Sundancer 32

N

Naughtycal

Guest
Looking very seriously at a 2003 Sundancer 32. As an ocean boat thinking the 350 Magnum MPI Horizon V drives are the way to go and about the right power. Anyone have any insight into this boat? Originally was thinking a 34 but afraid the jump up in GPH will leave me hanging on the dock.
 
How many more GPH does the 34 burn? If it is about 8gph more it will cost you about $1000 more per year if you run the boat for 50 hrs. Is that worth the extra few feet?

The interiors and features of those two boats are virtually identical anyway, I don't even know why they offer both at the same time.
 
More engine space in the 34 makes it easier to work on. Just a thought.

Bountylb1.jpg
 
More engine space in the 34 makes it easier to work on. Just a thought.

Bountylb1.jpg
 
While I will agree access in the 320DA can be a horror show, is there really that much more room on a 340DA? It would seem the 6" more beam would be taken up by the larger size of the big block mains.

I guess I need to peek in a 340DA sometime.

-CJ
 
CJ Martin said:
While I will agree access in the 320DA can be a horror show, is there really that much more room on a 340DA? It would seem the 6" more beam would be taken up by the larger size of the big block mains.

I guess I need to peek in a 340DA sometime.

-CJ
Click to expand...

I'm actually relating what a Sea Ray mechanic told me.
 
You need to look at the 320 and then immediately go look at the 340. Both are great boats, but in airline talk, I think of the 320 as the largest of the narrow bodies and the 340 as the smallest of the wide bodies.

There are 2 AC buses in the 340, one in the 320.

One fuel tank is completely in the engine room, and another about 1/3 or more so on the 320. They are forward of the bulkhead in the 340 - BIG DIFFERENCE.

The workspace in the engine room in the 340 is several times larger. I am small and cannot work in the 320. I have no problem in the 340. I literally could not get in the 320 engine room except to stand just to port of the port engine - no where else. I can move around the entire room of the 340. I can crawl between the engines (tight, but nice to be able to do).

My friend ('06 320) uses full throttle (and full down trim) to make his way to plane in the 320 with 6.2's and V-drives (stern drives are much better in this regard). He cruises at 4200 RPM to stay on plane. If he pulls the power, it falls back off plane (I've been out with him twice recently). He does NOT get better gas mileage. The engines are at the top end of their power band - it's not very efficient to run that way.

I set 3000 or 3200 in my 340 without trimming down. It gets on plane faster and accelerates to 3250 or 3400 RPM. That gives 21 - 22.5 knots SOW. At that speed, I get about 1 MPG. At 3800 RPM, I cruise at 25.5 knots, and get .90 MPG. There's a lot of throttle left ALL OF THE TIME. One time I set 4200 RPM to mimic the other boat. It accelerated beyond 30 knots when I decided I didn't need to treat my engines that way, and I pulled it back.

If I use full throttle to get on plane, I feel like a drag racer - no need.

Down stairs, the forward birth is significantly bigger on the 340. My friends who have 320's stow their table for more room to move around. We leave ours up and use it all the time. It feels bigger down below. The mid cabin berth is bigger.

In the cockpit, the 320's port side lounge sits low (can't see out front) and faces starboard. The 340 has 3 tall Captain's chairs which face forward.

They are both great boats and each has its place in someone's heart. If gas is the main deciding factor, please buy a 340.
 
I remember reading in some boating magazine about how a small difference in length and beam equates to a huge difference in total volume. There were some mathematical equations to back this up. The article compared a 380DA to a 400DA and while I can't remember the figures the 400 figured out to like 20% more volume for only a 2' difference.
I've spent time on both boats and I have to say the 340DA feels like a MUCH larger boat.
 
jg300da said:
I remember reading in some boating magazine about how a small difference in length and beam equates to a huge difference in total volume. There were some mathematical equations to back this up. The article compared a 380DA to a 400DA and while I can't remember the figures the 400 figured out to like 20% more volume for only a 2' difference.
I've spent time on both boats and I have to say the 340DA feels like a MUCH larger boat.
Click to expand...

DITTO and the fuel burn difference between the 340 and 320 is totally negligible
 
The fuel burn is negligible between the two boats. I am not sure why folks have such hard time planning out a 320. I basically run mine up to 3700 Rpm's and fall back to 3500 rpm's and the boat runs great. I have 350 Mag's with V drives. If looking used - there are some good deals on the old style 340's. I think that is a good comparison to the 320. So - far I love our 320. I came from a 260 with a big block and a bravo III. That boat flew.
 
Correction!

My friend's boat has 350 Magnums, not 6.2's. I guess that explains why there's a difference.

I apololgize for the error.
 
Hampton,

It sounds like something is not right with your friends boat. Based on my experience, I'd start with a prop job.

This past weekend we ran ~ 2 hours down the bay to meet Skip and his family. Outbound I ran at 3600 rpm and was running 22kts. Fuel flow was ~ 12.5 gallons / hour for 0.9 mpg (these last two numbers according to Smartcraft). Conditions were ideal - seas 1' or less and 5-10 kts of wind on our port quarter. This was with full fuel, 1/4 water and two adults.

Running home I bumped up to 3700 rpm and ran at 24 knots. Fuel flow was ~ 13 gal / hr for 0.9 mpg. Conditions were similar, but the wind was now on the starboard bow and blowing a bit harder. Load was 3/4 fuel and full water.

The boat hops up on plane without using tabs (in fact she's up on plane so fast now I couldn't run the tabs down fast enough to matter) however once I throttle back to cruise speed a bit of tab lowers the bow and she runs much better.

I can count on one hand the number of times I've run her up to 4200 rpm, and never for more than a few minutes.

-CJ
 
I fully agree with CJ's numbers. My experience with my 320DA with 350 MAGs and V Drives is exactly the same.
 
Granted I only have 11 hours on mine - but the numbers are inline with above.
 
I'm glad to hear that you guys' boats are running better than my experience. I've read that the 320 is underpowered, and that was my experience. I wonder if they're selling them with different prop styles. Some folks seem to be doing well, and others are struggling.
 
My friends 340 - an 06 with 8.1's - he is able to get about 1 to 2 MPH faster at ideal cruise and while we are in the .9 range - he seems to be in the closer .95 range on mpg. We are comfortable cruising together.
 
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