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Rinker 342 on Lake Erie

DanaParshallDanaParshall Member Posts: 12 ✭
in Rinker Express Cruisers Forum

I am new to this forum and looking for helpful advice/information.  I am closing on my new (new to me!) 2004 Rinker 342 at the end of this month.  As I am sure everyone is, I am looking forward to the weather breaking in the Great lakes area and getting my new toy out on the water.  I am new to Lake Erie and would appreciate advice from others.


Also - I cannot find WOT speed, cruise speed, and fuel burn info for the standard 5.7Merc Bravo 3 drives anywhere.  Can anyone help with that information?


Thanks in advance to all who reply.

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    JoeStangJoeStang Member Posts: 1,116 ✭✭✭✭
    http://www.boattest.com/Partners/Partner-Main.aspx?lp_id=298&T=BOAT-TEST&Videoid=430&p=0&s=

    Good review of the 342, check out the test results tab. It is for the 6.2 / B3, but the 5.7 isnt much different, just a couple less mph at a given rpm.


    2013 276 Cuddy ~ 350 MAG / B3
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    LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,538 mod
    Welcome, and congratulations!  

    With bottom paint in good condition, your boat will cruise comfortably anywhere between 27 and 34 mph, and the miles-per-gallon will be essentially the same anywhere in that range (around 1.2 mpg).  At WOT, you'll probably hit 40 mph.  With full trim tabs and the drives trimmed all the way down, you can stay on plane at speeds as low as 15 mph in heavy seas.  

    Do you have any particular concerns about the boat?  Any leaks or systems that don't work?  Questions about nav systems or maintenance?  We can help with all that stuff!
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    raybo3raybo3 Administrator Posts: 5,458 admin
    Welcome to the RBOC and good luck with your new ride........
    2002 342 Fiesta Vee PC Point Of Pines YC Revere MA. popyc.org     raybo3@live.com
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    luckydogluckydog Member Posts: 316 ✭✭✭
    Welcome and congratulations on your new boat
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    Handymans342Handymans342 Member Posts: 10,375 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well I can tell you that the ice wont melt till the end of June this year.
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    LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,538 mod
    BTW the 342 in the boattest.com report had V-drives, not stern drives.  Very different beast.  That's why they quote a cruise speed of 23 and WOT of 35, and fuel consumption of 0.96 mpg.  I don't think I've ever seen published data on the 342 with 5.7/Bravo 3.
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    Black_DiamondBlack_Diamond Member Posts: 5,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Welcome aboard and congrats on the 342. You'll love the boat. Plenty of us 342 owners here so feel free to ask questions.

    Past owner of a 2003 342FV
    PC BYC, Holland, MI
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    StodgeStodge Member Posts: 2,738 ✭✭✭✭
    Welcome aboard and congrats!  We just had our first season in our "new to us" 342.  We're almost neighbors, up in Lake St. Clair.  We took ours out to Grand Bend and found some nice 6 footers on the way home.  The 342 took them in stride.  I was happy at how much better the ride was compared to similar water and our 280.

    Best of Luck!

    2002 FV 342 on Lake St. Clair - Past Commodore SHC - Vessel Examiner USCGAUX

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    My_Dinghys_DinghyMy_Dinghys_Dinghy Member Posts: 107 ✭✭
    What part of Lake Erie? If you do the islands, make sure you study the charts, plenty of little traps around South Bass, PAY ATTENTION going into Put-in-Bay, everything is pretty clearly marked but there are plenty of little tricks to learn.
    Welcome.
    Doing a 25 year old Project Boat after a 35 year hiatus from boat ownership.
    Catch us on Kelley's Island at the Seaway or Portside Marina or Middle Bass at the State Park Marina MOST SUNDAYS and weekends in July! Call My Dinghy on Channel 16.
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    golfdoggolfdog Member Posts: 151 ✭✭✭
    Welcome and good luck with the new boat! Hope you have tons of fun on her. You'll find this is a great place to learn about your boat.
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    DanaParshallDanaParshall Member Posts: 12 ✭

    Thanks everyone for the responses.  Unfortunately, I think Handyman might be correct for us Great Lakers..... I am docking at Cedar Point this year (3 kids from 14 to 18 that are part of the clan and looking for the boat to be our family floating hotel at night on the weekends).   Anyone have any guidance or advice about the best places to dock for newbies at Put In Bay and Kelley's Island?  Also - one of the sites that contained test data raved at the docking prowess of the 342 - can anyone validate that and give me any hints on what/what not to do?

    JS - Thanks.  I had viewed the boattest.com rating.  They loved the 342 and that is one of the primary reasons I settled on it.  I am glad you find that their test is accurate.


    LaRea - thanks for the performance estimate.  No concerns yet - I will probably have lots of questions after my sea trial in April (I hope).

    Stodge - thanks for the info.  Good to know the better half will be more comfortable on the 342!


