1997 330express cruiser searay

S

sea saw

New Member
Jan 18, 2013
12
western longisland sound
Boat Info
1997 330 amberjack
Engines
2006 7.4 fresh water cooled mercruisers straight drives
i am looking at a 1997 sea ray 330 with twin 7.4 mercrusiers efi any known problems with this set up?
 
I had two 1996 330's, both with the 5.7L's. A good friend had a 1996 330 with the 7.4L's. Great engines, his cruise speed was about 1-1.5mph faster than mine but he burned a bit ore fuel. On a 300 mile trip where we ran side by side he used about 15% more fuel than I did. I got right at 1mpg at cruise speed. His mpg would have been a bit less than 1mpg.

If I were buying another 330 I'd probably look for a boat with the 5.7L's, because of the fuel economy. But then, I'm a cheap SOB. :smt101
 
It's the same boat as my 340 Amberjack other than a revamped interior layout. I've heard others describe it as one of Sea Ray's best boats. Very solid build and a tank in the water for its size. It's not the dryest running boat so in a crosswind you can get some bow spray come back at you, but other than that it's a very big/heavy boat for it's length.

Some don't like it due to the lack of an aft cabin, but what you lose there you gain in space for do-it-yourself maintenance in the oversized engine room. Not for everyone, but it's a solid performer!
 
Don't know your height. I'm 6'3" and when I ran this boat standing up my sight line was the top of the windshield. That was deal killer for me. At idle you are looking through issenglass, another issue for me.
 
sea saw said:
i am looking at a 1997 sea ray 330 with twin 7.4 mercrusiers efi any known problems with this set up?
Click to expand...


I have one. Great boat, fast. Wish the cabin was a little bigger (wider beam). Had it out once in small craft advisory heading to Block Island RI, Don't know how big the waves were, but 36' Stamas I was following kept disappearing in front of me. Wife was terrified, I never felt unsafe, and was impressed on how it handled. That being said, wouldn't want to do it again.

Only real complaint is I'm 6'3", and cant stand up straight at the helm when backing in slip. They raised the arch in 1999 I believe.
 
I had one for several years with the 380 7.4litre motors. (2000 330 ec-amberjack) Great boat. loved almost everything about it. perfect for ocasional cruising or fishing . very solid. a little wet in a heavy sea with a cross wind but far better handling hull than a sundancer. easy maintenance. I would have kept it if it were not for a growing family. weekend living space is a little limited.
Doug
 
33ec said:
I had one for several years with the 380 7.4litre motors. (2000 330 ec-amberjack) Great boat. loved almost everything about it. perfect for ocasional cruising or fishing . very solid. a little wet in a heavy sea with a cross wind but far better handling hull than a sundancer. easy maintenance. I would have kept it if it were not for a growing family. weekend living space is a little limited.
Doug
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Doug,

Why does it out perform the sundancer? Is it the wider beam or a different deadrise? I was told that these boats have a 14' beam vs 11.5' on the DA.
 
dmartin155 said:
I have one. Great boat, fast. Wish the cabin was a little bigger (wider beam). Had it out once in small craft advisory heading to Block Island RI, Don't know how big the waves were, but 36' Stamas I was following kept disappearing in front of me. Wife was terrified, I never felt unsafe, and was impressed on how it handled. That being said, wouldn't want to do it again.

Only real complaint is I'm 6'3", and cant stand up straight at the helm when backing in slip. They raised the arch in 1999 I believe.
Click to expand...

Sorry just noticed the "Express Cruser" in post. Been a long couple days!!!!
 
33Ec

You say you love almost everything about it. What didn't you like. Im in the process of purchasing one. I can't find anything I don't like except for the small v berth. Seems smaller than my 270. But I'm only 5 6 so its not really a big deal unless I catch a fish taller than me if ya know what I mean. But hey there all the same height laying down right :smt043
 
tdschafer said:
Doug,

Why does it out perform the sundancer? Is it the wider beam or a different deadrise? I was told that these boats have a 14' beam vs 11.5' on the DA.
Click to expand...

Here's what I've observed...

The weight distribution for a mid-ship engine boat vs V-Drive design is the main difference IMHO. I've had other V-drive and Stern Drive boats and you really notice the difference of having all that weight further to the stern, especially when getting on plane with some passengers in the back with these boats. However, a mid-ship design like the 330 Express can usually plane at a lower speed due to the weight distrubution again along with the wider hull (13' 5") for its length which provides more lift. I can stay on plane at 14mph in a heavy chop. My previous boats needed to be going about 22mph to stay "up" in the same conditions - which usually translates into a more uncomfortable ride and it's tougher on all the stuff screwed or glued to the inside of the boat.

Last year a group of us went to another marina down river for the weekend. Of course on Friday afternoon the South wind had been howling all day and it was about a rough as it gets (for the river). But the river is NOT the lake, so we weren't fearing for our lives or anything, so off we went. All boats got up on plane and immediately started slamming into the tall narrow waves, so we started throttling back. Most of our group could not maintain their boat on plane with their tabs fully deployed without having too uncomfortable a ride and if they went any slower they came off plane. I on the other hand was able to throttle down to just over 2000RPM with full tabs and had no slamming issues. I would have been getting very wet, but we left the tops up - no worries. Soon after we increased our speed as much as we could based on the conditions. Everyone arrived safely, but some were sure saying they would never leave again with the same conditions.

