330 DA 2013 or 2009?

Rob WIcha

Member
Nov 14, 2019
129
Florida
Boat Info
2009 330DA
Engines
Twin 496 Mercruiser Axius
I’m looking at purchasing a 330 Sundancer either a 2013 or a 2009. The 2013 has 350 MAG ECT engines and the 2009 has 496 MAG engines. Both have roughly 450 hours. In my research it seems that in 2010 The 330 went through a design change and dimensions are a bit smaller and it weighs 1400 pounds less. I like the fact that the 2013 is much newer, but a little concerned that it is under powered. Other than that options on both boats are about the same and price is about the same. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
The 2009 330DA was rebadged as the 350DA in 2010. The 2009 310DaAwas rebadged as the 330DA in 2010. So you are comparing two different boats.

My 330DA with 350 Mags is not underpowered. Jumps up on plane without a problem.
 
OK good to know. What year 330 do you have? Do you have bravo 3 outdrives? Do you happen to know what pitch props you have?
 
Yes, I have B3s. Don't know the pitch of the props. They are original.
 
So now I have a better understanding of the differences between these two boats but besides being slightly longer and slightly wider and slightly heavier they are very similar. Any thoughts on quality difference between 2009 and 2013? Both are Axuis, does the 2013 have a newer version? I’ve read that the software can be updated. I assume that cabin interior space would be slightly larger on 2009?
 
The boats are almost identical in design. appearance and layout. The 2009 is a larger version in LOA and beam. The early Axius systems had some software issues but they were corrected by 2009. The Axius on my 2010 has worked flawlessly. I don't think were any significant changes to Axius between 2009 and 2013 but you might want to speak with a Merc tech for a more definitive answer.
 
Great. Thanks. Anything you really don’t like about the 330? Anything you really like? Just trying to get a owners perspective. I’m move up from a 2006 Formula 27 PC, 35’ is about the biggest I can go due to a fixed bridge where I live.
 
The 330 with the 350 Mags with the B3s performs really well compared to the V drives with the same power. Another advantage to the B3s is the tremendous amount of space in the ER for a boat of this size. The downside to all of that a space is there is a lot room for sound to reverberate. After I purchased the boat I found the sound of the genny running at anchor to be unacceptable
ly loud. Much louder than the 280DA I had prior and other boats I have been on. I ended up installing a sound shield around the genny and a two stage muffler to get sound down to an acceptable level. This may have been an anomaly with the genny on my particular boat but you should check it out if you decide to go forward with this model.
 
I’m looking at purchasing a 330 Sundancer either a 2013 or a 2009. The 2013 has 350 MAG ECT engines and the 2009 has 496 MAG engines. Both have roughly 450 hours. In my research it seems that in 2010 The 330 went through a design change and dimensions are a bit smaller and it weighs 1400 pounds less. I like the fact that the 2013 is much newer, but a little concerned that it is under powered. Other than that options on both boats are about the same and price is about the same. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

The 2009 without catalysts in the exhaust will be less troublesome and have lower maintenance costs when it comes to replacing the exhaust components.

there are a few posts on here from boaters that have had issues with the oxygen sensors.
 
The boats are almost identical in design. appearance and layout. The 2009 is a larger version in LOA and beam. The early Axius systems had some software issues but they were corrected by 2009. The Axius on my 2010 has worked flawlessly. I don't think were any significant changes to Axius between 2009 and 2013 but you might want to speak with a Merc tech for a more definitive answer.

The 2013 will have Axius Gen II while the 2009 will have Gen I. From my limited experience, the differences between the two are centered around the hardware and fluid system design. There are also firmware improvements but those are likely difficult to quantify and may actually be imperceptible to the average boater.

As an example of hardware differences, the steering actuators for Gen I are very different than Gen II as is the hydraulic circuit (one is high pressure while the other is low pressure). I mention these hardware differences only to alert of the possibility that parts availability will likely become a problem for Gen I before it will for Gen II. Some of my Gen I actuator components look like extremely low-volume manufacturing that may well be NLA soon if they aren’t already.

Still, I do like the system very much and would replace/fix it if it broke...
 

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