    My_DD - thank you for the warnings.  I know Put-In-Bay will be on our first to visit lists once the boat goes in the water.

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    LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,538 mod
    The 342 with outdrives is definitely easy to maneuver.  

    If you've never piloted a twin-engine boat, budget some time to practice.  One thing people often find helpful is practicing pivots and other maneuvers next to a buoy (i.e. away from the marina).  The buoy provides a stationary visual reference so you can see exactly how the boat responds to your inputs.

    Don't let anybody tell you to dock without using the steering wheel.  With twin outdrives, you can combine throttle inputs with steering inputs to make the boat do exactly what you want.  It just takes a little practice.
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    TonyWalkerTonyWalker Member Posts: 744 ✭✭✭
    There is a little device available at West Marine that mounts on the steering wheel hub that shows at a glance which direction the outdrives are pointing as well as how much.  When I put one of these on the Salt Shaker, my docking ability instantly improved.

    http://www.westmarine.com/buy/davis-instruments--rudder-position-indicator--204008

    Tony
    Salt Shaker 342
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    frenchshipfrenchship Member Posts: 1,079 ✭✭✭
    I took  Tony advice last year on the above  device for steering position and it work really good for me,
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    JC290JC290 Member Posts: 706 ✭✭✭
    Cedar point has a nice marina.PIB you have city docks which rafting is required the bouys. Millers is nice but you will need to reserve space there. Kelleys island with kids I would say the big marina on southeast corner can't remember the name there a small one on south side right down town both are nice.
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    checkmatecheckmate Member Posts: 131 ✭✭✭
    its call seaway marina. I always look for the Big blue metal roof of the marina. Its a nice quiet spot and workers their are very nice. Best part about it is that its very well protected and you dock of seawalls. No docks for kids to fall off of. You step right onto land and plenty of open grass area for kids and games.
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    My_Dinghys_DinghyMy_Dinghys_Dinghy Member Posts: 107 ✭✭
    PIB has done many things to attract boaters (One is rebuilding the docks for LESS RAFTING) PIB is best for kids, PLENTY TO DO ON THE ISLAND. Lots of history, Sundays are best for families as the revelers are leaving on the Jet or Millers. 
    Seaway is the Marina on the SE corner of Kelleys (They monitor 16 and 80) Portside (Channel 16) is a great place to dock for the day but overnight you definitely want to do Seaway since it's a bit quieter and away from the Casino (Rafting required at Casino).
    We make reservations at Portside but would rather Seaway however, Seaway is first come first serve (we come in from the central basin, Sheffield Lake). Portside is right in the center of town. Checkmate is right about the sea walls at Seaway. It's very TEEN FRIENDLY if you're spending the night. If you can, Island Fest on Kelleys is the weekend of the 17th of July. Friday and Saturday is great for kids at island fest. We'll be there that weekend but probably going to be at Portside since we already have reservations. 
    Check out PIB during founders day (3rd Sunday of June? check that to be sure).
    Middle Bass now has docks at the state park and again, quiet, kids may not appreciate Middle Bass.
    We love South Bass for the history and things to do but the weekend nights are more of a 'party atmosphere' than Sundays. It's a short trip from Cedar Point so I wouldn't plan on spending any nights on South Bass unless it's during the week OR you are sans children.

    Doing a 25 year old Project Boat after a 35 year hiatus from boat ownership.
    Catch us on Kelley's Island at the Seaway or Portside Marina or Middle Bass at the State Park Marina MOST SUNDAYS and weekends in July! Call My Dinghy on Channel 16.
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    StodgeStodge Member Posts: 2,738 ✭✭✭✭
    We're planning a Put-In-Bay trip this year and plan to dock at Middle Bass Island State Park marina then using the ferry to get to PIB.  Had a friend do that last year.  We're heading to Kelly's from there.  Haven't spent the night there yet, just a short visit.  I am planning to stay at Portside on Kelly's this time.

    2002 FV 342 on Lake St. Clair - Past Commodore SHC - Vessel Examiner USCGAUX

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    My_Dinghys_DinghyMy_Dinghys_Dinghy Member Posts: 107 ✭✭
    Take Ladd's Water Taxi between the two islands. What week you headed up there? If we are available, will come up and have a beverage and possibly be your taxi service.
    Doing a 25 year old Project Boat after a 35 year hiatus from boat ownership.
    Catch us on Kelley's Island at the Seaway or Portside Marina or Middle Bass at the State Park Marina MOST SUNDAYS and weekends in July! Call My Dinghy on Channel 16.
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    JoeStangJoeStang Member Posts: 1,116 ✭✭✭✭
    I almost stayed at Portside marina on Kelly's last summer, and kinda glad the trip got canceled because it looks like I wouldve had a rocky night there.

    Sounds like the marina on Middle Bass is more protected?

