Looking at 1997-2000 31-37 Dancers

[270win]

We just had a deal fall through on a 99 340 DA. The owner swears the engines and generator were overhauled recently but has no paperwork...pass. We looked at a 99 310 Dancer on Saturday and we liked the boat. My only hesitation was it has no generator and 5.7 EFI with B3 drives. I'm partial to V drives and I'd prefer a generator. The price is good and the boat is VERY clean. Any thoughts regarding the B3's in these cruisers? The current owner claims 35mph @ 4K RPMs which sounds pretty impressive. Not that I'm looking for speed...but if you have access to it that's pretty nice.

 

[Dawn Burnett]

I hope this is ok to post....We have an amazing 1994 SeaRay 330 sundancer vessel for sale (we are looking to move up in size when we move to FL). Used it all summer and the generator and AC were perfect. It was the best thing for COVID with the kids and all their friends. Kind of attached but need to plan ! https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1071802913271293/?ref=search&referral_code=undefined THANKS! Dawn 865-368-6711

 

[Steve S]

I hope this is ok to post....We have an amazing 1994 SeaRay 330 sundancer vessel for sale (we are looking to move up in size when we move to FL). Used it all summer and the generator and AC were perfect. It was the best thing for COVID with the kids and all their friends. Kind of attached but need to plan ! https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1071802913271293/?ref=search&referral_code=undefined THANKS! Dawn 865-368-6711

Dawn.

This should be in the Searay Classifieds section where the fee helps support this forum. An Admin will probably delete this post.

 

[270win]

I hope this is ok to post....We have an amazing 1994 SeaRay 330 sundancer vessel for sale (we are looking to move up in size when we move to FL). Used it all summer and the generator and AC were perfect. It was the best thing for COVID with the kids and all their friends. Kind of attached but need to plan ! https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1071802913271293/?ref=search&referral_code=undefined THANKS! Dawn 865-368-6711

Hi Dawn, thanks for the link. Nice boat! I'm really wanting to stick to something in the next generation of Sundancers. GLWS!

 

[Lake Effect 340]

What sort of budget do you have? Is it going to be used in salt water? A lot less potential problems with v drives in my opinion

 

[270win]

What sort of budget do you have? Is it going to be used in salt water? A lot less potential problems with v drives in my opinion

It'll be used in fresh water. For those years/sizes I'd like to be anywhere from 40k up to as much as 75k for the right 370DA. I've had two boats with the B3 and they were no problem, but I bought them to sell so I only had them for one season. My plan (you know how that goes) is to be in this one for a few years.

 

[270win]

Now that I'm looking, 1995 is the cutoff year. I like the cockpit changes for that year across the models.

 

[Strecker25]

that era 310 is a great boat, a friend had one for a few years. His had alphas and carbed 350s so he had to run them high in the rev range to make decent speed on trips. I'd say with B3s and a few extra HP of the TBIs that boat would run well.

Lots of room for a 31 footer though and had somewhere in the 20* transom deadrise so really rode well.

That being said, the 370 of that era is a completely different boat. Tons of beam, heavy, lots of room down below.

 

[270win]

that era 310 is a great boat, a friend had one for a few years. His had alphas and carbed 350s so he had to run them high in the rev range to make decent speed on trips. I'd say with B3s and a few extra HP of the TBIs that boat would run well.

Lots of room for a 31 footer though and had somewhere in the 20* transom deadrise so really rode well.

That being said, the 370 of that era is a completely different boat. Tons of beam, heavy, lots of room down below.

I agree. And the performance number of the 350mpi/b3 are impressive. I'm supposed to take a ride tomorrow.

 

[Stee6043]

We just had a deal fall through on a 99 340 DA. The owner swears the engines and generator were overhauled recently but has no paperwork...pass. We looked at a 99 310 Dancer on Saturday and we liked the boat. My only hesitation was it has no generator and 5.7 EFI with B3 drives. I'm partial to V drives and I'd prefer a generator. The price is good and the boat is VERY clean. Any thoughts regarding the B3's in these cruisers? The current owner claims 35mph @ 4K RPMs which sounds pretty impressive. Not that I'm looking for speed...but if you have access to it that's pretty nice.

You passed on the 340 only because the owner didn't have paperwork? Have you considered having the motor surveyed by a pro in lieu of documentation? Most of us would have compression and oil checked at a minimum even if a seller offered us paperwork.

That 99 340 is a sweet boat. I put three seasons on mine before moving on. Great package...

 

[270win]

You passed on the 340 only because the owner didn't have paperwork? Have you considered having the motor surveyed by a pro in lieu of documentation? Most of us would have compression and oil checked at a minimum even if a seller offered us paperwork.

That 99 340 is a sweet boat. I put three seasons on mine before moving on. Great package...

yeah, I passed on it. The price was based on low time engines. The ECMs said 864/865. I'm looking at an 04' 340 tomorrow with 400 documented hrs.

 

[89P270]

Any thoughts regarding the B3's in these cruisers?

