320 vs 340

L

lumpsum

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Feb 18, 2008
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I am considering the purchase of an 03 320. I have read some posts on another forum and would like to know if anyone has owned or has an opinion on the 320 vs 340 with regard to handling, performance, and V-berth comfort/space.
I appreciate your thought and comments.

Thanks,
 
I have a 290 and my next one will be a 340. Just the xtra room does it for me. I'd choose the motor carefully so to have a good performer. In fact, I'd go with the biggest motor available....whenever I get mine!!!
 
Get the largest boat u can afford. Both are great boats. Worst thing would be to say I should went bigger .... which we all do anyway .......

Rob
 
AGREE.........STOP the two footitis....get the biggest the first time.
 
Looking at a boat out of the water has to be the most intimadating thing in the world...

Rob
 
Sea Trial both the 320 and the 340 and then decide. I have never owned either of these boats but I have ridden on both of them. If the 340 has big blocks with v-drives I can tell you that you will definitely prefer that (for cruising) over the 320. The 320 also runs with more of a bow-up attitude than the 340. All that being said, I would take either one of them if the deal was right but given a choice it would be the 340.
 
No doubt, go bigger, from the start...

We had an 06 340 last season, aside from engine access, which is probably worse on the 320, and the slope back canvas, we had no complaints... had the 8.1/V-drive-close cooled...Never even touched the throttles when docking, had that much bite and torque... she ran well, but thirsty, over 60gph at wot, best cruise she burned about 33gph if I recall...

I don't think the 320 has a centerline berth either...a MUST for us...

The 340 has a decent sized head too and I think a wider beam than the 320...

Let me know if you have any specific questions...

Good luck!
 
I have to chime in on this one. Definitely, without any doubt go bigger or you'll end up regretting it. We moved from a Bayliner 2855 to the '00 340DA and if I'd looked a little longer and harder (and scraped up a bit more cash), I would have gone up to the 380 or 400. They look a lot bigger and in some ways are, but not really that much bigger.

Is this your first boat or are you moving up?

Good luck!
 
We are moving up from a 1999 270 to the 2001 340. We have looked at many boats the last two years. We took a ride on and looked at a 2006 320. Nice boat. Then there was a 320 and a 340 almost side by side for sale. After looking at both boats we decided on the larger 340. The 340 is just more boat. If we complete our deal we think we are going to be very pleased. The mechanical inspection went well today.
 
quote:
Originally posted by walterv

If you want a real 34' boat, look here: http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=102978

In this size boat, Cruiser has it all over Searay.
This is not bashing Searay, I have owned Searays, and they are fine boats. But, a 34 Searay, compared to a 34' Cruiser, no brainer.

Do your homework, you will agree.

Click to expand...


I would have to agree with walter. The 33 Cruisers has it all over my 330 Dancer BUT it is achieved at the expense of the side decks. The I/O's are a sore point around here, however, from a fuel economy standpoint, you can't beat them.

HTH
 
The 3470 has nice side decks and a walk thru windshield.....best of both worlds.

I/O's are great if well maintained.
 
I see this thread started back in March, but just in case you haven't bought yet, or to the benefit of those who may be considering this very question:

I've owned both the 320 and the 340. I would advise going with the 340. The 340 with 8.1 inboards is the perfect engine/boat match. The 320 with the 350 MAG's is barely adequate. You would have to run the engines at 3700-3800 to cruise, whereas the 340 cruises well anywhere from 3000-3500 RPMS. I averaged .9 mpg with the 320, and average .84 mpg with the 340, so the fuel economy savings are not there buy going with the smaller engines in the 320.

The forward and mid cabin berths are much bigger in the 340, and is the MAIN reason I sold the 320 and bought the 340. If you are going to overnight much, you will not be happy with the 320 unless you are 5'7 or less, or like to sleep on your back, straight as a nail.

Otherwise, both boats handle very well, the 4 bladed prop on the 340 is a real advantage around the docks and at lower power settings though (Can stay on plane at much lower RPMs). Let me know if I can provide any more information.
 
Walk tru windshield has no bussiness on a boat this size...... Cruisers are a big sail in wind ...and its not part of the thread ....so start ur own thread.

Rob
 
WTF is your reasoning. Walk thru windshields are great for people afraid of walking on side decks, little kids who want to get to bow sunpad and dogs.

Noone stole anyone's thread or bashed searays.

Support your comments with a good reason.

Have you ever driven or been on a cruisers? Obviously not!!

Gizmo likes it:
IMG00113.jpg
 
Dave.... add some canvas to ur boat.. Boat in some rain or drizzle and then speak. Try and set fenders in some roll...

Get it... common sense...

Rob
 
Rob,
I still don't get it. I have been in rain, fog, drizzle, bow buried in 8 foot waves with water rushing over the canvas top. I have a full camper top. I have set my fenders in rolling conditions and rafted up. I have side decks as well as the walk thru. Still don't understand the point you are making. Are you saying the cruisers rocks too much, I have a bigger beam than a 320 searay. You need to explain yourself better if you want to make a point here!

Dave
 
Our slip neighbor owns a 2000 3370 Cruisers. His wife nearly cracked her head open sliding off the side trying to tie the boat up as she had not gunwale to step onto. She was handing me the bow line trying to step down on, well nothing. Luckily I was standing on the dock and caught her.

Nothing against a Crusiers Yachts (we have looked at few for our next boat) , but I will gladly give up the 6" of cabin beam and the walk thru windshield for the gunwales on our 330DA. I noticed their 3370 does not feel as solid/seaworthy in rough seas as our 330DA too.
 
Nice lead in to try and sell your SeaRay.

The 3370 is one design with no gunwales. All boat companies do this. Silverton has one as well. The 3470 has gunwales and they are safe and solid. The walk thu windshield is in addition to those, so it is best of both worlds.

As for stability, you are correct. Searays are very heavy and this in turn causes more fuel burn. It is a trade off. If you do mostly lake or bay boating and occasional ocean cruising then it is fine to have a lighter boat. My boat weighs about the same as a 290 amberjack but I burn a lot less fuel and have higher cruising and top speeds so its more a matter of what type of boating u do.

As for interiors the 3470 blows the 340 away and where that may not be important to some people, to some it is.

So its all a matter of preference and what boat fits your needs!!
 
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