    I love PIB, but no f'in way I'd wanna try to sleep at the public docks on the weekend. Too many drunk a-holes for my taste.
    2013 276 Cuddy ~ 350 MAG / B3
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    DanD2DanD2 Member Posts: 847 ✭✭✭
    TonyWalker said:
    There is a little device available at West Marine that mounts on the steering wheel hub that shows at a glance which direction the outdrives are pointing as well as how much.  When I put one of these on the Salt Shaker, my docking ability instantly improved.

    http://www.westmarine.com/buy/davis-instruments--rudder-position-indicator--204008

    Tony
    Salt Shaker 342

    Tony,

    how does that thing work?


    DanaParshall said:

    .....  Also - one of the sites that contained test data raved at the docking prowess of the 342 - can anyone validate that and give me any hints on what/what not to do?


    Dana,

    With a 12ft beam, the 342 reacts very nicely to input from the twin screws because the engines are so far apart. Last year was the first year with ours and my wife had foot surgery so she could not help at all. For most of the summer, I docked ours all by myself.....I was totally impressed at how easy it was to dock this thing.......HOWEVER, windy days are a ****!!!!.....lol.

    If you've never docked a twin before....Practice makes perfect. Don't try to overthink it, over time it will come natural.



    No longer a boat owner.....previous boat - 2005 Rinker Fiesta Vee 342
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    StodgeStodge Member Posts: 2,738 ✭✭✭✭
    My_Dinghys_Dinghy said:
    Take Ladd's Water Taxi between the two islands. What week you headed up there? If we are available, will come up and have a beverage and possibly be your taxi service.
    It's a week long Lake Erie trip.  We're going to Maumee Bay July 31 for 3 nights, then plan to head to Middle Bass on Aug 3 for 2 nights, then to Kelly's on Aug 5 for 1 night.  Have to wait till it's a little warmer to make our reservations at Middle Bass and Kelly's.  They don't man the marina offices till April-ish.

    2002 FV 342 on Lake St. Clair - Past Commodore SHC - Vessel Examiner USCGAUX

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    My_Dinghys_DinghyMy_Dinghys_Dinghy Member Posts: 107 ✭✭
    On Vacation the week before so we'll be off the islands when you arrive. We are doing Island Fest weekend on the 17th and then on Vacation 24th-2nd. If weather is good, will be back on Kelleys on the 6th for the weekend but looks like you're vacating by then. Although my wife wants to head east after vacation one weekend. I wanted to be on South Bass for Christmas in July so took vacation for that weekend. (Didn't want to start Vacation with Island Fest and end with Christmas, would have been tough on my liver)

    Doing a 25 year old Project Boat after a 35 year hiatus from boat ownership.
    Catch us on Kelley's Island at the Seaway or Portside Marina or Middle Bass at the State Park Marina MOST SUNDAYS and weekends in July! Call My Dinghy on Channel 16.
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    TonyWalkerTonyWalker Member Posts: 744 ✭✭✭
    DanD2---strictly by gravity.  There is (must be) a weight in it that orients the thing to the up position on the wheel hub.  When you turn the wheel, gravity holds the pointer in the up positon while the marks rotate.  (or is it the other way?)  
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    DanD2DanD2 Member Posts: 847 ✭✭✭

    Tony,

    So can you tell if you're one full turn off?

    No longer a boat owner.....previous boat - 2005 Rinker Fiesta Vee 342
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    TonyWalkerTonyWalker Member Posts: 744 ✭✭✭
    Yes.

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    DanD2DanD2 Member Posts: 847 ✭✭✭
    Excellent. Sometimes I use the wheel when pulling into my slip to slide the aft onto the dock and I forget that I'm no longer straight. Screws me up when I head out....lol. For $23.00 on Amazon, it's worth a try.
    No longer a boat owner.....previous boat - 2005 Rinker Fiesta Vee 342
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    DanaParshallDanaParshall Member Posts: 12 ✭
    I wanted to thank everyone for the excellent information and advice!  I have my sea trial April 24th so (if the weather cooperates and ice is gone) I hope to be able to put many of the suggestions into action.  I will let everyone know how my sea trial goes.  Thanks again.
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    frenchshipfrenchship Member Posts: 1,079 ✭✭✭
    The rudder indicator position from Davis is great, I installed one last year and make things a lot easier.
    Paul
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    l-skynyrdl-skynyrd Member Posts: 178 ✭✭✭

    Just bought the davis rudder indicator on E-bay for 24.99 with free shipping and no sales tax. should get it Tuesday and will go to the boat Wednesday and try it out. If I can get my tab2 to connect to the wifi at marina (my slip furthest from wifi antenna) I will give a report on the device, weather and the fishing. I am guessing some of you are getting your boats in the water so  should get more active here.


    Len

    You have to love the water....

    Len & Robyn   342 FV  Freebird

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