34 Sea Vee vs. 34 Venture

[fastcat2]

Thanks!!! All of the info. was very informative, and I appreciate it!!!

[solarfry]

I used to 32 CV with twin Merc 275s. Solid boat topped out at 55. Took it out of Haulover Inlet on a falling tide with 30MPH easterly wind. Had to punch it to get over the rollers at mouth o inlet. Boat just picked up lifted over the 6' rollers and flew over them till we were outside and turned south. Had we not floored it we would have drowned at the inlet. Trailered it to CA and somebody liked it more than I did so they bought it. Will never trailer that size boat crosscountry again. Every cop on road wants to give you a tickit.

You cannot buy a finer vessel.

[PETRAFIED]

I have a 34 Sea Vee with twin 275 Verado's. The boat used to top in the 50's but I repropped it and now get 48-49. The boat fishes very and is extremely well built and thought out. In my book it has plenty of power but it depends on your expectations (I prefer to keep it in the water). I towed a 17' HPX with 4 guys and full gear to the Berry Islands 186nm at 30 knots turning between 48 and 5200 rpm. It's my second Sea Vee and I will buy another.

[rybovich18]

Originally Posted by Ris-K

My 31 jupiter falls of plane at about 25/26mph depending on fuel load with no tabs. Are you using tabs to stay on plane at that speed?

Ris,
If your 31 Jupiter falls off plain at less than 25 mph you may want to consider different wheels. My 31 Jupiter with 4-blades does fine at anything over 20-21. I saw a big change from 3 blades to 4.

[gurdski]

I have a venture 34, twin 275 verados, and a tower. The boat was vented by venture, it made a world of difference. I have been through multiple sets of props(rev 4 17, enertia 19, 17, mirage 17, 18) The best performance so far was the mirage 18's. It is no speed demon, but half full of fuel trimmed up 51 mph I thought was pretty good. I have been told that Yamaha SWII props 17 would be the best prop. My friend has gone through extensive calculations and pleading with me to change for my own benefit which I am in the process of doing. The biggest problems I see is in a big trailing sea you can stuff the bow and the economy. My friends whitewater gets 2.0 mpg at cruise with twin 250 four stroke yamahas, where I am at 1.1. I did sea trial a 34 sea vee with twin 275's before i bought the venture. The economy was about the same. I felt the venture was a little better in a head sea.
good luck

[Ris-K]

Originally Posted by rybovich18

Ris,
If your 31 Jupiter falls off plain at less than 25 mph you may want to consider different wheels. My 31 Jupiter with 4-blades does fine at anything over 20-21. I saw a big change from 3 blades to 4.

Thank you for the reply on the 4 blades, I was getting ready to ask Kerno that same exact question, with what seems to be a depth of knowledge. I have the stock 3 blades props whatever that is? I have had the boat about 6 months and still getting to know her. I really don't care about top end, just want to go 30 knots comfortably in nice weather and the ability to slow down, stay on plane, and get home safe when it kicks up.
Please let me know what props you are running in more detail?


Regards,

[Boynton25]

I can't comment first hand on the ride of the 34 SeaVee, but I have owned the 1997 34 Venture for almost a year (hull #12). I repowered with twin Suzuki 300's and the boat runs great. WOT speed is 50 MPH....not Yellowfin speed but certainly fast enough for me. I was told that my 1997 hull is probably heavier than the ones made in subsequent years. I was told by Nick (Nick's Creative Marine) that he rigged one with Suzuki 300's that did 54 MPH. I can cruise around 33 MPH at 1.5 MPG. I also have no problem running at low speeds. In the ICW, I can run at 25MPH on plane with no problem. The ride of the Venture is outstanding and the finish is the best I have seen. I can also tell you that the people at Venture have been incredibly helpful in assisting me in my refit. Although I didn't buy the boat from them, the have ordered all sorts of parts and spent a lot of time on the phone answering questions.

Bottom line, they are both fine boats and you can't go wrong with either. If you find a great deal, I would jump on either of them.

[kerno]

Originally Posted by Ris-K

Thank you for the reply on the 4 blades, I was getting ready to ask Kerno that same exact question, with what seems to be a depth of knowledge. I have the stock 3 blades props whatever that is? I have had the boat about 6 months and still getting to know her. I really don't care about top end, just want to go 30 knots comfortably in nice weather and the ability to slow down, stay on plane, and get home safe when it kicks up.
Please let me know what props you are running in more detail?


Regards,

You need to get to know Ken at PropGods. He's a frequent poster here under the name of Ken2. He''s done several Jupiter 31's and sure knows his stuff. I'll tell him to get in touch with you.

[doradosteve]

BOTH are outstanding boats.

One thing that I do not like on the Seavee is access to the head. Rather than side entry like other CC's in its class, they have designed it to enter forward. That provides great engine access for the inboard guys, but if your powered by outboards, I cant imagine running at any speed with that hatch/door open.

Every time someone wants to use the head, or even grab a duffle bag, you severely reduce the visibility of the driver. Seems unsafe to me. With the 39, they have created a slide to the side access which I think is a great solution.

Any Seavee owner want to chime in on that?

[spearfish3]

I cannot imagine not stopping to use the head. So I really see no problem. We have the diesel 34 and have no problem with the front openning hatch because if it is open you are usually at idle or a stop.

[Bamboozle]

doradosteve, for me it is nice having the rod storage on the side of the console over having a side door. I am 5'11" and weigh 250lbs and trying to get into the console through a side door is not fun, you have better access through the front. We do a lot of Bahama trips and take lots of gear and boxes and I could not imagine trying to pack that gear through a side door. This boat does not have a head the last boat did, it never got used. When the front door is open you do have to look over the side of the console if you are moving. It would be nice to have the door that is on the 39 on the smaller boats, you do not lose the rods on the side and the door does not obstruct your view, but it really is not a big deal because any time the door is open the boat is either idle or stopped

[Venture34]

Originally Posted by PETRAFIED

I have a 34 Sea Vee with twin 275 Verado's. The boat used to top in the 50's but I repropped it and now get 48-49. The boat fishes very and is extremely well built and thought out. In my book it has plenty of power but it depends on your expectations (I prefer to keep it in the water). I towed a 17' HPX with 4 guys and full gear to the Berry Islands 186nm at 30 knots turning between 48 and 5200 rpm. It's my second Sea Vee and I will buy another.

petrafied i would really like to hear what that tow was like - that is a HUMP and if you were cruising 30kts it must have been calm.. What kind of harness, how far back, sea conditions, probs etc... Cool stuff. Btw how was the bonefishing in the Berry's?

Maybe a new thread on towing flats boats with big cc's?

Sorry to derail...

[PETRAFIED]

Originally Posted by Venture34

petrafied i would really like to hear what that tow was like - that is a HUMP and if you were cruising 30kts it must have been calm.. What kind of harness, how far back, sea conditions, probs etc... Cool stuff. Btw how was the bonefishing in the Berry's?

Maybe a new thread on towing flats boats with big cc's?

Sorry to derail...

Picked a good day last year The skiff was best about 80' back. I did the old basic bridle off the stern cleats and a bowline with 5/8" braid. Motor trimmed up most of the way with the wheel tied. Nuthin fancy but it was basically 1' from Ft. Pierce and glass from West End to Great Stirrup. The skiff lives in Great Harbour Cay and is happy there. The Bonefishing sucks .

[PETRAFIED]

I fish on a 39 SV allot and I can't really say the side door is better than the front. The CC on both boats are great. The argument about not being able to pass on the port side when the door is open can also be made. I bought the 34SV on a recommendation from a guy who had a Venture and said his little brothers SV was a better sea boat. That and I didn't want to hurt Ariels feelings.

The 34 with twin 275 Verado's runs best with 19 Rev 4's.

[tbgame32]

Originally Posted by PETRAFIED

I fish on a 39 SV allot and I can't really say the side door is better than the front. The CC on both boats are great. The argument about not being able to pass on the port side when the door is open can also be made. I bought the 34SV on a recommendation from a guy who had a Venture and said his little brothers SV was a better sea boat. That and I didn't want to hurt Ariels feelings.

The 34 with twin 275 Verado's runs best with 19 Rev 4's.

I had a 32 Regulator with the side console door and now the front slide on the 39 Sea Vee... both boats absolutely require you to slow down to access and use. I was more concerned about accessing head on the 39 while trolling in rough water, as spray would splash into the head, but that has yet to happen. The short amount of time the head access door is flipped up and restricts visibility on the 34 I believe would be a none issue... same deal on Contenders.

[Schmaltz~Herring]

Anybody have a 34' CV Cuddy????

[BLUE DOLPHIN]

I own a 34 Sea Vee cuddy with twin 300 HPDIs with key west hardtop. I currently fish the western gulf of mexico out of SPI. Our normal summer seas are a 3-4 ft head sea coming out of the se, we fish 50-125 miles out so we run into this or at an oblique angle to the NE troll SE and run back in with following sea that has built over the day to 4-5 with chop on top. The props are 3 blade mercury mirage suggested by sea vee that wot turn 4900 rpm at 49mph allowing the boat to stay on plane down to about 21-23 mph at 2900 rpm. Mileage is 1.1-1.2 running 29-32 mph which is my normal cruise speed in those head seas increasing to 35 running with the 4 ft seas. No pounding at these speeds in those seas. In a normal day I run and troll around 200 miles for bills and tuna. I have full enclosures but this summer ran no enclosure as I ran fast enough that the hull threw the spray behind when quartering into those 3-4 ft seas and chop.I have fished on contenders and sea trialed contenders before buying the sea vee, I love the boat. I thought about diesels but was getting out of a twin inboard mako and wanted the ease of outboards for layupin the offseason.The layout for fishing, the fishboxes and tackle storage are great.I pray yamaha or suzuki will bring out a 350 hp lightweight v6 when repower time comes. As an aside I repowered the 2004 hull in 2008 with new hpdis rather than zukes due to a huge price difference that I would never make up in oil or fuel in the 5 years I will keep the motors.The only time I use tabs is in quartering seas

[David M.]

I have the 34 Sea Vee with diesels and cuddy! I previously owned a 33 Blackfin Combi and can tell you the Sea Vee out rides the Blackfin in all conditions. I also fished a bunch this summer in a 39 Venture. The Sea Vee out rode it also. Mine has 420 hp Yanmars and a full tower. I get 1.7 mpg at 29 knots and have seen 37 knots light. I am playing with the props for more speed. Not a need for spray curtins unless you have a strong cross wind. I would recommend the boatt to anyone!

[Schmaltz~Herring]

I'm wondering how the new Yam 300's would work on the 34 cv cuddy.
Have to wait & see. How do you like the cuddy layout? AC? Bow thruster?
Do you trailer it?

[David M.]

I like the cuddy! I have an inverter that runs th ac and microwave. I bought mine because it was a fast diesel boat that I could trailer. I made the tower fold and built a custom trailer. The only complaint is not all ramps work for the inboard boat.