Looking to buy my first Rinker, 2000 340, thoughts and opinions

Cableguy Greg

You were correct about the engine room in the FV340 being smaller. There was a 340 at my marina that was for sale and my mechanic, who used to work at the Rinker dealer, told me to stay away from it for that reason. It is somewhat difficult to do work in there. Good to see that you are going after the 342. Good luck and enjoy her!

Dream_Inn

Well, I'm a little late to the conversation (guess my excuse is I've been boating).  I've done a lot of maintenance work in both boats and will say it is extremely tough to work on the 340.  Very difficult to change out the impellers, especially on the stbd engine.  As far as the 342s go, well, I'd recommend a year newer because they changed the hull as mentioned (maybe that one has the newer, if so, then ok).  This difference allows about a foot more in the engine room.  The ledge aft in upper part of the engine room is smaller with more floor space in the front of the engines.  I've looked at some boats in Colonial beach when I looked for my prior Rinker 310 that we had owned. 

Good luck and you came to the right place for some honest answers.  Another thing that can be an issue is cracks in the bottom of the arches (from water getting trapped and freezing in the bottom) and pitting around the light plates on the arches (difference of metals used causing this).

As far as noise in the v-berth, your A/C is under you in the 342 as well.  Something to consider. 

Let us know how things go & welcome to the forum!

TonyWalker

Re the air conditioner location,  I think it is perfect.  The rumbling lulls me to sleep.

Liberty44140

One comment on the Ac location. When we had a 2001, 310fv I could really hear and feel the Ac while sleeping. On the 2006 342 I barely notice it is there. I am a very light sleeper, both boats have the Ac under the v birth. So something is different, improved on the 342. 

Michael T

....the compressors have changed a lot over the years and Rinker is using a higher quality foam bedding. I am a very light sleeper and even though Rinker up-graded the AC unit on our 2014 EC 360 from the normal 16K BTU to 18K BTU and it is right under the front berth I never heard or felt it. The only way I could tell it was on was by the sound of the air.  The AC was under the front berth of our 2013 EC 310 and I never heard/felt it either.

Volkl1996

The AC was under the forward bed in my last two boats, and I never really noticed it. I saw the AC was in the aft-cabin on the 340, which I wasn't a fan of for accessibility. The hot water heater was in the aft-cabin as well. Where is the hot water heater on a 342?

Regarding arch cracks, yes I've seen some cracking on the 342 i now have a contract on, at the top stern side, it's my guess mostly from the different metals, aluminum with stainless screws for the canvas. My research suggests the only resolution for this is to remove the arch and have it repainted. Not a big deal for me at this point.

The last digits in the hull numbers suggest this one is the newer modified hulll. Is there another way to verify this? The boat is currently on the hard, is there something I can check for?

Can anyone tell me what the refrigerator and ice maker doors are made of on the outside of the boat?On all the ones I looked at they were cracked and faded bad. I'm not a fan of an ice maker on the outside of a boat, I really don't get why manufacturers still do that.

LaRea

The water heater is in the engine room.  You have the newer hull if there's enough space in front of the engines to comfortably do maintenance work (something like two feet to the forward bulkhead).

Dream_Inn

LaRea is correct, if you can stand in front of the engines, then it has the modified hull.  2 feet is about right.

Water heater, on stbd side in engine room.

Fride/ice maker, there are replacements out there for door fronts.  As far as ice maker, I never thought I'd like one.  But, I change out the water each week in the tank and we use our ice maker all the time.  Very nice getting to the boat and full of ice.

Sounds like you are well on your way to buying a nice boat.  Maybe we'll see you on the bay this summer!  We'll be passing by the Potomac next Friday.

summerx

for at $13k price difference, I think the 342 was a much better choice.  especially if you know the canvas needs replaced on the 340, that adds a few thousand to that boat right up front.  Best of luck with it!

Cableguy Greg

If you can get the door front off, you can get a piece of stainless steel to update them. I bought a piece of brushed stainless from metalsdepot.com for $25 plus shipping to replace the faded panel on my fridge. It turned out great.

