[Chinny]

I was actually fortunate to tour two 3100's this morning. Both for sale and only 10 feet apart. I was surprised with how roomy they feel once you are on them. Pictures alone don't do them justice. I was amazed by the beam of the cockpit, and more impressed by how spacious below decks seemed. Both were the same year (2000) and both had Crusaders (350 hp). 
One of the boats I got on had an after market swim platform, so the owner could pull his inflatable dinghy up on it. Has anyone else done that, and what does it do to efficiency in cruising? I'm use to towing a painter behind me with the dinghy attached in my previous life as a sailor and was curious to how this actually was in theory having it hoisted up. 
Another question I had deals with just that. Fuel efficiency. the broker mentioned you only burned about 18 gph at cruise, but I have seen others post here that it's about 32 gph at 3200rpm. where in lies the truth? He may have been referring to a slow, river cruise speed.

Thanks in advance for all!

Christian Sava
Newburyport, MA

[Misdirection]

32 gph at 3200 rpm for twin Crusader 454's seems directionally correct.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

[ReelMagic]

I owned a 1997 31 Open w/FI454 (320 HP) Crusaders for 10 years and travel quite a bit. My experience over the years was around 32 GPH @ 3200 RPM.... NOt sure where the 18 GPH came from unless it was for 1 engine @ 3400-3600.. (36 GPH for twins).. Thart would make sense...

[Chinny]

I owned a 1997 31 Open w/FI454 (320 HP) Crusaders for 10 years and travel quite a bit. My experience over the years was around 32 GPH @ 3200 RPM.... NOt sure where the 18 GPH came from unless it was for 1 engine @ 3400-3600.. (36 GPH for twins).. Thart would make sense...

I'm not sure either, unless I completely misunderstood him. The fuel burn you quoted seems more accurate from all else I have heard. Did you find the boat easy enough to handle by yourself? Mainly getting on and off the dock. I'm use to single handing bigger sailboats (on and off a mooring primarily) and my current 24 foot hydra Sports cc, but wasn't sure about this boat. I'm sure the twin inboards make it a lot easier once I get use accustomed to driving it. Another question had to do with stability and roll. With the deep-V and the deadrise as it is, are you constantly adjusting the tabs to keep her flat in the "roll" plane?

Thanks,


Christian

[ReelMagic]

I found the 31 very easy to handle around docks.... Once you get use to twins you will agree... I now own a 38 Open and find this boat easy as well.. My wife is somewhat disabled and many times I dock or leave the dock by myself... WRT to stability the boat is very good when cruising... I rarely used trim tabs to adjust the trim of the boat... It runs relatively flat and visibility is great....When drifting in a beam sea it does roll but not a lot... Overall the boat(s) performed well under all circumstances....Great choice as is the 38 Open...

[Chinny]

Thanks a lot and I appreciate your insight. The only way to really know is to talk directly to people who have run them. The broker can only tell me so much. Not sure which direction I’ll go, but when I have 2 for sale literally a mile from my house, both year 2000’s, with comparable engine time on their respective Crusader 7.4’s those would perhaps be logical choices. One has older navionics and no autopilot, but is less expensive. The other has dual SIMRAD touch screen MFD’s, an autopilot, and an add-on larger swim platform for his dinghy. Which he is also including..... decisions.

Thanks again!

Christian

[Chinny]

Thanks a lot and I appreciate your insight. The only way to really know is to talk directly to people who have run them. The broker can only tell me so much. Not sure which direction I’ll go, but when I have 2 for sale literally a mile from my house, both year 2000’s, with comparable engine time on their respective Crusader 7.4’s those would perhaps be logical choices. One has older navionics and no autopilot, but is less expensive. The other has dual SIMRAD touch screen MFD’s, an autopilot, and an add-on larger swim platform for his dinghy. Which he is also including..... decisions.

Thanks again!

ChristianI  guess the plot thickens now as there are now THREE 3100’s for sale in my town. The 2 vintage 2000’s have Crusader 7.4’s and the 2002 has the 8.1’s. All very close in hours and overall very similar boats. Prices match up well too. Should I be focusing on the bigger engine, or is there really very little difference? Would it be better for resale down the line and how does the maintenance on the 7.4 Crusaders compare to the 8.1’s? Any and all advice is welcomed. 

Thanks,

Christian

[Sans Peur]

Three things you can't have to much of:
Money!
Tits!
Horsepower!

Always go with the bigger engines. You don't have to use it but it's there if you need it. Plus they don't work as hard to pull the same load.

[ReelMagic]

Wouldn't argue that bigger is better but the 454 Crusaders have and continue to be bullet proof.. Many,, many years of service installed on too many boats to count.... I had a 1997 31 Open w/twin 454 (7.4 liter) FI Crusaders and over 10 years of use and more than 1500 hrs of cruising the only thing needed was raw water pumps and elbows... M2C

[jclark003]

They are both good engine platforms. All things equal I would favor 8.1s as they generate higher torque over a broader RPM range, reportablly developing better throttle response and fuel economy. You also may get a little better resale.

But as Reel Magic indicates the 454 is good too so my focus would be on the boat condition, rigging, and how well it has been maintained. You may like the 8.1's better but that won't overcome endless maintenance and repairs if the boat hasn't been kept up.

Good luck and let us know if you end up being a new 31 owner.