Contrary to the cliché, familiarity doesn’t always breed contempt—at least in the go-fast boating world. Sometimes, as in the case of three-time Canadian Nor-Tech 340 Sport center-console buyer Rob Sobey of Nova Scotia, it breeds comfort and contentment.
“My wife and I are day-trippers, so the 10-foot beam of the 340 made sense for us again,” Sobey explained. “We considered a 390, but we didn’t really need a bigger boat.
“And I would have needed a new boat lift,” he added, then chuckled. “I am at capacity with the lift we are using now.”
Rob Sobey’s Nor-Tech 340 Sport center console is the first to be powered by triple Mercury Racing 500R engines.
Ordered through Double R Performance, Nor-Tech’s Canadian dealer outside Toronto, Sobey’s boat is the first 340 to be powered by triple Mercury Racing 500R outboard engine. His last 34-footer was equipped with three 450R outboards. The one before that had a trio of six-cylinder 400R outboards on its transom.
Sobey purchased all three center consoles through Double R Performance, which is co-owned by brothers Peter and Raymond Roberts.
“It runs on rails,” Peter Roberts said. “It is the most planted and solid 340 I’ve ever been in at speed.”
Looking for acceleration and overall performance rather than top speed, Sobey turned to Raymond Roberts to set up the cat.
“I worked with Raymond to get the right props,” Sobey explained. “We propped down a bit with five-blades, I think they are 27s. The boat has really good control. Hole-shot is good. It has better ‘traction’ with the five-blade props. And it has power and torque across the engines’ operating range. And the engines aren’t working as hard as those on my past two 340s did.
“I am really impressed,” he added. “There was nothing wrong with my other two Nor-Tech’s, but this one feels incredibly solid. It inspires confidence.”
From left) Peter Roberts, mechanic Jamie Cameron and Rob Sobey struck a pose on delivery day.
This time around, Sobey ordered his 340 with two rows of bolsters in the cockpit and contoured forward-facing lounges with backrests in the open bow. The longer top of the current 340 model provides “excellent shade above both rows of bolsters” he said. He also ordered the boat with port-side dive door and a removable Bimini top for the open-bow area.
Sobey rode in the boat once before taking delivery, but that will change almost immediately. Nova Scotia has a “10-week boating season,” he said, and he’s ready to start making the most of it.
“I am just thrilled,” he concluded. “And I am really looking forward to the upcoming season.”