I only calculate mileage when we go on a trip and the 2 trips we've done were both consistant. Running at 2650RPM I get 1.1NM/ gallon. As I recall, our average SOG was 17MPH (the logbook is onboard). We have 270HP Crusader smallblocks. She'll top out at 28 MPH, but I'm under-propped as she's only turning 3850 and should be at 4400 WOT. Uses way too much gas going that fast anyway. The 34C's are NOT speedboats!

The handling is great- I'll never go back to I/O's! She's sensitive to a large following sea (as are most inboards) and has a lot of windage with the canvas up, but otherwise no complaints. She spins like a champ.

The V Berth on boats built with the seperate stall shower ('86 up I think) were not as wide and they had to put it at an angle to the boat's centerline. We don't miss an onboard stall shower at all- when we go away they always have showers ashore.

When we were shopping we discovered the 1984 model is regarded by some as being the best year because they had a stronger layup. I don't know for sure, it's just what I was told. I do think they had the best interiors- solid teak. After '84 they switched to a golden oak veneer which was lighter in color but inferior in quality (IMO). That said, we almost closed on a '87 model but the survey found some significant issues that the seller wouldn't correct. These boats have cored decks and cabins, so make sure a surveyor checks for elevated moisture readings and water intrusion. E-mail me if you get serious and want a specific list of things to have checked out.
Geez, I think we just hijacked this thread. Sorry!

Thanks for the info.

1.1mpg seems about the same I have been seeing for the express cruisers in that range. I dunno if this is just my observation, but it seems as though just almost everything in the 30 to 40 ft range with twin engines, either inboard or I/O seem to get between 1mpg and 1.3mpg. Again, maybe its just my perception, but seems as though this is what I have seen.

Given this, although fuel mileage is rotten, there doesn't seem to be that much difference from boat to boat in fuel economy. I guess they are all rotten.

I get 2mpg with my current boat, and that is rotten too, so I guess once you get beyond being blugeoned for gas, you become insensitive to the cost.... Afterall, if it puts you in the poor house, whats the difference between a gas bill of $400 and $800?

But of course, I knew this before looking at a bigger boat!

I have been poking through the ads and notice some 34Cs have interior helms and some do not. Is this dependant on year, or was this an option?

The boat I put the link on has been repowered with Mercury Horizon 350s. They already have 500 hours on them though. Even so, that is an attractive upgrade.

Anyway, thanks mucho for the info, and I'll be asking detailed questions I am sure if we go that route.

Dad bought a new 1972 Sea-Ray, model unknown tall sides as I was 5 and my sister 1. Eventually (probably 1977) traded it to my uncle in Wyoming, took $$$ and uncles boat (an OB Tri-hull) and sold it and the engine, and bought my Taylor SS, also brand new. I was hooked riding in the Sea-Ray, fell in love with the Taylor's performance & power, also was great skiing behind. No more fight getting up.

Grew up in Westport MA spending a lot of time at Horseneck Beach/ Westport River. Always tinkered with cars/tractors/anything with a motor.
My better half entered my life at age 25. She grew up fishing commercially on the west coast on a 30' boat. She was the catalyst that got everything started.

Chuck... Here is a pic of our project when done...before first launch.



and here is what I am looking at...much bigger but with 6 people total before friends ..we need the space.



It is very similiar in size to what I learned on in high school with my grandfather's Grady White. Things around here are finally thawing out so maybe a test drive soon!

Actually the boys all think I should keep the old one even if we get the new one. They want it for tubing, skiing and fishing. The said, "Dad, look it's even the same color!"

Sorry for the highjack...now let's get back to what got us started!

I grew up spend most of the summer weekends at my grandfathers lake place on Roosevelt lake. Someone always had a boat up there. When I was about 8 I was bugging dad for a dirt bike. He hated motorcycles so instead he bought me an old 10 foot aluminum boat. I used to snag Grandpa's old green 5hp Johnson sea horse off his fishing boat and spend hours running it. A cousin of mine and I would fish, tube, and jump wakes all day. Later Dad bought a 20' Apollo cuddy. We would fish and cruise all over the northern end of the lake. That ended in my later teens. Dad work out of town a lot so we didn't boat at all. About 10 years ago I started fishing again. The wife and I bought the 14' alum. She decided it wasn't big enough so since then we've either had it and a larger boat or rode with others.

