Thanks some 3288 questions.-gctid358455

[Guest]

Hi all,

It looks like the 3288 is going to be our next boat. I have read a ton of info here and would like to SINCERELY thank you all!

We are actually leaning toward a gasoline powered boat for maintainence and repower cost reasons.

My preference is the 351 powered boats but I have not seen one in person yet. Was there only one gearbox brand / model used with the 351 engines and what was it?

All of the 351 powered boats I have inquired about have been Mercruiser powered, were there any others? Did Bayliner ever use a 350 instead of the 305's (Volvo or US Marine)?

Thanks,

Mike

Fife Lake MI

[CaptUgly]

Mike,

I can understand wanting gas engines but, are you sure you want that much horsepower? That boat isn't going to be fast no matter how much horsepower you put in it. That hull was designed for twin 140s. What you save in price buying the gas engines you are going to pay for in fuel if you go with the big engines. I have heard that the 305s are really too much. I'm new here but I thought I'd start the discussion.

[Guest]

cmcmjk wrote:


All of the 351 powered boats I have inquired about have been Mercruiser powered

Really? I have Ford 351's in mine, but they were not marinized by Mercruiser. The name escapes me, it's in the manual, which is in the boat. They start easily and have a very smooth idle with the Holley carbs, although I suspect they run a little rich. I have run them at 4000 rpm once, but usually putt around in the 3-3500 rpm range.

[Guest]

Mike,

To the best of my knowledge the 351 (5.8L) Ford Windsor powered 3288s were built mainly, if not exclusively in Valdosta Georgia, and were in the later years of production. I don't believe that any of the 32's came with the 350 (5.7L) GM engines, but had the 305 GM instead. The Ford engines were marinized by US Marine, but there is probably a Mercury Marine connection because the plates on my transmission cite "Mercruiser". Because they were later production models I believe they all had the Hurth ZF 630A transmissions. Just what company did the marinizing really doesn't matter. The engines are produced by Ford or GM, the actual marinizing is very minor.

I believe that the 305 GMs are rated at 225 HP. The 351 Fords are rated at 236HP @ 4200 RPM. The Fords develop a bit more torque but at a bit lower RPM than the small block Chevs. Really not a great deal of difference in overall performance and economy.

The upside of either of the two engine choices is that they will allow you to attain speeds in excess of 20 knots with a reasonable amount of displacement weight. The downside is that the fuel consumption is high at these speeds, and is relatively high at lower speeds because of reduced engine/prop combination efficiency. The 32 has a semi displacement hull, and these hulls by their very nature are a compromise.

I'm not sure why you might prefer the Ford engines. I do, for my own reasons, but I wouldn't let that prevent me from buying a pristine '32 with GMs. You really can't go wrong with either and the '32 design is without equal. It's like having a 40 foot boat in a 32 foot hull.

Good hunting.

[Guest]

I would spend a few bucks more and get deisel

[iceclimber]

I suppose there is no point to voting against a diesel vs. gas thread?

The 305 GM engines are probably the most common gas motors out there, and yes they tend to be rated for 225 horse. The Ford motors are probably just as dependable but considerably harder to find. One of the nice things about the GM motors is they are so easy to find parts for. I can walk into a tiny parts store in Athol, Id and find things like gaskets. I don't know that I'd call the 305 engines "too much" but they will push the boat along at semi hilarious speeds. The biggest consideration is how you use your boat. For me, I don't go far enough (or use it often enough) to justify anything but the gas engines. Also, I like to get where I'm going.

[iceclimber]

http://www.bayliner32xx.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=1&tabid=19

Here is some informal info that I came across, no mention of the Ford motors but I have seen boats for sale with 351's. I have no idea if they were repowered or what. There was a captain on here recently that repowered his 305's and I seem to recall that he ended up with 350's because no one is rebuilding 305's any more. If I had to get new motors I would look at the 6 cyl Vortecs for the space savings and/or plain old 350's.

[Guest]

As Robert said, the 351 came stock but only in a small number of boats. I have one of them.

One word about the Hurth 630A....it sounds like a bucket of bolts, especially the starboard one that has an extra reversing shaft as both engines turn the same rotation and the transmission converts to the counter rotation. Don't let the noise worry you, these tranny's are tough as bulls. The clatter at low speed is a result in the large gears and light oil they use. Once they rev up they do quiet down a bit.

[Guest]

This is what I like about this fourm! Good answers from folks that actually have the boat we want.

I fully understand semi displacment hulls (I actually wanted a Mainship II before considering the 32XX) and realize the additional horsepower is not for speed (although at this point in life the ability to get back to port at the speed a gas powered boat can acheive will be nice). I subscribe to the "there is no replacment for displacment" theory for engines and like the flat torque band that the 351 produces.

The diesels would be wonderful but the age and expense / parts availability scare me. I can get a Ford or Chevy long block for less than $2000, get parts very easily and know how to fix a gas engine.

Condition is a major motovation and a clean boat with 305 Chevy's would not be out of the question. What transmission was behind these motors? Two of the boats I looked at last fall had the US Marine 305's but I would not have got in the bilge to look at the tags on the trans because the boat was not worth looking at any further.

So the 351's should have a Hurth 630 trans, correct?

What trans is behind the 305's and how does it stand up?

Any additional input is welcome!

Thanks,

Mike,

Fife Lake MI

[CapMartin]

I have the Volvo 305s in my 1986 3270. Volvo MS3 transmission I believe.

All original equipment. So far so good...

[cosmo777]

lolar3288 wrote:
One word about the Hurth 630A....it sounds like a bucket of bolts, especially the starboard one that has an extra reversing shaft as both engines turn the same rotation and the transmission converts to the counter rotation. Don't let the noise worry you, these tranny's are tough as bulls. The clatter at low speed is a result in the large gears and light oil they use. Once they rev up they do quiet down a bit.

I can't speak to the large gears and light oil, but it sounds to me like the damper plate is worn out.

Replace it and that bucket of bolts sound will go away...

[Guest]

At 32' a gas engines are fine. If you can get diesel at the same price, that might change your decision though. I'm running chevy 350s, no problems here.

[Guest]

cosmo777 wrote:
I can't speak to the large gears and light oil, but it sounds to me like the damper plate is worn out.

Replace it and that bucket of bolts sound will go away...

You can make them quiet if you want to spend the money on Flex Plates

[Guest]

Gas 351s here in a '92 with just over 320 hours....and have the "bucket of bolts sounding" transmissions. Doesn't bother me now that I am used to it.

Love the boat and all the space.

[cosmo777]

Spitfire wrote:
Gas 351s here in a '92 with just over 320 hours....and have the "bucket of bolts sounding" transmissions. Doesn't bother me now that I am used to it.

It may not bother you, but what about your transmissions? Those damper/flex plates are there for a reason. They smooth out the herky-jerky rotation of a 4-cyl engine at low RPMs. If you're not damping out that rotation, its being translated into the gears of your transmission. IMO, that only mean a lessened life expectancy of your transmission.