Would a boat with very poor engine compartment access be a deal breaker for you?

[mrsrobinson]

I did a 6 hour roundtrip today to look at 2 boats: 2007 Cruisers Yachts 340 with 8.1s and V-Drives and a 2004 370, same configuration. I am a DIYer and like to do my own service/maintenance.

I actually like the 340 better, even though it's a little smaller. When I opened the engine hatch though, I said to myself "This could be a deal breaker". I literally could not stand between the engines, the beauty covers touch the undersides of the hatch, I think I saw the water heater, strainers are near impossible to get to, forget about a new belt or raw water impeller. It looks to me like you can unscrew the floor around the engine hatch and remove most of the cockpit floor, but really? Otherwise I loved the boat. I went back a couple times to try again, and even the broker said "You don't fit". I would have to give ALL service to the service shop.

There was plenty of room in the engine compartment on the 370.

Would this be a deal breaker for you?

340 https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2007-cruisers-yachts-340-express-7978625/

370 https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2004-cruisers-yachts-370-express-8001200/

 

[Fill Ess]

I don't know how people do it with a 340. It's bad enough the engines are in backwards with a 340, but from the looks of it, when you have the heat exchanger and exhaust, can you even see the belts? let alone get to them?

 

[mrsrobinson]

I don't know how people do it with a 340. It's bad enough the engines are in backwards with a 340, but from the looks of it, when you have the heat exchanger and exhaust, can you even see the belts? let alone get to them?

I think I saw one ;-)

This is the boat with engine pics: https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2007-cruisers-yachts-340-express-7978625/

 

[Ididntdoit]

I don't know how people do it with a 340. It's bad enough the engines are in backwards with a 340, but from the looks of it, when you have the heat exchanger and exhaust, can you even see the belts? let alone get to them?

An '03-'08 340 actually is not bad - ive done alternators and waterpumps on one.....the same era 320 on the otherhand is pure misery

 

[JB MARSHALL]

Definitely a deal breaker for me… I always love to tinker and do maintenance so it’s a must to have adequate access to the major components. Just my opinion.

 

[RBB]

I think I saw one ;-)

This is the boat with engine pics: https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2007-cruisers-yachts-340-express-7978625/

Geez!

 

[Golfman25]

You're a seasoned boat owner. You know the advantages of good engine room access. Go with your gut.

 

[mrsrobinson]

An '03-'08 340 actually is not bad - ive done alternators and waterpumps on one.....the same era 320 on the otherhand is pure misery

Thanks, as a reminder I am referring to a Cruisers Yachts 340 and 370.

 

[hottoddie]

The thing I love the most about my old 390EC is the engine room access. Over 2ft between engines and the couplers/stuffing boxes are easy to get at.

 

[Craig]

And I thought my 320 was bad!

 

[JC3]

Good night that's tight! I would have to think long and hard about that. Good luck. JC

 

[Njlarry]

Yes!!
It's not just a question of convenient maintenance but also of safety. Out of sight is out mind.....and monitoring. If you can't easly inspect the belts, drive components or steering how can you rely on or maintain them? Can you easily change the water impeller or rather play Russian Rolett?
Love my 400 but lack of access to the steering gear may cause us to replace her.

 

[b_arrington]

Holy shit, that 34 engine room is tight. That would be a no for me. I don’t know how you check things, let get access to service the engines.

But consider that I’m used to a much more spacious layout. These are pics of my last 3 engine rooms: a 270 AJ, a Back Cove 34, and a Back Cove 37. The 37 also has a separate
mechanical space to service things like the HW tank, waster tank, inverter, water filter, and AC pump.

 

[LG111]

I did a 6 hour roundtrip today to look at 2 boats: 2007 Cruisers Yachts 340 with 8.1s and V-Drives and a 2004 370, same configuration. I am a DIYer and like to do my own service/maintenance.


I actually like the 340 better, even though it's a little smaller. When I opened the engine hatch though, I said to myself "This could be a deal breaker". I literally could not stand between the engines, the beauty covers touch the undersides of the hatch, I think I saw the water heater, strainers are near impossible to get to, forget about a new belt or raw water impeller. It looks to me like you can unscrew the floor around the engine hatch and remove most of the cockpit floor, but really? Otherwise I loved the boat. I went back a couple times to try again, and even the broker said "You don't fit". I would have to give ALL service to the service shop.

There was plenty of room in the engine compartment on the 370.

Would this be a deal breaker for you?

340 https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2007-cruisers-yachts-340-express-7978625/

370 https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2004-cruisers-yachts-370-express-8001200/

Yes it would be a deal breaker for me. I know those 8.1s very well. And even with lots of space in my old 410, getting the port water pump off to change the impeller was a pain and I am skinny. Compound the zero space I am looking at, I'd walk.

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

Deal breaker for me as well. If I had to rely on professional mechanics for planned routine maintenance that would just be expensive and possibly spotty quality and subsequent issues, but to rely on professionals to deal with a season ending issue? No thanks. Been there, done that. Waiting for them to "fit you in" is a recipe for losing the remainder of your season.

 

[Fill Ess]

I think I saw one ;-)

This is the boat with engine pics: https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/2007-cruisers-yachts-340-express-7978625/

Oh sure you can squeeze in there, no problem

 

[Korkie]

Was certainly a deal breaker for me. That is why we went with outdrives. Tons or room in the engine room. Change impellors about an hour and a half start to finish. Did exhaust manifolds last year, 3 hours each engine start to finish with a helper that also knew what he was doing. There are few tight areas when getting to some things, but all in all, everything is quite accessible. Just have that added expense of servicing the drives annually which IMO is worth the trade off of being able to do all the other service myself with removing half the flooring and exhaust systems to get to things. If we were not on a lift, we would have a large enough boat, (including wide enough beam), so that the engine room have sufficient room to do servicing.

 

[Stee6043]

Based on this thread you'd think they'd never have sold a bunch of 340's! If it's the boat and layout you want, you can figure out the maintenance. There are also some things worth paying for (like having the marina do your impeller changes).

That Cruisers 340 looks nice but I have to say the centerline birth on a Sea Ray 340 makes more sense to me

To me the interior layout and shower configuration would be more impactful than service access in the engine room. How much time are you going to spend on that bed vs in that engine room? My two cents only of course...

 

[dtfeld]

As a DIY type, that 34’ would be a tough sell, that’s not tight that’s impossible to work around. However, if your willing to have some things done by a mechanic, I wouldn’t say no.

The 37 is better and I’m a fan of the Cruisers boats. A dock neighbor has a 37 and it’s a great boat.

However, it isn’t a Sea Ray!

 

[dtfeld]

As a DIY type, that 34’ would be a tough sell, that’s not tight that’s impossible to work around. However, if your willing to have some things done by a mechanic, I wouldn’t say no.

The 37 is better and I’m a fan of the Cruisers boats. A dock neighbor has a 37 and it’s a great boat.

However, it isn’t a Sea Ray!