The lake place is still in the family so we go there once in a while. Our 2 boys love it. We're trying to find a way to afford a larger boat. Hopefully, something in the low 20's for size but are making due with older, smaller boats for now. Probably until I graduate.

I still have the 10 foot aluminum but lost Dad a few years back. My oldest who's 4 can't wait to try it out for the first time. I may have to find another old Johnson Sea Horse for them.

By the way the stories are great. bob_f, your project boat looks very nice.

You might say that our dog (a black Lab) got my wife and I into boating. In the mid eighties, we would rent a cabin for a week during the summer on one of the NH lakes because A. we liked the area and B. we could take our dog who loved to swim. Each year while on vacation, we would check out the real estate listings for available lakefront property and back in 1990, we stumbled across a piece of land for sale on Squam Lake (our favorite). Because the lot was 6 acres of woods, sans house, we decided to build a second home there so that we could enjoy both land and lake whenever the chance arose to get away - especially summer. Now that we had the land and the house, we decided that we needed a boat to better get around the lake (and provide more access to swimming by both of us and our dog). At the time, we didn't know squat about boating. Started out with a 1992 Chris Craft 177 I/O with a 4.3 ltr V6. Needless to say, we and the dog absolutely loved the land, the lake and going out in the boat. Not surprisingly, it was always easy to get Mischief (the dog) out of the boat and swimming around with us. However, getting him back aboard was always a rodeo, if you know what I mean.

Long story short - we've owned the place since 1990 and enjoy it more than ever. Our dog Mischief, died at the age of 13 back in 1993. He lives on, though, as his name is now proudly emblazzoned across the transom of our second, and current boat - a 2002 Chap 196 SSi.

bump...

I'm glad this thread was bumped as I never saw it before. My story like many others here involves childhood boating.

From the earliest age I can vividly remember, 8 my parents have had a boat. The reason this first boat is so memorable is b/c the controversy it caused in our neighborhood. My dad was transferred to CT for his job and they moved into a very snooty neighborhood. The name of the used 23' Searay was "My wet dream" My dad loved it and never changed the name. Needless to say the snooty neighbors hated it and complained endlessly.

We had this boat for 5 yrs then they upgraded to a 24' Celebrity with a 7.4. My fondest memories of this boat were going 55mph and amazing smaller slower boats. They had this boat till I was 20 or so.

Fast forward 11 years to last summer. I had just paid off my truck and was browing the net for a "fun" convertible. In the weeks of browsing something happened and the search turned to boats. Within 2 weeks I found my current 25' Crownline. I've had it for over a year now and have made so many new memories. The best weekend so far was when I could repay my parents and bring them out on my boat for the first time. Just last month I finally bought my convertible roadster.

Now my parents are getting back into boating. They have bought land on Kentucky Lake. Their 2 slip 2 story dock is already built. Next up is a house for the lot and a boat or 2 to fill the slips.

Next up for me is a 30' cruiser to accomodate my kids to be

Grew up in PR. My granpa had a Hatteras double cabin... grew up cruising the islands...
Grandpa passed when I was in high school. Missed boating greatly!!! Never thought about actually getting a boat!
Fifteen years later my wife and I bought our first boat, which we currently own.

Tampa,

I got into boating due to my Grandpa too. He lived near a lake with a small Starcraft runabout. He took me and that boat everywhere, taut me and my friends how to ski etc.

After he retired, he bought a place down in your area, Spring Hill.

We had to bury him last month, very tough thing to lose a grandpa that provided me with some of my best memories growing up.

My father was in the Navy so were were raised around water for the first ten years of my life.

I later learned to waterski when some neighbors took us to their place on Lake Texoma when I was maybe twelve.

My step-father and mother bought a boat, a Sea-King with 75HP Evinrude, when I was maybe thirteen. Did a lot of skiing behind that before we sold it.

When I got out of the house I took SCUBA lessons and becamce certified. When wife and I were dating I told her that being on the lake was importent to me. I owned a 15' Glastron tri-hull and we ran the snot out of it.

We got married and located a place at Texoma that served us well. We upgraded to our present boat in 2002.

We really like the fact that it is a family activity. The S and D team can bring friends but only with the approval of the other sibling.

When we get down to the lake the kids are free to roam about the place. We have taught many kids how to ski and of course the tubing is pretty easy.

I am working with the kids more this summer on piloting the boat and putting it on the trailer.