I just sold a 2002 Rinker 340 Fiesta Vee (37 feet overall with 6.2L MPIs/Bravo IIIs). 11.2 beam, Displaced about what 14K dry. so 15.5K wet. The Bravos were great with this boat. The drives lasted more than 18 years (in fresh water). I replaced them at 18 years but I kept them and in my garage even now. So, when I put on Hill Marine 4x3 22 pitch props that boat jumped way up in performance. Got out of the hole in 11 seconds whereas before took 19 seconds to plane. Top end didnt suffer either. So, those set up on a 31/33 overall dancer would be great performance and given fresh water, would last at least 18 years if cared for. Rinker in 2002 did a comparison of Inboards vs B3's and the bravos outperformed them on my former 342. The only question, those 5.7L have about 20 less horse power/engine than the 6.2ls. But, I still say with the right props inboards couldnt touch the performance even with the 5.7L.

 

[bobeast]

B3's will be a little more efficient / faster than V-drives. Also a little more room in the bilge, since most of the transmission hangs off the back of the boat.

They require more maintenance, since most of the transmission hangs off the back of the boat. Then there is that pesky piece of rubber which is all that separates your bilge from the water.

Minimum draft on the B3 will be better than the V-Drives as well since you can trim them up.

V-Drives are a lot less maintenance and are more salt-water friendly. I've also heard it said that V-Drives have better dock manners, but I cannot confirm that. I do like that I can pretty much spin my V-drive 310 within its own length.

Pick your poison.

 

[Steve S]

I've also heard it said that V-Drives have better dock manners, but I cannot confirm that. I do like that I can pretty much spin my V-drive 310 within its own length.

Pick your poison.

V-drives respond to docking better because of the location of the props, so the turning point is closer to the center of the boat when compared to the B3 where they are located behind the transom...

 

[bobeast]

V-drives respond to docking better because of the location of the props, so the turning point is closer to the center of the boat when compared to the B3 where they are located behind the transom...

That makes sense. thanks

 

[270win]

I just sold a 2002 Rinker 340 Fiesta Vee (37 feet overall with 6.2L MPIs/Bravo IIIs). 11.2 beam, Displaced about what 14K dry. so 15.5K wet. The Bravos were great with this boat. The drives lasted more than 18 years (in fresh water). I replaced them at 18 years but I kept them and in my garage even now. So, when I put on Hill Marine 4x3 22 pitch props that boat jumped way up in performance. Got out of the hole in 11 seconds whereas before took 19 seconds to plane. Top-end didn't suffer either. So, those set up on a 31/33 overall dancer would be great performance and given fresh water, would last at least 18 years if cared for. Rinker in 2002 did a comparison of Inboards vs B3's and the bravos outperformed them on my former 342. The only question, those 5.7L have about 20 less horsepower/engine than the 6.2ls. But, I still say with the right props inboards couldn't touch the performance even with the 5.7L.

Very good feedback. I took a test ride in the 310 yesterday. I was very impressed, it got on plane surprisingly fast and at 3500 we were seeing 30mph. At 4000 we saw 35, that's as far as we went because it was VERY choppy. I figure we can push it WOT and mess with trim in better conditions, but the owner says it does an honest 40mph. It does have some throttle or shift cable issues. It's hard to find neutral and seems to move a long way to get into gear. I didn't get to dock it and the owner isn't the best at backing into the slip so as far as walking it into the slip with thrust alone, I don't know.

I tell ya, that 310 is one roomy 31 footer. I'm still not sure about the lack of a generator though. He uses a Honda portable on the platform and says they use about a gallon of fuel for 8 hours use. Plus if it dies it's only a grand to replace it. Also, without a generator installed and stern drives, the bilge is enormous. With a cargo net installed you could store tons of crap down there. I was even wondering if mounting the honda generator in there and running exhaust through the hull was a "poor man's" option.

 

[bobeast]

oh no you did ent.

Let the portable generator trash-talk begin....

And yes. the 310 DA is one of the biggest 31'ers out there.

 

[WV 320 Dancer]

Looking at the boats you are talking about the jump from the 99/2000 340 , 98 and lower 330 then move into the next group of boats is a pretty big jump. After 20+ years of dealing with all the maintenance on BIII’s in a river I moved to V Drives and never looked back. Once you get above a 300 the V Drives make for a much better docking boats especially in close quarters. The maintenance is just so much less...

 

[Strecker25]

Very good feedback. I took a test ride in the 310 yesterday. I was very impressed, it got on plane surprisingly fast and at 3500 we were seeing 30mph. At 4000 we saw 35, that's as far as we went because it was VERY choppy. I figure we can push it WOT and mess with trim in better conditions, but the owner says it does an honest 40mph. It does have some throttle or shift cable issues. It's hard to find neutral and seems to move a long way to get into gear. I didn't get to dock it and the owner isn't the best at backing into the slip so as far as walking it into the slip with thrust alone, I don't know.

I tell ya, that 310 is one roomy 31 footer. I'm still not sure about the lack of a generator though. He uses a Honda portable on the platform and says they use about a gallon of fuel for 8 hours use. Plus if it dies it's only a grand to replace it. Also, without a generator installed and stern drives, the bilge is enormous. With a cargo net installed you could store tons of crap down there. I was even wondering if mounting the honda generator in there and running exhaust through the hull was a "poor man's" option.

please search the forum for Honda generator, and plan for a few hours of reading (and enjoyment)

 

[270win]

oh no you did ent.

Let the portable generator trash-talk begin....

And yes. the 310 DA is one of the biggest 31'ers out there.

I knew I'd catch crap for that thought.