Wondering about a 2006/2007 320

Rich

Rich

New Member
Jan 5, 2008
96
Jericho, NY
Boat Info
270 Amberjack 2005, Raymarine C70, Fishing Package
Engines
350 Mercruiser w/ Bravo III Drives
I am thinking about a very low hours '06 or '07 320 Sundancer. My questions are: Genset - HP - Inboards or I/O.
Any comments are always helpful! Thanks
 
There are dozens of factors that go into the I/O or inboard decision. For me and several on this board, if you're going to leave it in the water, go with inboards. If you want to go as fast as possible and use the least gas possible and plan to store it on a lift, trailer, or high and dry on a rack, then go I/O. The beauty about inboards is that the maintenance is seriously reduced when compare to I/O.

Genset - Yes, affirmative, definately, no doubt, uh huh, roger, 10-4. For re-sale, if nothing else.

HP - Horse power? Inboards need the 6.2's for most people. With I/O's, it's your choice.
 
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I have a 2005 320, Genset absolutely, I use it all the time, and definitely helps if and when you go to sell. As for Inboards or I/O's, down here in South Florida I've had I/O's and was happy to get the Inboards. Also down here the resale on Inboards is a lot more than I/O's. The 350 mags are great, but so are the 6.2's so it's whatever you can get the best deal on.

A few more options are good to have too, like the remote spotlight, cockpit refrig, smartcraft system view. Mine had older electronics and was a freshwater lake boat, so I put in all new electronics (Garmin 5208 touchscreen), with Radar, Sonar, reverse color camera, and a new 26" HDTV/DVD in the bulkhead of the cabin.

Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions, as well as what the final outcome is for you.

Barry
 
John, I really appreciate the input. I think we are in synch on all three points as I do leave the boat in a slip.
Thanks
 
Barry, I just saw your post come in, all sounds good and we will no doubt chat again.
 
My previous boat (just sold) was a 2004 320DA w/v-drive inboards. Keep in mind that the 320 hull was designed for v-drives. It has big prop-pockets for that reason. I have heard about 3 out of 4 320DA's have v-drives, and the searay rep told me the outdrives are offered as a method of keeping the entry price down.

I did a sea trial on a 320 w/bravo 3s, but possibly because of the pockets, it seemed a lot harder to dock than it did with the v-drives. I'm just not sure the hull is really designed for those engines?

So...

If you're in salt water, I think inboards are a must. I wouldn't consider a Mercrusier stern drive if its left in salt water. Corrosion and maintenance makes that a no brainer, IMHO. The only exception would be a dry stack with closed cooling.

On a lake, I think its a toss up. Inboards hold their value more, and are very low maintenance. They are also much easier to dock. But they are definitely slower and burn more gas. Stern drives are faster, more efficient, and handle better at speed, but are harder to dock (without a thruster) and require expensive annual haul outs for outdrive service. But theres a lot more room in the stern drive engine bay, for sure.

-Dave
'04 Sea Ray 280DA (for the lake)
'07 Sea Hunt 220 (for the coast)
Prior: '04 Sea Ray 320DA, '00 Donzi Z275
 
Rich, on a 320DA I would also suggest V-drives. Options I would choose when looking for used ones....Merc 6.2's(hard to find), generator, AC, windlass, cockpit refrigerator. I have heard several members say that the 350 mag's are fine with this boat and I'm sure they are, but I would certainly want to Sea trial one fully loaded first. Good luck, Brian
 
My buddy has one with 350mags and V-drives. The boat does just fine, but my observation is that it takes quite a bit of throttle to get it up and running. He normally cruises in the mid 20's (mph) and the engines are around 4000 RPM, if not a little over.
 
New here so I am going to jump in on this I would never buy another boat with I/O's the I/B's are less costly and I am not crazy about having all that metal hanging off the back of the boat just looking for a big rock orr crab pot. As far as engine size I would look for the biggest ones I could find in the long runn the boat will perform better and should be less costly to run because the engine will not have to run as hard. Now on the the genset got to have if nothing else just to have and for resale When I was looking for my current boat I walked away from alotof very nice boats because they did not have a genset.
 
