Help,Compare 98 370DA to 99-02 380DA

[MonacoMike]

Would love to get input on key differences between a 380DA over the 370DA model. Just starting the search but there seems to be some I can see in photos but it is hard to judge significance. There are no vessels near me, even to just look at, so hope to get some input before I start putting in the miles to physically look at them and narrow down the choices. Typically the 380 is priced higher, is it worth it?

My preliminary research indicates the 94-97 370DA may be lower horsepower if without Horizions and lacks other things that did not become popular until the later 90's. Any input on this would be helpful as well.

Thanks in advance for any input,

MM

 

[rondds]

I went through this process 6 years ago. The 370 is a smaller boat (LOA and beam) than the 380. The 370 weighs less. Layout essentially the same but the older 370s will feature formica (white) interiors which is sort of an "older" look. The 370 has head-room issues when standing at the helm, 380 is taller and that's not an issue. Both have plenty of room to move around in the engine room. I believe both have doors that separate the fwd stateroom from the rest of the boat. 380 has a innerspring mattress and a stainless steel windshield standard. Both have a stall shower so you don't get the whole head wet when you shower.

Propulsion could be a determinant. The 8.1L engines are a much better choice. More power and a better-designed exhaust system. You can get them in some 2001 380s. I would strongly advise against a 380 with 7.4s b/c of water ingestion issues.

Unfortunately, finances sometimes dictates what we can do when we buy a boat, but if you can afford a 380 with 8.1s, that is the way to go in my opinion.

 

[Woody]

I don't know how many people you plan to accommodate but 370EC is quite a boat. A couple inches more beam than the other two, 14'2 I think. Sometimes they can be found with a hardtop. They also have straight drives, you give up the aft cabin berth but the engine weight forward and different bow design I believe would make it a good great lakes boat.

 

[RollerCoastr]

A few details: The '98 370DA has a tall arch. In the '99 380DA, the shower and the MSD share space. You could still call it a "stall", but in 2000 the MSD was moved out of the shower.

 

[rondds]

Yes, I scratched off any 99s off my list b/c of the vacuflush in the shower. Didn't know they raised the arch in the '98 370. Might not even be an issue if you're short like me anyway!

 

[330DA]

The 380 will have a full size refrigerator vs a smaller 4.3 cu ft in the 370.

 

[MonacoMike]

Great, thanks for the responses, informative.

MM