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Looking to buy my first Rinker, 2000 340, thoughts and opinions
Volkl1996
Member Posts: 72 ✭✭
I am new to the Rinker brand. Previous boats were a 1996 Maxum 1900SCR, Maxum 2400SCR, Sea Ray 330DA and the one was a Regal 3780. I did most of the service myself so I'm a bit of a bilge rat mechanic. I liked them all. I've been out of boating for 7 years, I'm ready to get back in. I've been mostly looking at 2000/2001 Sea 340s.
I recently looked at a 2003 Rinker 342 Fiesta Vee and also a 2000 340 Fiesta Vee. I'm impressed. I'm leaning towards the 2000 mostly because of price. The 2003 is turn key and shows well. The 2000 has been on hard for 3 years, needs a good cleaning, some TLC and such, it's about have the list price though.
Both have the 350 Mags MPI with Bravo III outdrives.
Next step is offer, sea trial and survey. Are there things I should check on them, known issues, this breaks, check it out, kind of things? Are these good engines? My last two boats were 7.4s with V-Drives. How do these outdrives perform, and what about dock manaeuvering?
Though I like the Rinker, and the price is great, I finding myself not thinking "Wow!!". Guess I am here looking for assurance it's a good boat.
Thanks,
Greg
I recently looked at a 2003 Rinker 342 Fiesta Vee and also a 2000 340 Fiesta Vee. I'm impressed. I'm leaning towards the 2000 mostly because of price. The 2003 is turn key and shows well. The 2000 has been on hard for 3 years, needs a good cleaning, some TLC and such, it's about have the list price though.
Both have the 350 Mags MPI with Bravo III outdrives.
Next step is offer, sea trial and survey. Are there things I should check on them, known issues, this breaks, check it out, kind of things? Are these good engines? My last two boats were 7.4s with V-Drives. How do these outdrives perform, and what about dock manaeuvering?
Though I like the Rinker, and the price is great, I finding myself not thinking "Wow!!". Guess I am here looking for assurance it's a good boat.
Thanks,
Greg
Comments
Rinkers are great boats, by far the best value for your money and built very tough.
The new management under Kim Slocum with Randy Rinker opening a big dealership is the best news in a long time! Are you committed to the 342 or 340? If you are get in both and stand up all over the two boats to check headroom. Sit on the toilets of both boats. Do you have enough room?
If you are not committed to a 342 or 340 look at a 350or 360. IMO you will get a much, much better boat.....bigger, more stable, huge interior cabin improvement. Far more storage. If you get a 350 or 360 get at least the 377 magnums although I suggest the 496s as better suited to that size of boat. I bow thruster would be nice and joystick control would be heaven.
I respectfully suggest that you do not want to wish you had a bigger boat after two years and end-up looking again.
First thing it's all comes down to care and maintenance if buying used.
you can have a 5 year old formula in pieces from some Joe blow that has no idea how to maintain or care.
if buying new you get what you pay for ?
rinker has some nice looking boats. They might not carry all high end materials but structure of the boat is built solid and can go against any other manufacturer.
Here's the key difference: they altered the shape of the 342 hull at the stern. It's a subtle change, but the 342 will stay on plane at very slow speeds (16-18 mph). That's a huge deal when you are in rough seas and need to go slow, or even when you're slowing down to cross a big wake.
There are many other small differences in layout, maintenance access, etc. that make the 342 more usable. I'm sure that's a factor in the price of the 340 you're looking at.
If you're coming from V-drives, you'll love the performance of the 350/B3 package -- cruise speed, top speed, fuel economy, hole shot and docking. You'll be adding a few tasks to your spring maintenance list, especially when it comes to corrosion protection, but I think it's well worth it.
My 342 would get around 1.2 mpg at any speed from 28 to 34 mph. You'd never get that with V-drives.
Rinkers are known for strong hulls and great value. New or used - it's always a lot of boat for the money. Things to look for:
* water leaks in the cabin
* swim platform weak from water intrusion inside the laminate
* rust stains at the base of the bow rail stanchions (sign of water damage)
Good luck!
I'm 6'3" so headroom is always a challenge. The cabin in the 342 dId feel taller than the 340. I was able walk around without bending in the 340 though. Helm height for both was not as good as the 2000+ Sea Rays. I can't stand straight.
The 342 is priced $20k more than the 342, which makes the 340 very attractive. It's 3 years older, doesn’t have the faux wood interior like the 342 does. It will need canvas and isinglass soon, though I'll be keep the boat in a covered slip so that's not a big deal to me right now. I'm not too sure about the refrigerator being under the forward berth, I guess that's okay. I'd think it would make the bed hot.
