'04 340DA - what can it handle ?

[jmunro123]

I have just purchase a 2004 340 Dancer and am planning a trip that is about 350 miles on Lake Huron. For some of it I will be force to travel on certain days. I am wondering what conditions are safe to travel and at what point the conditions would just to rough to go. I am new to power boating but have lots of experience with Sailboats. In your opinions would it be 'safe' (not comfortable) to travel in 5 foot waves with 20mph winds?

Tell me what this boat can handle.

 

[fc3]

Five footers aren't terrible. Don't know how steep they are on the lake. However, assuming that your safety preparation is good, that you know what you are doing and your crew knows what to do, then you probably can manage rough conditions if you remember to slow down. If you want to leap from wave top to wave top at planing speeds, buy an Outer Limits. But slowing down shouldn't be hard for you, as a former sailboater. It's the guys who only know balls-to-the-wall who break things.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[PMvdb395DA]

Your 340DA is designed for category B.
This mean max wind speed 46MPH and max wave height 13ft.
Boat can be used offshore, but not for extended ocean voyages.
This doesn't mean that you or your passengers can survive this if your boat is exposed to these conditions.

This is written in your boat manual.

Some people like the tension from riding a boat in rough conditions.
But does your passengers like that also...
I think that experience and personal character are critical factors for more than 70% if you can handle severe weather conditions.


Peter.

 

[Warren]

I have just purchase a 2004 340 Dancer and am planning a trip that is about 350 miles on Lake Huron. For some of it I will be force to travel on certain days.

I can't tell you what your 340 Dancer can handle. Experience and boating conditions will dictate handling in adverse conditions more than the boat. We are familiar with Lake Huron and based upon my experience there will be "certain days" when you will definitely not travel. My advice is simple: Never plan your itinerary so tightly that you can't delay for weather, illness or mechanical issues. I am sure that you will monitor weather conditions carefully, always know where you are and always have fallback routes planned. Try to use the inland channel. Plan for an enjoyable cruise with some down time, even if it's a delivery cruise. It's no fun to push a "new" boat hard. Have a relaxed cruise, Lake Huron is a lake to be respected..
Good luck!
Warren

 

[jmunro123]

Thanks. I have read the manual and frankly the Class B part seems extreme for me, I can't imagine 13 footers. I would not be near that. What is the largest people have been out in and for how long? I guess what I am trying to figure out is how far can I go before I make a hard stop and don't leave port. Perhaps its just experience.

 

[jmunro123]

I am interested in the 'Slowing down part'. I am assuming this is to give a more comfortable ride since otherwise the bow might be bouncing and slamming on the waves otherwise. Is that why you suggest slowing down?

 

[PMvdb395DA]

I am interested in the 'Slowing down part'. I am assuming this is to give a more comfortable ride since otherwise the bow might be bouncing and slamming on the waves otherwise. Is that why you suggest slowing down?

In moderate seas you should be able to slow your speed in order to ride up and over the waves rather than driving the bow into them. You also don't want to get to the top and the wave and fall off the back side burying the bow. If conditions get worse, slow down until you are making bare steerage way and hold your boat at an angle of 45° to the swells. The more you reduce speed, the less strain will be put on the hull and superstructure. Continued pounding can pop out or break ports and windows. You really don't want to see how much water can come in a 12" porthole.

What may seem heavy weather to an inexperienced boater may not bother a seasoned and weather-wise skipper at all. The body of water on which you operate has a lot to do with how severe the conditions may get. While operating on deep and large bodies of water, wave action tends to build more slowly than on large waters that are more shallow. In deep waters, wind action may only cause moderate seas with slow, rolling swells. While in shallower waters that same wind force may make steep, breaking seas.

 

[jmunro123]

Excellent. Thanks that makes sense on slowing down. I get it. I would expect a heck of a lot of water would come in 12 inch window. Very bad situation. Basically it sounds like this boat can handle a fair bit, at least anything I would throw at it. I was kind of concerned of water coming in the stern since the freeboard is only about 20 inches to the bottom of the entry hatch by the swim platform, but as long as the waves are not to high and I am moving forward faster than the waves behind me I should be OK. Thanks for the help, it has be useful.

 

[Robski97]

J,
We had a 03 340. She took a pretty good beating. 5' - 6 ' footers was It think the worstwe got stuck in for a few hrs. The TV was the only issue ( kept popping out ) 4 people on board full fuel and water she was a dog riding up those waves... but not once did I feel the boat was not up to the task. She'll take great care of u ... Common sense and slow going is the word of the day in slop


Rob