To fit the space

[TPONZ]

Hi all, I have just joined and would appreciate your help with regards to selecting the boat that will best suit our needs. I live in New Zealand and do all our boating on lake Taupo. This lake has a surface area of 616 square kilometres (238 sq mi), and a perimeter of approximately 193 kilometres, a deepest point of 186 metres. So it is quite capable of cutting up rough with up to 3 metre waves. We have recently purchased a marina berth at Kinloch which is on the eastern side of the lake. Our contract outlines that our boat size maximum is 10.7 x 3.5 metre, so if possible we would like to have as large a boat as the berth will allow. With regards to meeting our needs we want to be able to stop out on the water for extended periods and so need to have both sleeping and cooking facilities that are suitable. We do like the lay-out in some of the SR sedans where your living and galley is surrounded by large windows, however we dont want or require a fly-bridge. So we have been back looking at the SRDA and because of our application thought that a hull with a 17 Dead Rise would be better for providing greater stability and economy. Sorry this thread is a bit long, but your feedback would be appreciated. Steve

 

[JerryS]

Welcome aboard Steve.
A suggestion for you. Go to the SeaRay website and look over the model archives. Those archives will give you the layouts and dimensions for the various year SeaRay's. www.searay.com

 

[TPONZ]

Hi Jerry, Thanks for your reply. I have had a bit of a look around on that site, but I guess I was after a bit of first-hand experience from others who have used their boats for similar usage. Also the site cant advise about the pros & cons of the difference in results from dead rise, It would seem to me ( with my limited knowledge ) that the 17 degree dead rise would be better suited for us in the lake than say a 21 degree hull and so I was looking at maybe a 2000 - 2002 340DA and then I read where it was claimed that this model gave a rough ride in choppy waters. Cheers Steve.

 

[Alegria]

I think that a 200-2002 340 sundancer would fill your needs if you like Sea Rays. Cooking on the boat is not an issue since it will have a generator. Our family of 5 sleeps on the boat many weekends we have the dinette model not the settee and for sleeping I like the dinette better gives a better berth. You will have an island berth on the 340 which is nice.

As for the ride... Any hull is a compromise. The higher the deadrise the better it will be for going through a head sea. But will rock with a bit more motion at rest. Our boat will pound if the period of the waves is too close and I happen to force the bow down with the tabs. I've learned over time that if the boat starts to pound ease up on the tabs. If that does not help slow down and give her enough tab to stay on plane. In 3 M waves I would be going very slowing into the waves and asking myself why I even left!!! Basically I would never purposely put the boat in those conditions..

Also based on your slip size the 340 seems to be the largest boat you can fit in there. It looks pretty tight.

Best of luck to you!

Take Care!

 

[TPONZ]

HI Tom, Hey thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts, I see you have a 330. I recently went out on a 98 330 and thought it was a great boat with really nice lines created by having a bow pulpit and they way in which the screen wraps back into the radar arch. but for us having a limited berth size we need to for go the bow pulpit to gain a bigger boat internally. And as for those 3 metre waves Im with you on that, I would never go out when the conditions are unfavorable, I just wanted to advise that this particular lake can turn nasty within an hour from dead calm.
Cheers Steve

 

[Alegria]

I re-read your info and realize that you will be on a lake and I would bet that a strong wind over a good fetch will stir things up for you for sure.

I understand your need I would certainly fore go the pulpit too!

 

[TPONZ]

Cheers, Thanks Tom.
Steve.

 

[Registered]

Greetings, Mate!

Sounds a bit backwards to me... Buy the boat you love and get a slip to fit the boat.

But to your original question: Your maximum boat size per your contract is 10.7m x 3.5m. That's 35'1" LOA and a 11'6" beam.

You're looking at a 2002 Sundancer so that would need to be an '02 310DA with 33'10" LOA and 11'2" beam.

The '02 320 DA has a 35'6" LOA and 11'5" beam.
The '02 340 DA has a 36'3" LOA and 11'5" beam.

All per the Sea Ray archives.

 

[TPONZ]

Hi, Yes I guess it may seem a bit strange to buy the berth first, but on Taupo, Kinloch is the only marina with private berths. These range in size from 7.5m to 10.7m & 2 only at 12m. The only other berths on the lake are government owned and leased with a 15 year waiting list. Given that we have property at Kinloch, when the berth came up for sale we had to grab it or miss out. And now find the boat to fit. So from what you say the beam is not going to be an issue for the 340, just the length. I will have to check and see if the swim platform will make the difference. Cheers Steve.

 

[TPONZ]

Hi, I meant to ask you all, with the SR petrol engines what year did they switch from Carb to EFI ?
Cheers
Steve