Purchasing 1996 Formula 330SS . . .
 

I have been searching for a 280SS for a few months, and made a couple of offers during the process. However, I recently saw a fresh water 330SS come on the market, it looked like a good opportunity, and I went to look at it last weekend, took a ride on it, etc.

I have an accepted offer and now it is time for the sea trial and survey, (this Friday). This is a fresh water boat with 740 hours. It will be going into salt water once it is all said & done.

??? Just wondering if there are any words of advice on the Formula 330SS. ???

Being a 1996, it is the first year of production for the 330SS. The 280SS was introduced the year prior (1995).

My salt water prep plans are:

Fresh water cooling conversion
Barrier coat
Anti-fouling paint
Maybe a windlass, since it does not have one.

TIA for any advice/comments about the early years of the 330SS.

What drives? Early model Bravo III's dissolve like Alka_Seltzer when left in saltwater.

Yup, B3's 1996 vintage . . . So, I may have to add some anodes to the outdrives, if they do not have the full compliment that the newer ones have.

The newer BIII's have an extra anode under the cavitation plate and the bullet anode at the end of the propshaft. You could drill and tap the propshaft for the bullet anode but not sure how you would add the extra cavitation plate anode without the recessed boss that accepts it. Make sure the Mecathode system is working correctly.

Would you mind telling me how much you got the 330ss for?

Purchasing 1996 Formula 330SS
 

$28K . . . basically the same money as some of the 280's that I was looking at. My only concern was the age . . . but the boat looks 1/2 its age, so it was an easy decision. Survey is Friday.

I am wondering about the bullet anode for the prop shaft, as that would be a good place to have an anode, right near the stainless props. Would I have to drill & tap the shaft, or would it be able to attach with the prop nut?

I am also thinking that I can attach an additional anode to the top of the cavitation plate since the underside would not have the inset for a second anode in that location.

Update: it looks like I answered the prop anode question . . . There is a retrofit kit that replaces the prop nut with one that can accept the bullet anode.

I thought about the 330ss while looking form the 280 I just bought, decided it didn't want to buy a new truck too. Photos when you close or it didn't happen :)

i have a line on a beautiful 330 ss here in buffalo, if anyone wants to know details let me know

Sea trial and survey are tomorrow, so I'll post some pictures afterwards.

Let me know about the 330 in Buffalo.
Do either of you have a link to the ads for these boats?

Boat is in Exc condition, cockpit cover, brand new bimini, runs great he uses it all the time, His name is John tell him same gave you his info,


http://buffalo.craigslist.org/boa/3235702730.html

Thinking of trading up from the 280 already . . . . :)

Many of the 330SS boats from the years 1996-1999 are going for high-twenties to about $30K. This one (Buffalo) is asking $35K.

asking is asking, make a call, and its got low hours, but your assessment isn't far off:helmet::helmet:

A quick update -

Did the sea trial and survey on Friday . . . I used a guy by the name of Bob Gallagher, who is certified in both vessel and engine surveys. He was excellent. So, anyone in the MA/NH area looking for a surveyor . . . Bob Gallagher gets my vote.

A couple of things are to be address before the purchase is complete, and I'll be looking to get a (big) trailer to haul the boat in and out seasonally.

Do you get the wide load permits for your travels?

I am looking into that in my area, and I wondered how things have worked out for you in that regard.

We hauled a 330SS a few hundred miles through Illinois, Indiana and into Michighan. Towed it with an F350 crew cab and were about 56 feet long. We did get the permits to be on the safe side. Then we ended up not using flags or the "overwide" banners. We figured why wave a red flag at a bull and draw attention to ourselves?

Still, I think that you are better off doing it right in case of an accident.

wheres the pics!!

Here are a few pics . . .

http://home.comcast.net/~tpenfield/W...s/IMG_0956.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~tpenfield/W...s/IMG_0951.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~tpenfield/W...s/IMG_0139.jpg


I also have a video that I made of the many pictures that I have from the survey day. A couple of bigger issues emerged, and the Seller and I worked out an arrangement to fix things.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QcWT62VCTA[/YOUTUBE]

Enjoy.

I should be picking up the boat in a couple of weeks.

Nice. What does it have for power?

Twin Merc 7.4 LX MPI 310 hp each.

WOT was 4400 RPM each engine at 52 mph (untrimmed)

I'm thinking maybe 54 mph with a little trimming

Buzzards Bay? I do Buzzards Bay too. I was wondering about how the 20 degree hull would do against the afternoon chop?

740 fresh water hours on this boat. First time n salt.

We 'passed papers' on the boat yesterday. So, the deal is done the boat is mine.

I am now searching for a boat hauler who can bring it from Lake Winnipesaukee to Cape Cod. I have decided to lay the boat up on stands for the winter and not deal with getting a trailer until next year sometime.

Any recommendations for a boat hauler? I know it is their 'busy' time of year.

Congrats, and welcome to the 330SS family!

I have a hauler lined up or next Tuesday. The guy is local on the destination end, so I can use him for the launch next year.

congrats

Congrats

Can you post some haul pictures as well?

I am looking at getting a 330 SS in a couple years and would like to see more of your boat. At the moment I am looking at 2002 and newer but I would consider older if there is no change to the layout. Biggest thing is I need storage for scuba tanks and equipment.

Yes, I'll have some pics of the transport day . . .

The layout of the 330SS stayed pretty much the same through its years (1996 - 2008). The bigger difference would be the introduction of the radar arch in about 2003. Also in that year range, they switched to the performance controls with separate shift & throttle levers.

The later years generally became more feature rich and fancier fixtures, etc.

Scuba tank storage is under the forward port bench seat.

Thank you for the info. My buddy told me not to be afraid to get a 15-20 year old boat that is in great condition. It looks like you found one.

Could you tell me what you paid if you dont mind me asking?

I brought the boat home yesterday from Lake Winnipesaukee to its new home on Cape Cod.

Here is a picture of the boat all set on stands & blocks in my driveway.

http://home.comcast.net/~tpenfield/W...s/IMG_1204.jpg

Here is a link to a YouTube video of the day that I put together from the photos that I took.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA-h4grh66c

I plan on going through things over the winter to get the boat ready for the ocean and to establish a 'baseline' for maintenance, etc.

Sweet!

I cleaned up the hull today . . . heavily iron stained. So, here is a better pic of the boat now that it is cleaned up a bit.

http://home.comcast.net/~tpenfield/W...s/IMG_1209.jpg

I'll be winterizing it in the next week or 2 . . . this will be my first time winterizing an MPI engine. Then I'll be working the 'punch list' of things to get done over the winter in prep for next Spring. :cool:

tpenfield the boat looks great and cannot wait to see what you do to it over the winter.

A Quick Update:

I have done quite a few things over the winter to get the boat ready . . .

Upgrades:
Full closed cooling systems
Sea Water Strainers
VHF Radio
Smoke & CO2 detectors

Lots of minor repairs/replacements:
Anchor locker/anchor
boarding gate
Fuel pump
Trim sender
Trim pump
Transom shower
Rear seat support
Shower sump
High water alarm
Spark plugs
Outdrive Anode upgrade/retro-fit
Exhaust shutters
Battery
Courtesy lighting
Cabin sliding hatch
Barrier coat and bottom paint (ePaint EP-2000 White)

So, things are looking as close to 100% as possible. I was going to launch this weekend, but the Bay was pretty windy and really whipped up. Now scheduled to launch on Saturday (June 1st).

Here is a more recent photo showing the white anti-fouling paint:
http://home.comcast.net/~tpenfield/F...s/IMG_2485.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~tpenfield/F...s/IMG_2493.jpg

I got an extra set of boat stands so I could jockey the keel blocks around to paint the hull in all places, etc.

A Quick Update:

The boat is in the water . . . Here is a pic of it at the mooring.
http://home.comcast.net/~tpenfield/F...s/IMG_0311.jpg

I had it out in Buzzards Bay for a little bit right after we launched. I noticed right away that the boat pounds much more than my 242SS coming off the waves. We were in 2-3 foot seas and at one point we slammed down fairly hard and the wet bar doors popped open along with the refrigerator door in the cabin. We were only going about 22 mph at the time, so not like we were hauling buckets or anything :confused:

So, I am wondering what the experience of other 330SS owners has been with traveling over a choppy bay ????

Looking good! you have experienced what the boat is, u need to remember, wide beam, plus I forget the exact number but its not a 24 degree hull, so yes its gonna slam, I thought the exact same when riding on a friends last year

Yea, the hull is 20 degrees. I was figuring it would slam a bit, but I am finding surprising as to how easily it does so. On the windier days, I guess I'll be missing the 242SS :(

End of Season Update:

After a few outings with the 330SS, I did learn to trim the boat for choppy water travel and it does that fairly well in chop up to about 3 feet. Once you get to 4-5 feet, it reaches its limits and travel is slower, but steady.

As far as the Bravo III outdrives dissolving like Alka-Seltzer . . . they did not. I put the prop anode retro-fit on and also painted the props with 'cold galvanizing compound' (zinc) and I saw no signs of corrosion on the outdrives after 4 months in salt water. Previously, the boat had been in fresh water seasonally for 16 years, and had some corrosion around the prop hub area, probably due to insufficient anode maintenance, etc.

So, it looks like B3's in salt water is fine as long as you go with the extra anode protection.

Fuel consumption has been much less than anticipated and only about 50% greater than my single engine 242SS.

Overnighting has been good with enough space and comforts for a short stay.