370 Sundancer 1995-1999

[Barry340]

Hi-

I am considering looking for a 370 Sundancer, mid to late 90's. I have not been on one yet, but have been on 1999-2001 340's, which I am also considering. We spend a lot of time on our boats, so the extra room and shower on the 370 interests us. We have had 25, 26, 28, 30, and 39 Sea Rays, so we are familiar with Sea Ray.

Are there any 370 owners that can offer me some insight on the following:

• Speed- Speed with Gas Engines? Speed with Diesels?
• Fuel Consumption: Useage with Gas?? Useage with Diesel?
• Engines- Are the gas engines powerful enough for this size and weight boat?
• Handling- How does this model take rougher water? How does it handle for docking and close quarter manuevering?
• Problems- Are there any problems associated with this model?
• 370 vs. 340- Any thoughts?
• Comments- Any positive or negatives you can offer.

Thanks for your help in advance. I really appreciate it!

Barry340

 

[RubberDuckeeToo2]

Check out the Official 370 Sundancer thread on this Forum:
http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13055

And you can check out the website I put up containing a bunch of photos and info of various models 370s from 1995 to 1999 at
www.370sundancer.com

Gene

 

[randerson]

Hi-

I am considering looking for a 370 Sundancer, mid to late 90's. I have not been on one yet, but have been on 1999-2001 340's, which I am also considering. We spend a lot of time on our boats, so the extra room and shower on the 370 interests us. We have had 25, 26, 28, 30, and 39 Sea Rays, so we are familiar with Sea Ray.

Are there any 370 owners that can offer me some insight on the following:

• Speed- Speed with Gas Engines? Speed with Diesels?
• Fuel Consumption: Useage with Gas?? Useage with Diesel?
• Engines- Are the gas engines powerful enough for this size and weight boat?
• Handling- How does this model take rougher water? How does it handle for docking and close quarter manuevering?
• Problems- Are there any problems associated with this model?
• 370 vs. 340- Any thoughts?
• Comments- Any positive or negatives you can offer.

Thanks for your help in advance. I really appreciate it!

Barry340

Barry,

We purchased our '95 370 last year so we only have 1 season under our belts. We absolutely love the boat and have no regrets whatsoever. The boat is great for entertaining, cruises very nicely and can easily handle a crowd (we've had over a dozen people on board at one time). I will try to answer your questions as best I can.

We have the 7.4 Gen V carbureated gas engines. They have no problem getting the boat up on plane even with full fuel, water, a large crowd (and lots of beer). But this boat is not about speed and I have never run her for long at full throttle, except during the survey. She cruises very nice at 15 knots and her sweet spot seems to be around 3200 RPM which averages around 20 knots (calm seas).

I know there are others that have tracked fuel useage much more scientifically than me. There are a lot of variables here . . . prop condition, clean bottom, weight etc. For the entire season, running under a variety of conditions and speeds we averaged about 1 mpg. Optimum fuel burn seems to be at 1400 RPM and at minimum plane speed (around 15 knots or 2800 RPM for me).

Our boat handles very well in rough water but I lack the experience of the harsher conditions those on the coast experience. Manueverability in close quarters with wind can be tough at times (mainly due to the relatively small 18x21 3-blade props that were stock with my boat). I believe the tunnel drives also have an affect on this.

Compared to the 340? Night and day in my opinion, separate shower, wider beam, larger engine room all make for ALOT more room. I'm 5'11" and weigh around 200 lbs and can get around fairly well in the engine room (I actually fit between the engines and get around pretty darn well).

We really have no negatives, the boat has been great. I know SeaRay added to the height of the radar arch sometime after our model year (1997?) which would be nice but I really can't complain. We spent over 40 nights on her last summer which is a lot in this part of the country. She seems to be well built, handles very nicely and is lot of fun to cruise and entertain on.

There is a great thread regarding the 370's that is well worth your time to go through and read. You will find opinions and information that will answer a good many of your questions. It's kind of funny, I had a lot of the same questions you did (you'll see some of my posts in that thread too).

