Pirate Lady
Well-Known Member
Good for you, the price diff was a few beers a months. Youll be happy.
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I did a 6 hour roundtrip today to look at 2 boats: 2007 Cruisers Yachts 340 with 8.1s and V-Drives and a 2004 370, same configuration. I am a DIYer and like to do my own service/maintenance.
I actually like the 340 better, even though it's a little smaller. When I opened the engine hatch though, I said to myself "This could be a deal breaker". I literally could not stand between the engines, the beauty covers touch the undersides of the hatch, I think I saw the water heater, strainers are near impossible to get to, forget about a new belt or raw water impeller. It looks to me like you can unscrew the floor around the engine hatch and remove most of the cockpit floor, but really? Otherwise I loved the boat. I went back a couple times to try again, and even the broker said "You don't fit". I would have to give ALL service to the service shop.
There was plenty of room in the engine compartment on the 370.
Would this be a deal breaker for you?
340 https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2007-cruisers-yachts-340-express-7978625/
370 https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2004-cruisers-yachts-370-express-8001200/
I did a 6 hour roundtrip today to look at 2 boats: 2007 Cruisers Yachts 340 with 8.1s and V-Drives and a 2004 370, same configuration. I am a DIYer and like to do my own service/maintenance.
I actually like the 340 better, even though it's a little smaller. When I opened the engine hatch though, I said to myself "This could be a deal breaker". I literally could not stand between the engines, the beauty covers touch the undersides of the hatch, I think I saw the water heater, strainers are near impossible to get to, forget about a new belt or raw water impeller. It looks to me like you can unscrew the floor around the engine hatch and remove most of the cockpit floor, but really? Otherwise I loved the boat. I went back a couple times to try again, and even the broker said "You don't fit". I would have to give ALL service to the service shop.
There was plenty of room in the engine compartment on the 370.
Would this be a deal breaker for you?
340 https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2007-cruisers-yachts-340-express-7978625/
370 https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2004-cruisers-yachts-370-express-8001200/
That is one of the worst bilge access designs I've ever seen. I have no idea how a bunch of engineers looked at those drawings and went, yeah.....that ought to work. Crazy. I might just save the picture for some future reference.
I like both of those responses! The other mindset is "Oh, that's right... we did such a good job designing lots of living space, but we forget about the engines and the other mechanicals. Oh well, that's for the other department to figure out... we've already got the molds made so we're not backtracking now"You don’t understand engineers. The prevailing point of view isn’t “ that ought to work”; it is “some jackass said two engines and a genset won’t fit, and we showed them!”
As for the topic at hand, yes I did put engine room access at the head of the list when buying our current boat. In fact we walked away from a beautiful trawler because major engine work would have meant ripping the main salon out to get access.
You saying the design engineers pushed the motors right out of the boat ?Gonna take a different tack. Since they trying to accommodate more living space, and finding less space for engines, you suppose this is reason for the move to outboards?
I think the move to outboards is partially due to engine changes by the auto companies. For decades “marine” engines have been versions of auto engines upgraded for marine use. Outboards are designed from the ground up for boats. Once they got 4 stroke going it was only a matter of time.Aint saying anything. Only so much space in bilge. Need more power, outboards may be answer.
Even though bowriders with outboards not my style. Some people love them.
God only knows why, just like electric cars.
I have a 14 foot beam with a single straight inboard - even easier!Definitely a deal breaker.
I see V drives, I'm out. Narrow beam with twin anything and I'm out.
I have straight drive inboards with a 14' beam and won't go back to those hassles ever.