We have recently purchased a Birchwood 340 having moved up from our older (but still great) Birchwood Commodore. Can anybody help us with the following questions.
1. Does the 340 (2000 model) have a sealed stern gland? My old boat has a greasing point and the stren gland was greased at the beginning and end of every trip. I can't find anywhere to grease the stern gland on our new boat and am obviously concerned I'm missing something.
2. We're planning a trip to France later this year. Does anybody know the safe unrefueled range? We have a single Yanmar 190hp diesel and a fuel tank of 91 gallons - 414 litres.
3. Does anybody know the most economical cruising speed either in knots or engine rpm. We are told the boat has a maximum speed of around 15 - 18 knots but obviously this isn't going to be the most economical speed.
Any help would be greatfully recieved! Give us a wave on the river, the boat is named Matsa IV and is moored at Windsor Marina. Our old boat, Matsa 3 is moored at Bray.

Yours sounds like a 'dry' gland, and sealed for life (Usually replace the stuffing every couple of years when she's out!)

Reckon just under a gallon an hour at river speed, say 0.7 if you're doing the real limit, not the pretend one with a large wash...

Once on the plane (Which might take a while with 190bhp and 30+ ft) reckon on backing off the throttles down to a lower planing speed, so she's not trying to drop back down again, and around 2-3mpg.

Welcome aboard, it's nice to see new faces, and there are a few of us around Windsor (Bray marina homes at least four B25's for example)

See you in a month or two then  

Thanks for the info No Regrets. The hull is semi displacement so it won't plane. Your estimate of fuel consumption on the river is bang on to what we get which is nice to know. I was really wondering about the Channel bit rather than the river so I can plan the most econimical cruising speed and calculate the safe unrefuelled range.

meant to add that Windsor is home to some 340's and at least one 310. Thanks also for your welcome, should see you before the France trip as that's only planned for the summer - assuming we get one that is!

Ah, SD Hulls would be best at lower speeds then! The engine's peak torque is probably around 2600rpm, that might be a good starting point!