Good Luck!

 

[FireIsland1]

yes the boat is night and day. I would think if you buy a 34 you will be wishing you bought a 37. The 37 truely has a " big boat" feel to it. Very little bow rise and minimal transition from displacment to plane. I never saw 1 mpg it's more like .75 . I always run heavy. engine service is very easy. try checking the batteries on a 34.

 

[Aarrhh & Aarrhh]

Copied from my reply in the sport cruisers section.

Hey,

I'll start by saying that I love my 370!

1. Mine is a diesel boat and we cruise at 22 Knots at 2200 RPM.

2. We get about 1.1 to 1.2 MPG in our normal operating around here. I'm sure this would be higher on an extended trip where we didn't have to come off plane a bunch. Our last trip from Apalachicola to Panama City 53.5 nm (62 miles) we used 29.7 gal on port and 29.9 starboard. We ran 24 knots @ 2400 RPM, although there was a TON of traffic in the intercostal and we pushed it due to an incomming TS (Ida.)

3. This thing handles GREAT!!! Diesels have 20x25x15 4 blade props.

4. None that I'm aware of. We have over 1500 hours on ours now.

5. We really enjoy the seperate shower. And the fwd state room door is great when you have guests!

My main advise would be look for a diesel boat they are very rare but definitly worth it!

 

[J Levine]

I would agree with all that has been said above, I just finished my 6th season with the boat and will probably have it for many many more. The radar arch was raised in 1998 and some guys find that as a must have. I had a 95 290 for six years before this boat so I have been sitting down at the helm for 12 years and it does not bother me much. I am 6'3 so standing is not an option. Service access in the engine room is very good and I would agree that this is one of the primary differences between the 370 and the 340. Performing many maintenance and repair jobs on any twin engine Sundancer smaller that the 370 is basically a total nightmare. In 97 Sea Ray added a electrically operated engine hatch to the boat. The 95-96's have 5 old school deck hatches and one day hatch with gas struts, again works fine for me. In 1998 Mercury Marine introduced the Gen VI GM 454 which combined with the original log style exhaust system on the boat created a major water ingestion problem that destroyed a lot of motors. You will find that almost any 98 or 99 370 has a history of water ingestion related issues until the exhaust system was upgraded using water lift mufflers. This topic has been well doccumented here and on many other web sites so if you dont know what I am talking about search water ingestion.... you will see. As far as problems here a few that I am familiar with on my boat and many of her sister ships...

Wood rot in the cockpit... the frames for the seats are all made of plywood and eventually they will go to pot and have to be replaced

Water leaks in the cabin... all boats leak a little and this one is no exception, check for leaking seals on the 6 port lights. I also found a number of boats when I was buying that had some water in the compartments under the aft cabin. Mine has always been dry with the exception of when it was hauled backwards on a trailer for a thousand miles in a lot of rain while uncovered. Once I dried out the water it never came back and that was 6 years ago.

The dash panels were made from very crappy material that does not hold up after time first fadeing and then getting so fragile that they begin to crack. Search this topic here as there is an excellent source now for replacements. Expensive and time consuming but worth the time and money.

The norcold fridge will eventually give up the ghost and getting it thorough the sliding cabin door is a nightmare.

It is a great boat and was very popular for good reason. In addition to the engine access, the privacy of the master (I have three kids) along with the real shower in the head helped sell me. One last thing, the Powerboat Guide indicates that the boat has a fully cored hull which is not correct. Many brokers quote the Powerboat Guide in their listings so you will see this information over and over agine. The boats were all built in Merrit Island and have solid bottoms.

Good luck with your search, you are a buyer at the right time for sure.

