[JonesE]

I'm late to this thread, but my input isn't related directly to the 3208's, but their connection to the ZF transmissions/V-drives. 2 months ago I purchased a 1998 4000 Express with the same 3208's and just over 1500 hours, It surveyed well with minimal issues on Long Island. In running down to Annapolis from Long Island, we were cruising up the Delaware Bay running about 1800RPM's when I start smelling rubber burning. My buddy opens the engine access and rubbery black smoke pours out of the engine room. I had noticed the RPM's creeping up on the port engine with no change in throttle position or speed and the problem was the rubber damper assembly between the port Cat and the ZF trans was failing. Was able to make headway at idle on the port engine and discovered the same issue on the starboard side shortly afterwards while running the starboard engine at 1500 RPM's. We limped into Hancock Harbor Marina on the Cohancey River and they pulled the boat that day. I had the boat trailered down to a marina in Iuka, MS for repairs. I had asked my surveyor before purchase about the damper issue having looked at another Tiara who had completed the repair a year prior and warned me of the potential issue. My surveyor said unless the boat had experienced a hard grounding (or two), the coupler should not be an issue on a boat with only 1500 hours. I can't blame him for not being able to see inside the transmissions and the sea trial revealed no issues. The props were in good shape, but once it was on the hard at Hancock Harbor, a local Yanmar mechanic named Tim Silva (excellent mechanic and person I would highly recommend) pointed out to me the port strut was bent and the bearing showed the direction of wear consistent with the angle of the bent strut. This condition was NOT revealed in the survey and likely contributed to the early demise of said rubber damper due to increased strain on the drivetrain.
Sorry for the long post, but my advice is to look beyond the engines (running gear) for potential problems on a used Tiara or any other similar boat.