Stodge

We're going on our 3rd season with our 342 and we love her.  I haven't been on a 340 (don't see a lot here) but I think the 342 is the way to go.

06Rinker270

@Volkl1996 I am at the Colonial Beach Yacht Center, my 3rd season now.  Good luck on the purchase and let me know if you make it that way.  The 342 is my next boat.

I have a blue hull, lots of upkeep but looks so good when she shines.  Covered slip helps me as well.  

Volkl1996

06Rinker270 said:

@Volkl1996 I am at the Colonial Beach Yacht Center, my 3rd season now.  Good luck on the purchase and let me know if you make it that way.  The 342 is my next boat.

I have a blue hull, lots of upkeep but looks so good when she shines.  Covered slip helps me as well.  

Hi @06Rinker270, I really do like Colonial Beach Yacht Center. Kyle comes across as a good man. I like the entire Colonial Beach area and I'm looking forward to boating on the Potomac. I probably saw your boat as I spent a lot of time walking the docks. I would definitely go with a covered slip, he currently has one available.

I called  Stepps Harbour View Marina today. They have covered slips as well. Do you know anything about this Marina?


I will probably stay one month in the Williamsburg area as I get to know the boat before I take it out on the bay.

Volkl1996

Cableguy Greg said:

If you can get the door front off, you can get a piece of stainless steel to update them. I bought a piece of brushed stainless from metalsdepot.com for $25 plus shipping to replace the faded panel on my fridge. It turned out great.

Hmmmm, I like this. Is there a secret to getting the panel off?

Volkl1996

LaRea said:

The water heater is in the engine room.  You have the newer hull if there's enough space in front of the engines to comfortably do maintenance work (something like two feet to the forward bulkhead).

Yup, I have not been on the 342 in a couple weeks but I do distinctly recall there was more room in front of the engines then there was on the 340. Sea trial and hull survey are scheduled for this Friday.


When I reviewed the service records I noticed a lot of Generator Service, mostly carburetor and fuel related. Is this a known issue with this make model generator? The shop put the boat back in the water today and noted issues with the generator again.

LaRea

Most people who run the generator regularly (at least 2-3 times a month) have no problems with them.

summerx

I agree.  try to start the generator each weekend I am out, and let it run for at least a few minutes and that seems to help.

LaRea

Are you getting a pre-purchase survey?  Be sure to have the surveyor check for moisture in the swim platform.  

Sea trial: make sure the boat cruises comfortably around 30 mph (~3800 rpm, from memory).  You should hit 40 at WOT.  Looks like perfect weather this Friday!

You need the boat out of the water to inspect the outdrives for corrosion -- especially around the hub, just in front of the forward propeller.  The general condition of the outdrive paint will tell you a lot about the boat's maintenance history.  If you have questions, post photos here.

06Rinker270

@Volkl1996 kyle is a good guy.  I am about halfway down left side of covered slips on D dock between a 2002/3 Rinker 342 and a Sea Ray 340.  Shoot me a message next time your there, say hello.

That part of the River offers a lot of fun anchorage and overnight trips.  Swan point, shark tooth island, Gilligans, Coles Point, etc etc.  Yacht Club plans a few trips every year as well.  This will be my first year with them.

We love it at CB, so much fun stuff to do.  For example, this weekend is the Potomac River Festival.  Live music, woman who shouldnt be wearing bikini's serving cold beer, BBQ, fun stuff.  Bike fest is a huge event in October that is tons of fun as well.  City shoots off fireworks on the 4th.  They call it the city of Golf Carts as many choose to drive those instead of cars.  Its a small Beach community.   Also has tons of rental houses for friends and family who come to visit.  Dockside Restaurant at the marina is a blast.  Kayak rentals.  Ethanol Free gas, pump out.  Great group of people at the marina.  Beaches are fun to attend as well.   

