enough for 2. The seat opposite the driver sits sideways and is uncomfortable for any length of time underway, it would be nice if my wife could sit with me as we cruise up the lake...we spend most of out time @ 7 MPH. The rear seat is a nice place to sit...no complaints. In the cabin..no storage, and no place for any luggage. climbing in the mid cabin to get my clothes is getting difficult, the 320 has the open floor plan.
I think it has more space all around with the beam almost 2 ft. wider.
 
I have owned a 320 with 350 mags and v-drives and personally thought it could use more power. I moved up to a 340 in less than a year because our dealer had a great deal and they gave me a good price on my trade. The things I like more about my 340 vs 320 are the horsepower, dual 30 amp circuit, and the v-berth bed has more room because the bolsters on each side are smaller than the 320's. Also the 340 is 6 in wider which helps with room. If you can find a 340 within your price range you may want to consider. Most come with 8.1 liter v-drives, radar, gps and a generator. All are essential with that size boat. Good luck.
 
Adding to what beauty said, i recently purchased a fresh water 340 fresh water boat, full options with camper canvas 8.1 v-drives for under $115K. Boat is very clean, well maintained with a blue hull which looks great.
 
Our dealer sold only one 320DA with outdrives. The buyer was a youngish couple with a need for speed, so they ordered the i/o boat based on the usual arguments.....faster and more efficient. He traded the 320 for a used 360DA in 18 months because the service and repair bills were about to break him. Even though you are in freshwater, it seems that corrosion is still an issue on the B-III, particularly when you have 2 of the on the same boat. I'm also concerned about the resale value if a 32 with i/o's......you box out any coastal area as far as prospective buyers when you want to move up.

The 320 is a great boat with v-drives, but it stlll seems like sort of an in-betweener to me. If I were interested in moving up, I think the 340 is more boat for about the same or even less money.
 
I have driven the 300Da 305's Brave II 300DA with 350 Mag -Bravo III Stern drives, 320DA V-Drive, 310 DA ( 1998-2002 model) V-Drive and the 2007 310-DA V-Drive. IMO the 320 DA with 350 V-Drive does fine but is slow out of the hole. Only the 300 DA with 350 Mags and Bravo III's pulls like my 280DA with a single 496. IMO if you are going big I think you have been given some good advice to loom for a 340 DA with 8.1's. BTW the seat layout on your 290DA is why I never bought one even when my sea ray dealer wanted to just about give it to me. I do like the bed in the 290DA better then my 280.
 
Groucho said:
I currently am looking to move up. I really feel the 320 is almost the perfect boat for me. The only thing I will miss is my camper canvass in the rear part of the cockpit...we enjoy sitting in the back even while it is raining.
My question is this...I found one nearby. 5.7 twins with outdrives..fresh water only use with 200 hours (2006). Looks pristine from pictures, I haven't seen it in person yet. I'm wondering if anyone could pitch in as far as performance as well as price. The asking price is wayyyy above book (108,000) he is asking 137,000!! The broker said he accepted a 125,000 offer. I am considering offering a bit above book to get a bit above normal clean boat. No GPS ot chatplotter, and doesn't seem to have many options.
Help please??
Click to expand...

Here is a better boat than what you are looking at with 116 hours and V drives. You can get it for a lot less than 137K. I have an outdrive on my new boat because I have no choice since I want some maneuverability with a single engine. You do have a choice so take Frank W's advice to heart.

http://www.munsonski.com/pre_owned_...Min=&lengthMax=&feetmeters=feet&submit=Search
 
fwebster said:
Our dealer sold only one 320DA with outdrives. The buyer was a youngish couple with a need for speed, so they ordered the i/o boat based on the usual arguments.....faster and more efficient. He traded the 320 for a used 360DA in 18 months because the service and repair bills were about to break him. Even though you are in freshwater, it seems that corrosion is still an issue on the B-III, particularly when you have 2 of the on the same boat. I'm also concerned about the resale value if a 32 with i/o's......you box out any coastal area as far as prospective buyers when you want to move up.

The 320 is a great boat with v-drives, but it stlll seems like sort of an in-betweener to me. If I were interested in moving up, I think the 340 is more boat for about the same or even less money.
Click to expand...

We agree with Frank too:)
 
Groucho said:
I currently am looking to move up. I really feel the 320 is almost the perfect boat for me. The only thing I will miss is my camper canvass in the rear part of the cockpit...we enjoy sitting in the back even while it is raining.
My question is this...I found one nearby. 5.7 twins with outdrives..fresh water only use with 200 hours (2006). Looks pristine from pictures, I haven't seen it in person yet. I'm wondering if anyone could pitch in as far as performance as well as price. The asking price is wayyyy above book (108,000) he is asking 137,000!! The broker said he accepted a 125,000 offer. I am considering offering a bit above book to get a bit above normal clean boat. No GPS ot chatplotter, and doesn't seem to have many options.
Help please??
Click to expand...

I can't comment on the price, but you can bet that the outdrives will outperform the v-drives in almost all categories, including economy and top end. The ability to trim up in shallow water and to haul your boat out should prove to be a benefit. And anyone can work on a Bravo drive, although the BIII's do not hold up well in salt water.

Bob
 
320Bob said:
Here is a better boat than what you are looking at with 116 hours and V drives. You can get it for a lot less than 137K. I have an outdrive on my new boat because I have no choice since I want some maneuverability with a single engine. You do have a choice so take Frank W's advice to heart.

http://www.munsonski.com/pre_owned_...Min=&lengthMax=&feetmeters=feet&submit=Search
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up!! I appreciate it, and matter of fact am going to persue this boat.
A 340 although desireable won't fit inside my slip...Thanks though!
 
fwebster said:
Our dealer sold only one 320DA with outdrives. The buyer was a youngish couple with a need for speed, so they ordered the i/o boat based on the usual arguments.....faster and more efficient. He traded the 320 for a used 360DA in 18 months because the service and repair bills were about to break him. Even though you are in freshwater, it seems that corrosion is still an issue on the B-III, particularly when you have 2 of the on the same boat. I'm also concerned about the resale value if a 32 with i/o's......you box out any coastal area as far as prospective buyers when you want to move up.

The 320 is a great boat with v-drives, but it stlll seems like sort of an in-betweener to me. If I were interested in moving up, I think the 340 is more boat for about the same or even less money.
Click to expand...


Thanks Frank...Appreciated and noted. I am going to recheck to see if my slip will allow the beam on a 340.
 
I love my 2005 320 with V Drives.. Would not want to get the I/O's especially here in South florida.. You should be able to get a great deal or pass, but if you can afford it , I would go up to the 340 with the 8.1's... I wish I had done that when I bought mine as the extra horsepower and additional beam width and fuel capacity would have been nice to have.

Either way you can't go wrong!! Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.
 
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