The 357 will use quite a bit more fuel and need probably 100 more horsepower per side to run the same speed.

To me, the 311/336 and the 353 (stepped hull fastech) are all similar size boats. The 357 would be more comparable to a 38 foot such as the 382 fastech. The old SR1 models with the bolted platform are measured without the platform, where the newer boats include it so numbers can be off by a couple feet when comparing old vs. newer.

The 357 is also a 8' 6" beam so is noticeably wider than the 8 foot beam of a 311.

Also consider launching. A 311 is bad enough at the launch, a 357 is just ridiculous. You will take up all of it.

Many points to consider I guess.

Now I know this are not the boats you r thinking about but as people have sead the 35 is more like a 38 and the 31 would be more like a 33 when you add tge platform. So with that sead here is my 33 next to a 38. Just to kinda get an idea of size difference 4 or 5 feet is a big jump when it comes to boats in my opinion
[IMG]http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/...psd5330a2a.jpg[/IMG]

It was a big jump for me when I went from a 27 to a 33. I know that much lol

if you are worried about fuel usage don't buy a boat, they all suck, and the difference between the 2 are minimal...

launching a 20 footer and my 35 is the same to me, I even take my 35 MIstress in and out myself at times, same as docking... lol

I am not totally basing my decision on fuel, but I am trying to make a educated decision before I buy. I wanna look at all aspects. A smart man never jumps into a financial purchase with out exploring every option or looking at every peice of information. Obviously I've driven a boat plenty of times, took the classes as a kid to get certified etc. But as I am reading, I am leaning towards a 311. Originally I was soley stuck on a 357. I don't know the gallons per hour difference between the two, but judging on the weight and size of the 357 compared to the 311, I am going to assume it's around 10 gallons per hour more or around a 20 percent different. That alone, combined with the size difference and price difference of the actual boat, I am better off buy a 311 as the first boat I will own. Business gets better every year, I love 357s and I don't mind the fuel usage, but a stock boat tops out at 60 and that bugs me. I am not trying to race the thing, but we all know a low top end speed means a low cruise speed. That combined with fuel usage is starting to wean me away. Until business gets better, to where I can actually make a 357 a 75 mph top end boat and I stop modifing my 6.0 powerstroke, I can't see my self buying a 357. Plus it doesn't help that I have had the boating ich for 7 years now. I have read that a 311 is around the area of 20-25 gallons a hour cruising depending on motor, drives, and conditions of the lake or ocean. And I am perfectly fine with that

My launch is 60 feet long at high tide, 25 is at low tide. Imagine working with that along with wind and tide. I'm just saying different launches are different, I typically launch alone too.

most 311's are still mid-high 60 mph boats, some over 70, but depends on $$ spent, gonna take 500 actual HP or more to see over 70 in one... you will see what guys say they do and what GPS says are different most of the time..

just be aware..

The 311 would be a grate start because you will get the itch and will go up any way this gives you some seat time in our kind of boats. We all always want bigger and faster thats just the way it is.

Mine saw 70 on GPS with 420's with roller cams. TRS drives also. On bone stock 420's, one with 600 hours, it ran 68. Mr. Maine bought it, piped through the silent thunder exhaust straight and ran 72 as I recall.