Stepps Harbor View is....old.  Not sure if you know but it used be a large Rinker Dealer and still have experience Rinker Techs on staff.  Owners are very nice but it was too run down for me.  When you go look you will see the amount of neglected boats is depressing.  Its like a Rinker Graveyard, but they are all fairly new.  Very strange.  I was seriously considering moving there because of the price but just couldnt do it.     

Hope to meet you soon.

Volkl1996

On my previous boats I always tried to run their generator often and put a load on it. So your comments make sense to me.

Can you tell me where on the swim platform and/or the hull the check for moisture?

Sea trial and survey is scheduled for Friday afternoon. I received an email from the broker today stating they now need to do it at 8 o'clock in the morning because of tidal issues at the marina, I can't get there until noon, which is why we scheduled it for the afternoon. I said no, that I need to be present during the survey  and sea trial.  So we'll see where that goes. I'm a bit surprised the broker suggested moving forward without me being present.

Volkl1996

06Rinker270 said:

@Volkl1996 kyle is a good guy.  I am about halfway down left side of covered slips on D dock between a 2002/3 Rinker 342 and a Sea Ray 340.  Shoot me a message next time your there, say hello.

That part of the River offers a lot of fun anchorage and overnight trips.  Swan point, shark tooth island, Gilligans, Coles Point, etc etc.  Yacht Club plans a few trips every year as well.  This will be my first year with them.

We love it at CB, so much fun stuff to do.  For example, this weekend is the Potomac River Festival.  Live music, woman who shouldnt be wearing bikini's serving cold beer, BBQ, fun stuff.  Bike fest is a huge event in October that is tons of fun as well.  City shoots off fireworks on the 4th.  They call it the city of Golf Carts as many choose to drive those instead of cars.  Its a small Beach community.   Also has tons of rental houses for friends and family who come to visit.  Dockside Restaurant at the marina is a blast.  Kayak rentals.  Ethanol Free gas, pump out.  Great group of people at the marina.  Beaches are fun to attend as well.   

Stepps Harbor View is....old.  Not sure if you know but it used be a large Rinker Dealer and still have experience Rinker Techs on staff.  Owners are very nice but it was too run down for me.  When you go look you will see the amount of neglected boats is depressing.  Its like a Rinker Graveyard, but they are all fairly new.  Very strange.  I was seriously considering moving there because of the price but just couldnt do it.     

Hope to meet you soon.

I remember seeing your boat. Yeah, I got that impression from looking at the pictures of Stepps. Thanks for the feedback. 

Volkl1996

LaRea said:

Are you getting a pre-purchase survey?  Be sure to have the surveyor check for moisture in the swim platform.  

Sea trial: make sure the boat cruises comfortably around 30 mph (~3800 rpm, from memory).  You should hit 40 at WOT.  Looks like perfect weather this Friday!

You need the boat out of the water to inspect the outdrives for corrosion -- especially around the hub, just in front of the forward propeller.  The general condition of the outdrive paint will tell you a lot about the boat's maintenance history.  If you have questions, post photos here.

Thanks, the boat was on the hard the two times I inspected it and the outdrives looked great. Of course, the bottom was just painted and the outdrives were painted as well, but I saw no signs of corrosion or any damage. 

LaRea

Volkl1996 said:

Can you tell me where on the swim platform and/or the hull the check for moisture?

The swim platform has two half-inch drain holes.  On mine, the insides of those holes were never sealed, and I didn't know it until ten years later when the decking of the swim platform started getting soft.  

The surveyor should have a moisture meter.  Just have him check the deck.  Also, walk around on the swim platform and see if anything feels soft or has a lot of "give" when you bounce up and down on your feet.

06Rinker270

@LaRea did you have to replace the whole platform?

LaRea

No, it's just something I discovered when I sold the boat.  

06Rinker270

@Volkl1996 got any pics for us to look at of the possible new boat?

Michael T

The surveyor took many dozens of moisture readings all over the 360  I just sold and took pictures of the readings! The transom and swim platform attachment locations should have moisture readings taken. IF there are problems in the transom area - $$$$$

Volkl1996

Volkl1996

Volkl1996