1995-1998 330 Sundancer 5.7 vs 7.4

J

jcover

New Member
Sep 13, 2014
7
Galena
Boat Info
1998 330 Sundancer
Engines
454 Mercruiser w/ V Drives
Hello All,
I'm new to the forum and enjoy looking through the postings.

Here's my question. Anyone whom has a 1995-1999 330 dancer please jump in.
I have owned a 1989 280 for 11 years. Powered with 4.3LX 205hp twins w/ Alpha 1 outdrives.
This boat has been great over the years. Its a little under powered but acceptable.

I am strongly considering the purchase of either a 1995 330 dancer w/260hp 5.7 small blocks, carbs
or a 1998 330 dancer w/330 7.4 big blocks fuel injected.

I have not sea trialed the one with the 350's. I have trialed one with big blocks and was pleased with the
torque and smooth power.

Who has this boat with 350's? Tell me what you can about its performance.
I can only get a ride on the 1995 if I make and offer, its accepted, pay the deposit etc. Its the SOP in my area as is probably the case with most brokered boats.

If you have run both engine setups I would love to hear from you. I would also be curious what prop setup you have on either engine.

I realize the only true way to know is to take a ride but prior to going through all the hoops I'm looking for some feedback.

Thanks in advance for any help and opinions you may have!!

John

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John,

I may be able to help answer some of your questions. I had a 96 330 with the 5.7's. A good friend had the same boat with the 7.4's. My boat cruised nicely between 3200-3800rpm's (depended on fuel/water load). His boat cruised about 1mph faster in the same rpm range.

The 7.4' used more fuel, as one would expect. We both ran our boats 150 miles up the Snake River and back, running pretty much side by side. Because he cruised a bit faster, when we'd leave a lock he would pull ahead of me slightly and arrived at the next lock just a couple of miles ahead of me. Not much, but still ahead.

At our first fuel point he took on 50 gallons to make sure he could get to the destination. I took on zero. When we got to the destination (Lewiston, ID), we both fueled up and at that point took on about the same number of gallons. So it took him about 50 gallons more gas to make that 150 mile trip than I used. Coming back downstream, he had to stop just short of our home marina to take on enough fuel to make sure he could get home. I didn't need to take on any until we got home. I don't recall if we filled up and took on the same number of gallons or not, but it would have been close.

My boat got hit one night by a BUI and was totaled. I liked it so well that I limited my search for a replacement boat to only boats with the 5.7's. My first 330 had a FloScan gauge in it so I could track my mileage very closely. Running on plane I got right at 1 nautical mile per gallon. That figure was good all the way from about 3200rpm's to just about 4000 rpm's where the secondaries in the carbs started to open and sucked more fuel.

Any other questions? PM me for faster answers.
 
GFCI, that's interesting. I've never been on a 330 with 350, I kinda thought it might be underpowered. But it sure doesn't seem to be and excellent fuel consumption compared to mine, .8 MPG

Matt


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
GoFirstClass, it's not supposed to be GFCI, dumb iPhone! Sorry, About that!!!

Matt


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
John

We went from a 89 300WE with 5.7's to an 98 330DA with 7.4VD's. I was very happy with the performance of both boats. The 330 did cruise a little faster (24-26kts) and used a little more fuel. Never running a 330 with 5.7's I cannot comment but the 7.4's seemed like the perfect power package. Good luck and enjoy your search.
 
Is it an apples and oranges comparison? Carb to FI? I don't know. The OP doesn't mention if both are V-drives. That will make a fuel consumption and maintenance cost difference if one is an I/O.

From the for what it's worth department, with 6.2's I get 1 NMPG at 3450 RPM at 22 knots full fuel and water, slack tide. Same HP, lighter engines. I mention this because the weight of the 7.4 will make a difference in fuel consumption as pointed out by GFC.

A lot depends on yearly hours and usage. If you are in Galena, Alaska your season is going to be a lot shorter than if you are in Galena, Illinois and that season is shorter than Galena, Nevada! Also if there are only a couple of you on board most of the time, the 5.7's might be just fine. If your usual crew is 6-8 maybe the 7.4 is a better choice. There are a lot of unknowns here.

Nobody ever complained of too much power, only too much fuel burn!

Regardless of which one you buy, the tabs are too small.

Good luck!
 
I hope I’m not stepping on your toes David, but he is very right, the tabs are too small. David has a great write up on making larger tabs, but you would have to ask him nicely!!!! I did, and it going to get done during the bottom job this year. Thanks again David!!!

Matt
 
I was on a 89 280 sundancer with twin 4.3's while looking at boats. It ran alright, but the 330 with twin 7.4's will be an eye opener for you. They hey have power, but are thirsty.
 
I like the 454 in my 270 but she drinks more than twice as much gas as the 350 in my CV-23. Yes there is a huge weight difference between th two boats but twin 454's would break my fuel wallet! I get 1.5mpg at best with the 454/330hp and 4.5mpg with the 350/260hp. Huge difference!
 
454’s are thirsty indeed. I get .8 MPG. This is one of the reasons I am wanting to look into larger trim tabs, (along with a few other things) easier planing and staying on plane with less throttle. Maybe I’m having wishful thinking, but even if I could get 1.0 MPG out of her, thats roughly 20% increase in fuel economy. But without question, my 454’s are excellent. IMO

Matt
 
Thanks everyone for the feedback!! Well, in the final hour the boat with 350's has one cylinder with low compression. So I think I may pass on it. I however was interested in a sea trail to find out once and for all how the 5.7 would compare to a 7.4. I will eventually find and purchase a 330. Most likely with 7.4. I will look for Davids thread about the tabs. Larger tabs makes total sense. To clarify I live in Galena OH and dock at Catawba Island on Lake Erie which is by Port Clinton OH. Generally 2 or 3 of us on board with my 280. On occasion 4.

I average 40 hrs a season. I am however spoiled with my V-6's low fuel burn. I average 1.2 gpm so .8 will hit the wallet a bit more.

Someone asked about the drives. Everything Ive looked at has V drives all with Velvet trans except one that had a Hurth trans. All with 3 blade 16x15 props. I did look at one with a 4 blade prop. I did'nt look at the size and pitch on that one. Are any of you using a 4 blade? If so what positives and or negatives did you see vs a 3 blade.

thanks again!
 
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