 

[Jack]

I also agree with what has been said. I love the boat because it does feel big. We just finished our third season. We take a 9-10 day cruise on the bay each year and even with company there is plenty of room. I have found that my "sweet spot" is about 34-3600 rpm. At that speed with a clean bottom and plenty of fuel, a little water (I generally only take about 1/4 of a tank), provisions for a week or more, I run 18-21 knots depending on the water. We also looked at a 340 but favored the 370 for its extra space and the fact that it had the separate shower (my wife was tired of the bath houses). I generally run about one gallon per engine per mile at cruise. I have had to replace all of the electronics, the tvs, and the radio (put in an XM, ipod compatible one. Love it. Am now looking for something a little larger as I am about to retire and intend to take longer cruises.

 

[Barry340]

Hello & Happy Thanksgiving to All-

Thank you all for your responses to my questions! The information you have supplied is very helpful and I appreciate you taking the time to share this inofrmation with me.

We are strongly leaning toward the 37, for all the reasons you have pointed out. The stall shower and extra foot of beam are all big pluses. Since we are used to having dingys, the extra beam would also allow us to get a larger dingy. Finding the right boat will be the determining factor.

We will continue to reseacrch things with the resources you have give us. Will keep you posted and probably have more questions to ask. Thanks again

Barry340

 

[370Dancer]

370's in great shape are hard to find, especially now. Since most of us are hanging on to our vessels instead of moving up or newer models, the 370 is one that is easy to hold on to.

I've run diesel 370s, and a own gas one. If you actually go places, hold out for diesel. If your destinations are day trips, then you'll do fine with either. One thing about gas that no one points out but my wife, is a diesel boat always has a distinct odor to it. Good to me, "boat" to her. She definitely prefers a petrol boat. (I'm dumb enough to have both). I have to admit, she's right about that. Oil is oil, and exhaust is exhaust.

 

[Lady Ashley SR560]

we had a 95 370 for two seasions several upgrades ago. i would deff. hold out for diesel engines. the larger props the diesel engines turn make handleing easy. it jumps when the trans is engagued. we had the big block gas engines and most of the times i needed to blip the throttle to get a responce to shifting the gears.( it can b difficult enuff docking just using the gear shifters. throw two throttles in the mix and it can get confusing very quickly. Also as mentioned by others your cruising range is conciderably greater with diesels.

 

[All's Well]

Sorry for the late response for your question, I just joined the form today.

I had a '97 370 gas boat, it was a fantastic boat. The only thing that I would have liked to have seen was more torque from the engines / props. The run range was also an issue when we had it on the Carolina coast, it limited you pretty much to say in the ICW rather than run open water to save time.

I've been on many 330 & 340 boats and there is a huge difference. The 370 is definately the better boat if you are going to stay on the boat.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Aarrhh & Aarrhh]

Barry,

Let me know if you have any questions about the diesel 370. I've never runa gas one but I can tell you that mine is VERY easy to handle around the docks in just about any wind conditions. The CATS have tons of torque!

 

[Russ Calasant]

Hi-

I am considering looking for a 370 Sundancer, mid to late 90's. I have not been on one yet, but have been on 1999-2001 340's, which I am also considering. We spend a lot of time on our boats, so the extra room and shower on the 370 interests us. We have had 25, 26, 28, 30, and 39 Sea Rays, so we are familiar with Sea Ray.


Are there any 370 owners that can offer me some insight on the following:

• Speed- Speed with Gas Engines? Speed with Diesels?
• Fuel Consumption: Useage with Gas?? Useage with Diesel?
• Engines- Are the gas engines powerful enough for this size and weight boat?
• Handling- How does this model take rougher water? How does it handle for docking and close quarter manuevering?
• Problems- Are there any problems associated with this model?
• 370 vs. 340- Any thoughts?
• Comments- Any positive or negatives you can offer.

Thanks for your help in advance. I really appreciate it!

Barry340

Barry - It seems everyone has covered your questions well, and I would agree with most. I see you list both Florida and NY, mine is about 2 hours east of the city and under shrink wrap (has a door) but you are welcome to come see now or in the spring.:thumbsup: