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SeaVee 310 CC Review

I wish teenagers were like this SeaVee 310: It does whatever you ask of it immediately and with no argument.
Seavee 310 CC_03

Seavee 310 CC_03

Besides catamarans, which took a giant leap toward innovation(but have been slow to gain acceptance), most boat designs haven’tchanged much in the past few decades. A center console is still acenter console. Ergo, boat companies put great effort intoincremental improvements.

But occasionally, a company comes along with a model that showsso much thought and attention to detail that it instantly climbs upbeside boats counted among “best in class.” The new SeaVee 310qualifies for that rarified elite.

Performance
I wish teenagers were like this SeaVee 310: It does whatever youask of it immediately and with no argument. A half-load of fuel andwater and an empty 65-gallon livewell allowed the 310 with twinMercury 225 OptiMax engines to visit 53.1 mph at 5,750 rpm. At thatspeed, turning 15 1/4- by 19-inch props, the Mercs burned 43.3 gph.I found the most fuel-efficient cruising speed to be about 37 mphrunning 4,000 rpm, where we used roughly 17 1/2 gph. Even with justone 225-hp outboard, I managed to get the SeaVee up on plane andrunning at 20 mph.

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However, the company suggests that owners carry at least onespare prop of two pitches lower than normal. That way, if you haveto run home on one engine, you can actually get up and run at 30mph with ease. In 30-mph cruising-trim turns, a hard-over coursechange leans the boat nicely, bleeds speed quickly and turns theSeaVee 180 degrees in about two boat lengths. Rest assured that youwon’t send anyone overboard with this maneuver on the 310. Evenwithout tabs, the boat runs at a pretty flat angle ofinclination.

Wide open, the 310 acts like a NASCAR racer. It flattens rightdown and hugs the water’s surface, almost hovering. The bestdescription of the sensation this SeaVee 310 imparts underway is”tight.” Launch the 310 off a wave with clear air beneath and youget a soft, quiet landing. Down-sea, it readily rises up over thenext wave. About the only hull noise I noticed came when driftingnext to a weed line. As the boat rolled, the chine and the integraltransom bracket slapped as they met the water with each roll.Speaking of which, the 310 exhibited very gentle roll transitionsand a moderate roll moment. It wants to drift absolutely beam-tothe wind and seas.

Fishing
No matter where I stood from bow to stern, I could work a rodwithout the slightest obstruction and always felt secure bracedagainst the gunwale. In the transom, a clear Lucite hatch on the65-gallon livewell seals tightly to pressurize the well, keepingthe bait from sloshing around underway. This boat comes with onestandard livewell (two more optional) and two insulated fish boxes(third optional).

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Key West cutouts on the hardtop allow storage for five sticks onboth console sides – but don’t think that’s the total rod storageaboard. Between lockable in-deck storage, undergunwale storage andelsewhere, I counted space for an incredible 50 rods aboard this31-footer. SeaVee no longer installs macerator pumps on its fishboxes because macerators always get packed up (especially with fishscales) and then burn out. SeaVee uses diaphragm pumps that maytake a little longer to empty the box, but can practically pass anentire baitfish without a hiccup.

The leaning post seat hides a huge storage bin with a lift-outtackle center. The back of the leaning post module features afoldout table with a lip around the edge that keeps plasticcarry-on tackle trays in place while underway. Many boats don’tmake the anchor hanger big enough to support the right size anchorfor the boat. This one does, plus it allows substantial room foranchor rode. You can easily anchor over a wreck 500 feet down andhave scope to spare.

Design and Construction
SeaVee qualifies as a semicustom builder. You can choose thelayout, how many and where you want rod holders and make otherconfiguration decisions. Everything from the waterline up isDivinycell-cored and vacuum-bagged, while the bottom is solidfiberglass.

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Inside the console you’ll discover hatches for access to theback of electronics. The upper hatch comes standard with a coolingfan to exhaust warm air inside the nav-gear compartment. You’llfind no exposed wiring, switches or the like in the console,either. Nothing for passengers to get caught on or inadvertentlyswitch on or off.

Unique shelves in the bulwark under the forward gunwales areactually created, thanks to deck supports. You won’t experience aniota of gunwale flex on this SeaVee.

Loads of other thoughtful additions like rubber seals and dogsfor airtight hatch closure mean drop a hatch lid and all you hearis whoosh! In addition to insulating the boxes and composite-coredhatch lids, every insulated box gets an added inch ofrefrigeration-spec insulation foam. If you love boats as I do,you’ll appreciate going aboard a SeaVee 310 to see the results of”doing it right.”

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Specifications
LOA: 32 ft. 6 in.
BEAM: 9 ft. 4 in.
DEADRISE: 25 deg.
DRAFT: 1 ft. 8 in.
WEIGHT: 5,500 lb.
FUEL: 250 gal. (std.)
MAX POWER: T300-hp OB
MSRP: $69,500 (w/o power)

Mercury 225-hp OptiMax Saltwater
TYPE: 60-degree V-6
DISPL.: 185 cid
MAX RPM: 5,750
HP/LB RATIO: 0.44
FUEL SYSTEM: Orbital direct injection
GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1
WEIGHT: 512 lb.
ALT. OUTPUT: 60 amps
MSRP: $14,861

The Mercury 225s powered the SeaVee 310 perfectly acceptably.But I can’t wait to see how the new 250-hp DFIs will drive it!

Notable Standard Equipment

  • Electronics compartment fan
  • Leaning post
  • 65-gallon livewell
  • Insulated fish boxes
  • Lockable rod storage
  • Electric marine head

Impressions
I liked it. I liked it a lot!

SeaVee Boats
305-759-6419
www.seaveeboats.com

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