342 has a painted blue hull whilel the 340 has a white hull.. I'm not too sure how I feel about colored hulls at this point.
There should be more head room in an EC 340 than in a 342. I sold a 2013 Rinker EC 310 and looked at a new 340. I'm pretty sure it had a lot more head room in some areas than my friend's 342 and the entry to the rear berth was better. I ended-up with a 360 because it was far more boat for the price than the 340. If a used 350 is out of the question then I would take a tape measure into both the 342 and the 340 to check the heights.
BTW, don't pay much attention to the numbers (342 or 340) as Rinker plays with them quite a bit. The 350 model became an EC360 model which I bought in 2014 which is now called an EX 370....all three models are IMO, the same size everywhere just with some different windows and trim. The 342, IMO, has less height and room inside....but don't take anyone's word for it use a tape measure. take your partner too (if you have one) to see if they like the lay-put, storage etc.
Don't make my mistake and buy too small a boat for your needs. Like you I am over 6 feet tall (6'6") so height in the cabin is a huge factor for me!
BTW doesn't the 340 have a flexsteel couch in the cabin that slides out to make another bed whereas the 342 just has a bench seat with a filler cushion?
It all boils-down to personal choice.
I should have looked harder - the first time!
Ours is lift kept, well cared for and looks like new. My only issue is the faux teak cabin deck material. It suffered a lot during a fit of cabin leaks (rainwater) that plagued the boat from new. We got the final leak fixed two or three years back and now the boat is dry as a bone inside. The cabin deck is now scheduled for resurfacing.
The Salt Shaker is my first boat. I have no plans to up size of downsize.
The stock drives were an early Volvo design and that was notorious for being a maintenance nightmare. I wound up replacing these lousy drives with the new (at the time) Volvo Ocean X drives when the original design let us down for the final time. At the same time I replaced the engines with new Volvo 300's on the notion that getting the complete set of running gear would be economically better. Our boat is now bulletproof so to speak.
Since the boat you are looking at has the Mags and Bravos, these items are not issues for you.
This is the ideal boat for our purposes and I do not think you will be disappointed with the 340.
Tony
Salt Shaker 342
PC BYC, Holland, MI
I'm 6'3 and my son is 6'4 and we don't have any headroom issues in the cabin.
If you have any specific questions I can answer let me know.
How do you like the refrigerator being under the bed? Do you find that convenient or not? Does it get hot while sleeping?
Note on the 342, the engine room was extended on the 2004+ models by moving the transom back further.
PC BYC, Holland, MI
Rinker A/C on both the 340 & 342 are awesome...we have a small fan that we use at night to keep the air moving. No issues...and we love our A/C for sleeping and it has been great.
I personally didn't have much of an opinion on the refrigerator under the bed but interestingly enough my brand new dock neighbor has a 342 ... Wife thought our fridge under the bed layout worked better for her.
That said I have owned the boat for 6 years and it's been great for our family.
The 342 I looked at has a blue hull, that was painted over with blue paint about 6 years ago. It looks pretty sharp, just not sure about a colored hulll and upkeep.
You are right about the galley design, that's something I overlooked, I'm pretty much okay with both and don't really see much of an advantage or disadvantage to either.
Don't get me wrong, they are both great boats. And a price difference of $20K will buy a lot of boat fuel!
The 342 has the AC under the V-berth. Heat wasn't an issue, and vibration was minor.
Looks like you have a colored hulll as well? What year?
I had my Rinker surveyed before I bought her brand new. The Surveyor was really impressed with the build. He couldn't believe the hull and deck was glassed together which he says normally only is done with boats worth much, much more.
Rinker is a tough boat without the high price tag.
Boat Name: King Kong
"Boat + Water = Fun"
@Volkl1996 for pricing comparisons I respectfully suggest googling the Rinker 340 Fiesta Vee and Rinker 342.....and looking at similar models on Yachtworld, Boatrader etc. This often gives you a good idea of the year vs condition vs price. Happy hunting. I do think you are already on the right track by looking at Rinkers.
342 is listed for $53k. I've negotiatedone down to $45k. Turn key, shows well, 13 years of professional service records plus I know the shop, very reputable. I've already talked to the shop and the mechanic about the boat, and they are impressed with it. They've done the service since new. They use to do some of the service on my Sea Ray 330DA. It's currently on the hard as well.
We have another member here who keeps his boat at Colonial Beach -- @06Rinker270 (I'm sure you'll meet him).
Good luck with the offer!