Formula 330 SS Reviews: Owner Pros, Cons & Boats for Sale
Disclosure: Worldwide Yachtsman is a brokerage marketplace. This page summarizes public owner discussion and links to live listings from licensed brokers. It is not an independent review magazine, and it does not rate brokers.
The Formula 330 SS (Sun Sport) is a twin-engine day boat and weekend cruiser: roughly 33 to 34 ft overall, with a wide 10'2" beam and a 20 degree deep-V hull. Owners say Formula ended the original 330 SS around 2008, and a later CBR variant brought the name back. In short, owners praise the cockpit space and the punch of twin 496s, and criticize the ride in chop and the small standard swim platform. Buyers shopping used examples usually want cockpit space and mid-50s mph capability from twin MerCruiser power, and few of them expect the ride of an offshore race hull.
What owners like
Cockpit and day-boat layout. Owners repeatedly call out room for family and friends, storage, and a usable sun pad. One Lake of the Ozarks owner who bought new in late 2005 wrote that they “don’t really have any negatives about the form/function of the boat,” and described “excellent size cockpit area for family & friends as a day boat,” with a “reasonable” cuddy for overnighting.
“Excellent size cockpit area for family & friends as a day boat. Formula did away with the boat in 2008 I believe after it was one of there best sellers for years behind the 400SS.”
Punch out of the hole with 496s. With twin 496 Magnums, owners report strong mid-range acceleration and top speeds commonly described in the low-to-mid 50s mph, with freshwater demos sometimes higher. A 2004 demo report: “We ran one last week on a demo, 496 Mags… GPS 61, freshwater.”
“We ran one last week on a demo,496 Mags(HO's not available) GPS 61,freshwater.Most everyone who has ever run a 330 comes away impressed.”
Magicfloat, Offshoreonly, Oct 2004
Versatile “in-between” boat. Forum consensus treats the 330 SS as a mix of cruiser comfort and sportboat pace. It sits between a razor deep-V and a dock queen.
“Good overall boat. Lots of cockpit space. I run mine on Lake St Clair pretty decent ride in normal conditions.”
BOATMAN302, Offshoreonly, Apr 2019
What owners criticize
Ride in chop and the wide beam. The 20 degree deadrise and wide beam are the usual tradeoff: stable and roomy, and less soft than a narrower performance hull when the lake stands up.
“When its choppy u sacrifice the ride due to the wide beam and modified v.”
BOATMAN302, Offshoreonly, Apr 2019
Another owner noted cockpit-floor flex in rough water on a Shootout return, and that weekend “washboard” conditions force lower speeds on busy lakes:
“The one my buddy has would really flex in the cockpit floor in rough water (returning from the course at the Shootout).”
Knot 4 Me, Offshoreonly, Apr 2019
“The down side is I would like to go a little faster at LOTO but the washboard conditions on weekends don't allow it and you really have to be aware of the 40+ cruiser wakes…”
tlark, same thread
Not a “fast day boat” by performance-boat standards. When a buyer framed the 330 SS as a fast day boat, another poster pushed back immediately: “I would not consider a 330 SS a ‘fast type of day boat’.” (Knot 4 Me, Apr 2019). The power package matters: twin 350 Magnums are workable, and buyers chasing pace look for 496s.
Swim platform and options weight. Owners call the extended platforms nearly required for swimming, because the standard platform and ladder reach are awkward. Generators add weight and complicate DIY service in a small cabin boat.
“The extended platforms are a must if you plan to swim off the back of them. The built-in platform is small and the ladder is quite a reach to the first rung from the water.”
Knot 4 Me, Offshoreonly, Apr 2019
What to check on survey and sea trial
Use owner reports as questions for a survey and sea trial. They are not a diagnosis, and they do not replace a surveyor.
- Hull and structure: walk the cockpit sole in a seaway (or ask about known flex), sound the decks, and check stringers and tabbing where they are accessible.
- Engines and drives: confirm the package (350, 6.2 or 496, on Bravo drives). On older MerCruiser gas twins, plan for exhaust manifolds and risers, bellows, and service records. Raw-water-cooled saltwater boats need a closer look at the cooling system.
- Trailer and beam logistics: with a 10' beam and about 10,000 lb dry weight, confirm the tow plan and the marina's haul-out capacity before you fall in love with a deal.
- Options: genset, arch, windlass, Silent Choice exhaust, and the condition of the canvas.
- Sea trial: mid-range acceleration, tab behavior, porpoising, and how it takes a known wake at cruise.
We do not invent failure rates. If a seller cannot show service history, budget for unknown deferred maintenance.
Formula 330 SS specs
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Formula 330 SS / Sun Sport | Builder and forums |
| Approx. LOA | About 33 to 34'5", depending on variant | BoatTEST summary page |
| Beam | 10'2" | BoatTEST Formula 330 Sun Sport |
| Deadrise | 20 degrees | Owner and forum consensus; BoatTEST brief |
| Hull | Deep-V fiberglass | Same |
| Typical power | Twin MerCruiser gas (350 Mag, 6.2 and 496 Mag are common) | Offshoreonly owners |
| Reported top end | About 50 to 53 mph on 496s (one owner); mid-50s common; one freshwater demo at GPS 61 | tlark; Magicfloat |
| Production note | Original SS run ended around 2008; later CBR revival | Owners |
Confirm every figure against the specific hull's paperwork, since Formula changed packages across model years.
Formula 330 SS boats for sale on Worldwide Yachtsman
2006 Formula 330 SS "C's The Day"
Deerfield Beach, Florida
2007 Formula 330SS "Our Paradigm Shift"
Halifax Marina, Daytona, Florida
2004 Formula 330 SS
Cleveland, Ohio
1998 Formula 330 SS
Cleveland, Ohio
Contact the listing broker through the listing page for current availability and sea trials.
Also see: Formula boats for sale.
FAQ
Is the Formula 330 SS a good boat?
Owners who wanted a roomy twin-engine day boat with mid-50s pace generally say yes. People who wanted a soft-riding narrow deep-V or a pure performance boat are more mixed. Match the boat to how you actually use the water.
What are common Formula 330 SS problems?
Forum threads emphasize ride in chop (wide 20 degree hull), cockpit flex reports on some boats, swim-platform ergonomics without the extended platform, and normal aging MerCruiser maintenance. Treat each hull individually and hire a surveyor.
How fast is a Formula 330 SS?
It depends on the engines. Twin 496 Magnums are the package owners cite for 50 to 60 mph performance, and smaller packages are slower. Demo and GPS numbers in forums are anecdotal, so verify them on a sea trial.
What should I pay for a Formula 330 SS?
The listings on this page show current asking prices. When this guide was written in October 2026, the four Formula 330 SS boats on Worldwide Yachtsman were asking $39,500 to $69,900, for 1998 to 2006 hulls. Condition, hours, drives and options move the price more than year alone.
Who is the Formula 330 SS for?
Families and friends who want cockpit space and weekend overnights in the cuddy, with more pace than a typical express cruiser. It suits lakes in particular, where a wide, stable platform matters.
Sources
Every quote on this page comes from a public forum post, linked beside it, fetched on 2026-10-19.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| Offshoreonly: "Looking to buy a Formula 330 SS, tell me the good and bad" | Owner pros and cons (tlark, BOATMAN302, Knot 4 Me) |
| Offshoreonly: "Formula 330 SS Opinions" | Demo speed (Magicfloat) and deadrise discussion |
| BoatTEST: Formula 330 Sun Sport | Beam and brief summary |