Need Advice on buying a 320 tournament

[FLYBOY]

Hello all, I am looking at buying a 1995 320 tournament with Marine power 454's with about 1250 hrs on them. I am going to look at the boat this weekend, just looking for some feedback as to what I should be concerned about i.e. any known problem areas with this make of boat. Thanks in advance I really like the boat and hope it works out.

[FLYBOY]

Anyone???

[Douglas Fairchild]

I can't offer any advice on the 32. But I can recommend you get David Pascoes book "Mid Size Power Boats". Best boat book I ever read. It will not make you a surveyor but it will be darn close. As far as the engine the 454 is a better engine than the 502. They are pushing too much horsepower out of the latter and they are not as reliable. In my opinion and that of others Crusader is a better motor than Mercruiser. The less horsepower they get out of the motor the more reliable. Good luck.

[harbordan]

I have my 2001 340 up for sale. Contact Dan 904 923 7025

[flbluerunner]

I am on my 2nd 38 Open. Luhrs are what they are and a great price for what you get.
The 32 is a similar layout and so long as the size fits your needs I would think it would be a good boat.
I lean towards deisels and with some diligent shopping you should be able to find a low hour boat at a good price with deisels.
I have put over 4400 hours on my 2 boats and when I bought my 2006 I shopped realy hard and still came back to Luhrs.

Good luck

John :patriot:

[witeagle]

Go for Diesel, you will be happier in the long run. My surveyor's stated 'You really want this boat with diesels'. (32 Luhrs Open) My surveyor is the SAMS® Mid-Atlantic Regional Director so with his experience I really took his word.

[dnkstarr]

I had a 32 open, it was a 97. I had the 454 marine power engines. I took care of the boat and was able to put 2000 plus hours on the engines. It can be a coin toss when you have high time engines, if you stay with gas then a repower is a lot cheaper. We really like the luhrs thus the reason we stayed with Luhrs when we traded. A good survey will go a long way. You may want to consider a engine survey as well.

David

[FLYBOY]

Thanks for the responses guys, I wasn't able to go look at the boat yet, rescheduled for next week. If we decide to go forward a complete survey of boat and engines will be completed. This will be my 4th boat but all previous have been outboards(currently own a grady white adventure 208). I have heard the horror stories of luhrs particularly the 41, but from the few I have been on I have been impressed. I would love diesels but they are out of my price range and after reading david pascoes book about this size boat he actually recommends gas. The boat I am looking at is a convertible not an open. The seller claims he gets .9 MPG at cruise. I live in Destin Fl and would like to occasionally fish the rigs which are 80-100 miles away. Can I expect this boat to be able to fish this far if I slow cruise out and back? It has 272 gallon tanks. Obviously diesels have better range, but for the cost and the few times I would fish that far out I can buy alot of gas. Anyone have any thoughts?

[Esquire]

Don't believe everything you read... depending who you talk to you will hear "horror" stories about almost every make of boat on the water. Several of the second generation 41 Convertible owners have posted on this site and appear to be very happy with the boat, so it truely is a "Reader Beware" situation. Anyhow...
As far as your range in my opinion you are pushing it if you are running 100 miles out, trolling and running back with 272 gal. tank, rule of thumb I was taught was to calculate your range taking @ 30 % out of the equation for a margin of safety, that gives you @191 gals to work with, kinda tight I would say, you may want to consider adding some saddle tanks if they can fit.

[HisDoghouse]

Flyboy - I love my 2004 38 Open, and if there's any way you can afford diesels, go for it.

Don't just look at the cost of fuel, but also the other things like maintenance and reliability. As long as a diesel engine has fuel, air, heat (created by the compression by cranking the engine), they will run. Gas engines are WAY more complicated in general.

Joe

[George WPB]

I am on second 32 open- 1st was 1994 with Marine Power and last one is 99 with Crusaders. Sold first one because of engines constantly breaking down. At 800 hours had complete engine rebuild on one engine and other one started to go after numerous failures. Took chance with 99 open w/ cruisaders. It had 200 hours and now up to 700 with no breakdowns except for broken fan belt and one alternator went bad. Great boat but unfortunately am selling same as moving inland away from water but would not hesitate to purchase another one as long as it did nothave Marine Power.

[flbluerunner]

Hey,

I lived in Niceville for 5 years and fished my previous 38 Luhrs to the rigs 2 to 3 times a year.
I would spend 3 days each trip fishing hard, even with 560 gallon the trip pushed my fuel capacity.
I would be leary making that trip with the fuel capacity you mentioned.
The 1/3rd out 1/3rd back and 1/3rd in reserve rule is a very safe rule to follow.
My old 38 had 10% in each of the 3 tanks that I could not use.

Sea ya

John :patriot: