Santego info

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cmariner32

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I'm going this weekend to look at a '91 638 Santego. I would appreciate any info on late 80's early 90's 3467, 638 and 380 Santego's weak spots or trouble points. If things go well, a survey and sea trial would be a given. Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
No weak spots that I know of. Any you find will be related to the boats care over it's lifetime. We are also looking at Santegos in that vintage as they have a great interior and amount of room. And that flybridge is awesome! I also like the fact that it has a deep vee (19 degree) and rides fantastically.
 
We bought our 1989 Santego 2 years ago and love it. We have the 454 Crusader engines and so far we've only had to do the regular maintenance: impellers, spark plugs, oil/transmission changes etc. Her sweet spot is 27 knots at 3800 RPM's or 10 - 12 knots at about 1800 RPM. She's also great in the super rough water. Only issue we had was moisture in the core near the windlass. Luckily our surveyor found that and helped to get us a $5000 price reduction and we were then able to fix it ourselves after. We have also renovated the entire interior - laminate wood floors, new countertops & tables, bamboo blinds on the back doors, & appliances. These boats clean up so well, it's amazing what can be done!
 
I bought my '95 380 Santego last fall and so far have been very happy with it. I like the layout of this boat a LOT. I looked at an older one, I think it was a '91 and there is difference in the cabin layout. The salon seats in the older model were closer together than on my '95. I noticed a definite difference in "feel" of the space in the cabin. I read somewhere that the older ones have more storage space behind and/or under the seats. It wasn't the deal breaker for me but other things were in making me go for the newer one. My biggest adjustment is that I can't be in a hurry to go anywhere, it is MUCH slower than my Regal 290.
 
What is the best rpm's for cruising. My buddy has a '90 34 foot. Ran it with him this weekend and ran around 3300 rpm's at about 20mph (via gps). Curious what the "sweet spot" is for a gas vs. speed etc. Any clue the WOT on it? I think he he has the 454's. I know they are Crusaders.
 
There were 2 at my former marina. The smaller one (I forget the model number but it was about 28 feet long) was too cramped for my liking. The 38 is one hell of a boat. I love the one level layout. Sea Ray made a 45 with a similar setup.

Check really close for blisters. When the large one was hauled a couple of years ago to prep for sale, it had several hundred that required attention. There were a few 38's that came with diesels. The deadrise is going to cut through a lot of snot should the need arise. However, that comes at a cost.

Good luck.
 
We have a friend with one. Nice boat. Lots of room inside and on top.
He changed the transome seat back so it would flip either way.
They can sit facing forward when running or facing back when at the dock.
 
Thanks for all the info guys. I wasn't able to get down last weekend as something came up. Gonna schedule a look see for this weekend.
 
Keep us informed! I've got the 30 Santego and love it, but I must admit when the 38 cruised by, makes a man think of his priorities.The step up would be great!
 
Well, I missed out on the boat we had our eye on-who said boat sales are close to non-existent? The admiral seems to hot to trot to find a replacment boat so the search goes on. Gonna be putting our boat up for sale shortly-stay tuned. Thanks for all the info.
 
Have you look at 36 mariners of the same vintage? Similar, and possibly even better layout.

Huge flybridge, one level on interior, clean up easily, and handles waves well.

Not fast by an stretch though, I have the same 454's, and get nowhere near those speeds.
 
I love the layout of my 32 Mariner and was seriously considering the 36 in the late 80's version. The newer 36's are out of my price range and the 35's don't have the island berth in the stateroom which is the main drawback to my current boat. The biggest drawback, in my opinion, of the late 80's 36 Mariner is the look and layout of the salon-it just doesn't appeal to me, plus the admiral wants something in the 90's. And the saga continues..........
 
Sorry for late reply, but wasn't around for awhile. We've had a 91, 638 for 6 years now. Twin 454s. It has been a great boat for us, no structural or serious issues at all. Best cruise is about 3200 rpm yielding around 20 knots. However, we rarely run at cruise here on the Mississippi. We can almost triple the mileage by running at hull speed, (no higher than 1200 rpm). Sure it's only going about 10Kts downstream or 7Kts upstream, but it's relaxing, quiet and efficient. One area to keep an eye on are the engine hatches. In a real heavy rain mine tend to overflow and leak, spilling a bit of water on the engines. I'm talking about a couple of cups in a two hour, super heavy downpour. It has not been a serious problem for me, I just clean up asap. However, I'm planning on adding an additional drain channel under the area one of these days. Probably about a two hour fix . . . Any specific questions, please ask. Will try to check back more often . . .
 
I am looking at moving from my current boat to a newer boat. I am considering jumping ship from Carver. However, I started looking around at some 380 Santego's in my search. Can anyone share their opinion on the quality of these boats?

Can anyone share their fuel consumption at hull speed, and on plane?

Thanks,

Jim
 
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