Somtimes the additional beam can work against you, like higher cruising speeds through rough water. That's why off shore racers have narrow beams and deep V designs - they usually travel at higher speeds where they need the hull to slice through the waves. That being said, if you compare the 2000 330 Express to the 34 Dancer, the Express is not just wider, it's taller and considerably heavier too. That extra weight helps it to "crush" the waves at higher speeds and keep the ride comfortable. Just remember though - any boat has limits.

Hope this helps!
 
Xplicitlnck said:
33Ec

You say you love almost everything about it. What didn't you like. Im in the process of purchasing one. I can't find anything I don't like except for the small v berth. Seems smaller than my 270. But I'm only 5 6 so its not really a big deal unless I catch a fish taller than me if ya know what I mean. But hey there all the same height laying down right :smt043[/QUOTE


Regarding the V-Birth... On my boat the only difference from the previous models is that it is a permanent birth. I believe the size is the same. I'm 6' and love to stretch out. I sleep diagonally with my pillow against the Stb side and my feet in the corner beside the galley and never have felt cramped. The admiral sleeps the same way in the spot beween me and the bow (she's 5' 5") and doesn't have a space issue either. We replaced the oem matress with a 4" memory foam mattress and had to order a King and cut it to shape, but it was still not long enough for the V Birth space, so I had to glue another piece onto the end (where my feet are while on the birth) - that's big enough for me.

What the Admiral doesn't like is having to crawl over or past me to get out of the birth. Every boat is a compromise of some sort! I sure like having a solid door for the V Birth (very rare in a boat this size).
Click to expand...
 
Well put on both comments. Thank you very much and I can't wait till march 3rd. For many survey and sea trial. Keeping my fingers crossed. Wish me luck. And a big well bigger bank account
 
Can anybody tell me what trannys came in the 98 330ec. It has the 7.4 mpi 310 hp. I think it had the bw 5000 velvet drive but not sure. If you do know witch one it is do you know of any know problems with them. I know a certain trans had over heating issues with my year but not100prcnt what trans it was. If I do have that one is there a way to find out if searay did any warranty work on my specific boat.
 
Jimmy Buoy said:
Here's what I've observed...

The weight distribution for a mid-ship engine boat vs V-Drive design is the main difference IMHO. I've had other V-drive and Stern Drive boats and you really notice the difference of having all that weight further to the stern, especially when getting on plane with some passengers in the back with these boats. However, a mid-ship design like the 330 Express can usually plane at a lower speed due to the weight distrubution again along with the wider hull (13' 5") for its length which provides more lift. I can stay on plane at 14mph in a heavy chop. My previous boats needed to be going about 22mph to stay "up" in the same conditions - which usually translates into a more uncomfortable ride and it's tougher on all the stuff screwed or glued to the inside of the boat.

Last year a group of us went to another marina down river for the weekend. Of course on Friday afternoon the South wind had been howling all day and it was about a rough as it gets (for the river). But the river is NOT the lake, so we weren't fearing for our lives or anything, so off we went. All boats got up on plane and immediately started slamming into the tall narrow waves, so we started throttling back. Most of our group could not maintain their boat on plane with their tabs fully deployed without having too uncomfortable a ride and if they went any slower they came off plane. I on the other hand was able to throttle down to just over 2000RPM with full tabs and had no slamming issues. I would have been getting very wet, but we left the tops up - no worries. Soon after we increased our speed as much as we could based on the conditions. Everyone arrived safely, but some were sure saying they would never leave again with the same conditions.

Somtimes the additional beam can work against you, like higher cruising speeds through rough water. That's why off shore racers have narrow beams and deep V designs - they usually travel at higher speeds where they need the hull to slice through the waves. That being said, if you compare the 2000 330 Express to the 34 Dancer, the Express is not just wider, it's taller and considerably heavier too. That extra weight helps it to "crush" the waves at higher speeds and keep the ride comfortable. Just remember though - any boat has limits.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Thanks, that was an excellent explanation!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
the reason we sold our 2000 330 ec was really just because of the size limitations. we got tired of putting the table up and down and doing the sleeping configurations change, crawling over someone to go the head in the middle of the night. we do a lot of weekends on the boat anchored out. Great boat but a little tight for our growing family. I stumbled across a 48' ocean super sport with 3 cabin and 2 heads in real nice shape with a motivated seller so I pulled the triger. Nothing 'wrong ' with the sea ray--great boat-good handling, easy to own and maintain.. Loved everything about it except for space limitations. The reason I think it is a better handling boat than a sundacer is weight distribution. Much easier to plane-no real need to use the tabs. Props are further apart so it is easy as pie to dock even in a gusty breeze- straight inboards which I prefer. Solid in the typical bay chop. just a little spray in a cross breeze. I do not feel the need to go fast so the wide hull was a huge benefit to me. Cruise comfortably at about 25mph at about .75mpg. it has very nice lines that I think are a classic design. If the size of the boat fits your needs and it has been well maintained, I do not think you can go wrong with this model.

Doug
 
my 2000 330 ec had borg warner 5000 seriies with 8deg. down angle and a 2.1:1 gear ratio. I had to replace one due to a cracked housing. it would leak when it warmed up. this was caused by neglect from the previous owner. he had let the cutlass bearings go to the point where the shafts vibrated so badly at cruising speed that the tranny gearcase cracked. Once I fixed it all up, she ran as smooth as silk. make sure your gear oil coolers are in good shape and keep the oil level slightly above full when the tranny is cold(this will allow it to show the proper level when operating--compensates for oil in the lines) and the transmissions are very low maintenanince.
 
Sounds great to me. One more question for now atleast. How often did you change trans fluid? Is there a filter and what fluid did you use?
 
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