Thinking of buying a 2005 340

C

crm-114

New Member
Mar 22, 2016
8
NC
Boat Info
2013 Bayliner 255CR
Engines
5.0MPI BIII
Hi Guys,

I have done a tonne of research on this site and others. The wife and I are looking at 2005 340 with twin 6.2. I don't have any real specific questions about the boat as much as wondering what owner feedback is on the boat. If you have experience with one please share your thoughts.
 
You're going to get a lot of mixed feelings about the 6.2's in that boat. Is it I/O's or v drives?
 
first off welcome to CSR.....looks like you have been a member for a while but this is your first post...

i have 6.2 engines in my 2001 340 and they perform very well......however my boat is 1,600 lbs. (dry weight w/o genny) lighter and 6" narrower and less deadrise compared to a 2005 model 340...all of these differences means that more power is needed to push the 2005 model through the water and on plane compared to my 2001 model.....if you plan to use the boat for mostly slow speed 'cocktail cruises' the 6.2 engines should be fine.....if you plan to run on plane a lot and plan to have a lot of guest and 'stuff' on board most of the time the 6.2 engines could be marginal....but I will defer that call to someone who actually has experience with the later model 340 with 6.2 engines....

6.2 engines with outdrives would be a better set up than 6.2 engines with V drives.....the outdrives are more efficient than V drives but require much more maintenance....

cliff
 
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that's a lot more boat then a 25 bayliner!.
 
Welcome to CSR!

Personally, I have the 8.1s and they provide plenty of power even when hauling around a bunch of people, fuel, water and gears.

While I have no experience with the 6.2s and they may perfectly fit your current needs it does seem like the 8.1s are the buyers "preferred" choice of engines on this boat. If you plan on upgrading/downgrading down the line it will most likely affect your resale value and time to sale the pool of prospective buyers will be limited. This is just something to consider when coming to an agreement on a purchase price.

BTW, the 340 is a great boat and we love ours!

-Kevin
 
We love our 2002 340 with 6.2's V-Drive, but we are happy at Cocktail speed.
 
Had our 2006 340 with 8.1s (496mags) and Bravo III drives, for 2 seasons now. Just love it. Our last boat was under powered and it was embarrassing trying to get up on plane with as little as 5 people on board. Our 340 is quick to get on plane and fast with the power set up we have. The most we have had on her is 9 adults, one weighing in at 390 lbs, and she jumped right out of the water and up on plane. I was truly impressed.
When looking for the 18 months before we purchased, sea trialed several 320s and 340s. We did try one 340 with the 6.2s and V drives and seemed like forever getting up and on plane with just 4 on board compared to the 8.1s.
We cruise at 31mph @ 3450 rpms with our set up. At WOT, 4300 rpms, she will top out at 42 mph with pretty much all tanks full and 5 adults on board.
Best of luck with your search. My advise is try all the configuration and then make your decision. We traveled many miles in our search, but were able to see and feel first hand how each did. Ended up purchasing the 2nd boat we looked at 5 months later.
 
Perhaps I'm in the minority but I've got 7.4's and I'm quite sure I'd be equally pleased with 6.2's. I boat slow....so slow. I can't recall being in a hurry to get anywhere on my 340 (yet). I've posted it before but I'd kill for the extra clearance in the engine room I'm assuming I'd get with 6.2's.

I imagine you can assume resale will likely be impacted (negatively) by the smaller engines based on the number of new users that sign up around here to ask this very question. It seems buyers need to be convinced it's enough engine for the boat. Worth considering I do suppose.
 
I know I would only consider the larger 7.4 or 8.1 when I was shopping earlier this year. it was a hard rule.

But I run mine on plane almost every time I take it out. there are some times I slow boat 1-2 miles and chill but mostly I get on plane to clean ff the bottom some and exercise the motors and get to the location on time.(10-12 miles up river.)
 
Stee6043 said:
Perhaps I'm in the minority but I've got 7.4's and I'm quite sure I'd be equally pleased with 6.2's. I boat slow....so slow. I can't recall being in a hurry to get anywhere on my 340 (yet). I've posted it before but I'd kill for the extra clearance in the engine room I'm assuming I'd get with 6.2's.

I imagine you can assume resale will likely be impacted (negatively) by the smaller engines based on the number of new users that sign up around here to ask this very question. It seems buyers need to be convinced it's enough engine for the boat. Worth considering I do suppose.
Click to expand...

I agree with you and I really enjoy the 6.2 engines in my boat....but one thing you have to think about is the size and weight differences of our boats vs. a 2005 model.....the 6.2 engines are fine engines IMO which would be able to push a 55 Sundancer through the water at cocktail speed but if/when you need to get up and run on plane say to outrun a storm there would be concerns that could be accomplished with smaller engines in this model especially if the boat is heavily loaded....granted those opportunities may be far and few in between but they do happen....

some would argue that the Sea Ray engineers would not recommend the 6.2 engines be installed in the boat if they had real concerns over their ability to push the boat up on plane.....probably some merit to that....

all things to consider...

cliff
 
I had a 340 with 8.1's, same time period of models.

This may be the most widely desired boat that SeaRay ever built. They sold a lot of the boats and good ones typically do not stay on the market very long. I had one for 2-3 years, sold it for almost as much as I paid for it.

Looked at both 6.2's and 8.1's. Did a lot of research on here. Went out on boats with each of the engines.

Decided we would only consider 8.1's. Reasons were 1) felt the extra power did make a difference and 2) felt that resale value would be higher.

Depends on how you will use the boat. The 6.2's are good engines.

Where I noticed the difference was getting on plane with more than the two of us on board, spinning the boat in the wind, etc.

With either engine, the 340DA is a very good boat.

Mark
 
Is there a difference in hull and beam from a pre-2005 340 and a 2005+ 340. Didn't it gain like 6" in the beam? My 330 was I think the same hull as the 340 up to..??? 2001ish???

So in the 330 the 6.2 is OK as it only weighed 11000 lbs. But if the 2005 340 comes in at a svelte 15000 lbs, then I would want 7.4 or 8.1 engines if I was shopping.
 
Alegria said:
Is there a difference in hull and beam from a pre-2005 340 and a 2005+ 340. Didn't it gain like 6" in the beam? My 330 was I think the same hull as the 340 up to..??? 2001ish???

So in the 330 the 6.2 is OK as it only weighed 11000 lbs. But if the 2005 340 comes in at a svelte 15000 lbs, then I would want 7.4 or 8.1 engines if I was shopping.
Click to expand...

There was definitely a change. I was thinking it was mid-model year 03 through 08 for this configuration. Whichever year the model changed, you had both old and new in that year.
 
Alegria said:
Is there a difference in hull and beam from a pre-2005 340 and a 2005+ 340. Didn't it gain like 6" in the beam? My 330 was I think the same hull as the 340 up to..??? 2001ish???

So in the 330 the 6.2 is OK as it only weighed 11000 lbs. But if the 2005 340 comes in at a svelte 15000 lbs, then I would want 7.4 or 8.1 engines if I was shopping.
Click to expand...


the later model (2003.5 +) is 7" wider in beam, 1,600 lbs heavier, almost 2' longer, and has several more degrees of deadrise compared to the earlier model (1999 - 2003.5)....

according to NADA....

cliff
 
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for those interested....here is a spec comparison between a 2005 and 2002 model 340.....looks like NADA was close to the differences except the LOA is only about 1' difference instead of 2'.....

cliff

340 comparison.JPG
 
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