340 Performance

becnme

Active Member
Oct 31, 2008
285
Fort Myers
Boat Info
2009 Formula 45
Engines
Volvo Penta 600 IPS
Am looking at 05-07 340 Sundancers. Any owners out there with real world performance and comfortable cruise fuel burn figures. Also what do you think of the boat after ownership?

Thanks
 
It looks like your previous boats were much bigger so assume the fuel burn will be better :grin:. THe 340 is probably the best selling Dancer Sea Ray makes. I don't know of one person who has one that doesn't like it.
 
This was my first full season with my 340 and I love it. I'm burning about 28-30 gallons a hour running the boat around 3400 rpm. I upgraded all my electronics and added a flat screen TV. Only thing I dislike about the boat is the ice maker. That is my next project. Best of luck on your search.
 
Great boat. I have a dinghy with outboard on the stern and usually run full fuel and water. I burn 32 to 33 GPH at cruise.
 
Thanks for the response. At these figures what are the cruise speeds? Are these 1 mpg plus boats?
 
I have an 06, and in the season we've owned it I have zero complaints. I doubt I ever will. It is a really well thought out boat that utilizes every space. It feels more open than boats bigger in size and will run circles around them performance wise. At 3350 I burn 29-31 gph at 26-28mph. expect .89-1mpg dependent on conditions. I wont lie she's thirsty, and you really have to cruise smart if you want to achieve 1mpg.

The 8.1's are bullet proof and sometimes I wonder if they didn't design to boat around those power plants. She really runs like a dream Don't even consider the 6.2l.

She handles well around the dock but sometimes her bow needs a little persuasion (think throttle) in windy situations.

Engine room access is a little tight but manageable. The impellers are a nightmare to get too but that is a Mercruiser issue not Sea Ray.

I've come to find out that the 8.1 loves to eat sparkplugs so make that an annual maintenance item.


ANy other questions fire away.
 
Love the boat. Very little problems. Handles very nice, the 8.1's are a good fit for the boat.

The only reason I will ever sell the boat is to move to a much larger fly bridge for extended cruising.
 
Carry at least one water pressure sensor. They seem to fail every few years, at least for me. I wish I had diesels, due to the safety aspect of gas verses diesel but overall we love our 360.
 
I have had mine for 2 seasons now and love it. I have I/O's so my numbers are a little better than v-drives but I am getting about 1 mpg. I think most guys get about .7-.8 with v-drives.
 
Our only complaint in the two years we have owned ours is we don't get enough time to use her as would really like:) Wonderful cruiser, great layout,does about 1 mpg, we usually run around 3200 rpm and we have a dinghy and outboard on the SP. Make sure you carry a few spares, we have had a couple of hose clips go, belt etc. Good luck:)
 
Thanks for all the responses. It gives me an idea what to expect with these boats.
 
I just lost out on a 2003 34 with 8.1's and in mint condition. All new Garmin Full screen displays and smart Garmin. I'm kicking myself for not checking the classifieds everyday. I missed it by 2 days GRRRRR!!!! Ah the quest continues 1.5 years later.
 
I have an 06, and in the season we've owned it I have zero complaints. I doubt I ever will. It is a really well thought out boat that utilizes every space. It feels more open than boats bigger in size and will run circles around them performance wise. At 3350 I burn 29-31 gph at 26-28mph. expect .89-1mpg dependent on conditions. I wont lie she's thirsty, and you really have to cruise smart if you want to achieve 1mpg.

The 8.1's are bullet proof and sometimes I wonder if they didn't design to boat around those power plants. She really runs like a dream Don't even consider the 6.2l.

She handles well around the dock but sometimes her bow needs a little persuasion (think throttle) in windy situations.

Engine room access is a little tight but manageable. The impellers are a nightmare to get too but that is a Mercruiser issue not Sea Ray.

I've come to find out that the 8.1 loves to eat sparkplugs so make that an annual maintenance item.


ANy other questions fire away.

While we have a different hull, we also love the 8.1's. But, luckily we haven't experienced the devouring of spark plugs. Maybe that starts later in life for these engines? Or, maybe I'm just not noticing the gradual degradation of them? We have about 140 hours on them in 4 years (the boat actually went into service in Sept. '09.) I haven't heard of this before, but now am curious if I'm missing something...

Kevin
 
I switched over to a "Champion 13" plug a little over a year ago and I am still on that same set. The A/C Delco's had to be changed out twice a season. The full number for the champion plug is 13-RS14YC6
 
Okay, something's weird. I'm on my original set after four years+.

Kevin
 
6.2L stern drives, 2 adults 3 children onboard, water and fuel full, empty holding tank properly trimmed lake cruising - 3800 rpm 19 knots, 4500 rpm 24 knots, WOT 29 knots. Still getting my head around fuel consumption on the lake but on a recent coastal cruise from Syndey to Swansea 2 adults on board starting with full fuel and water trip about 61nm taking just over 3 hour duration in seas of 1.5m swell, 1.5 metre wave into light winds I used about 380 litres averaging 18 knots per hour - that equates to 63 litres/14 gallons per hour per donk.

Cheers
 
I have not had issues with eating spark plugs either.
 

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