Rich - I did research this summer before I purchased a new 07 320da. I can tell you that in this area(Long Island) I dont think you will find a stern drive boat. From experience I can tell you that the inboards handle docking very well. I cruise at 28 MPH with 3850 RPM and top end is about 37 MPH. In this type of boat you really wont need to go any faster.

SS3 had about (10) 320's left when I purchased in late August. As it is a discontinued boat, i think you can probably cut a good deal on a new one. I did search for a used boat and found quite a few of them, however it would have forced me to sell my 240DA on my own. Not sure if it is still on the market but the huntington branch had an 06 loaded with about 15 hours under brokerage. Check it out and good luck. It is a great choice. :thumbsup:
 
I am getting similar performance as Rocket mentioned above. The 320 with 350 Mag's vs. 6.2's are very similar performance wise. The 6.2's have a little more power accelerating while on plane. But nothing dramatic. Getting the boat on plane felt similar.
 
In terms of v drive vs i/o you will be have to look hard to find an i/o configured 320 in the salts of Long Island although they are out there. There is currently an 04 for sale on craigslist that is i/o.
 
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I'll add a couple thoughts for what its worth. The I/O version of the 320 does not have prop pockets. I would definitely get the V drive if I kept it in salt, and very preferable kept in fesh. I would get the I/O out west if trailered or dry stored.

I think most cruisers are inadequately or minimally powered. I like to be able to cruise well below 3500 RPM for engine longevity.
 
I just went through the same discussion/thoughts that you are, and got some good feedback from this board. We are in the process of purchasing a used 320 with 6.2’s and BIII’s. I think it really has to come down to what works for you. For us it came down to the deal on the table, quite honestly. We boat in the Great Lakes and I’ve never had corrosion issues with my current stern drive. I also am not overly concerned with the handling of the BIII’s. Would slow speed handling be better with v-drives? That’s what everyone says, but I’m okay with that. As for hauling the boat every year, well we have to do that anyway – that darn ice stuff! And what the heck, I’ll take a little extra speed and efficiency. Now if I had identically equipped boats available in stern and v-drive for the same price, it would have been a tough decision. But that wasn’t the case. Likewise, if I were slipping it in salt it would be a no-brainer for the v-drive.

As mentioned earlier, stern drive boats do not have prop pockets, and I’d question that the boat was designed specifically for pockets, with the stern drive being an after-thought to keep price down. In simple terms, when building a boat with pockets, a tunnel is laid in the mold to produce the pockets. No pockets needed, tunnel not used. In addition, build a new boat on the Sea Ray website and change only the engine/drive combo. Sometimes the v-drive is more expensive, sometimes the stern drive is more expensive.

Whatever you decide, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the boat. Good luck.
 
If mercruiser would've had there sea core engines out sooner there would be much more 32 dancers with i/o's out there even in the salts of long island. If you look at the marinemax website now the new 2008 330's are being equipped with i/o's on Long island and not solely v drives.
 
comsay, comsau.......... It's presonal preference for sure, I've driven both and frankly I don't like the handling at any speed for s v-drive boat, I own a 320 with Bravo 3's and wow what a difference, and at the dock, put a penny on the dock and I'll lightly take it off with the bow anchor, not sracthhing the dock at all, and I might be able to give you change back for the penny based on the copper prices today.....It can spin on a dime without moving forward or back for that matter, and why why why wouldn't you maintence anything you own with that value....Guys maintenence is what it's all about...

Rootbeerfloat.....You Rock Bud, can't wait to meet you on the water...this summer, maybe n Chi town maybe in Michigan somewhere, maybe at the Sea Ray Rendevous in Elk Rapids this year, if you'd like... it's a qauint lil party...

Robert
 
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