330 w/F250s (enough power)?

[grady33]

Looking at 06 330. Are 250s enough power for the boat with 7 people on board and fuel, bait etc? Any problems with this set up?

 

[Fishermanbb]

Yes....Yes....and YES.......Not only are the 250's enough power but so are the 225's. Plenty of people will come on here and tell you otherwise.....I've OWNED a 330 w/ 225's and it ran fine. Cruised at 29 MPH all day long regardless of load. I have also ran a 330 extensively with the 250's. SLIGHTLY quicker out of the hole....IDENTICAL cruising speed and higher top end.....But, they burn more fuel at cruise........

EITHER set up will be fine...........500 HP on the back of a 33' express is plenty of power.......And I'm not one to putz around out there either. My current 360 has the 250's (Trips) and it too is plenty of power .....Cruises at 32 MPH whether it's empty or fully loaded.........These boats were not meant to be the go fast SKA CC's. They move plenty fast for an express.........

 

[HMBJack]

I second the notion that F250's are PLENTY for the 330 Express.

I own a 2006 330 with F250's. A neighbor at the Harbor of mine has a 2003 330 with F225's.

On Tuna trips, we'll cruise at the same speed (22-24 knots or 26=27 statute mph). Only difference is the F225 boat is running at ~4,800 RPM's while mine is running ~4,50- RPM's. Each boat is heavy with ice, full fuel, people and gear. At the end of the day, the F225's burn less fuel than mine - not much but maybe 5-8% or so.

So, arguably, there is nothing wrong with a 330 powered by F225's. Good luck!

 

[JoleGW33]

In my opinion YES, I have a 330 with 225s and it cruises easily at 28-30 with any load!

 

[grady33]

Thanks for the quick replies. I really appreciate it. I know they made some changes with the 2007-2008 model year. Are there any major issues with 2006 (330 express) boats that anyone knows of?

 

[HMBJack]

My 2006 has a Panda Diesel generator + a flat panel TV.

Not sure when the changes were made but earlier 330's has Gas gensets and a tube style TV.

 

[Coconut330]

I had F225's on my 330 and it ran just fine. It would run all day at 28 to 30 MPH with full load. Top speed 35. I have friends that have 250's on theirs and when we run side by side on trips I got better fuel economy with the 225's. Top speed was the same.
The 33 is a great boat. You will love it.
I just repowered mine with the new F300's and still think the 225's were enough power.

 

[JoleGW33]

Thanks for the quick replies. I really appreciate it. I know they made some changes with the 2007-2008 model year. Are there any major issues with 2006 (330 express) boats that anyone knows of?

I would believe that by 2006 fischerpanda stopped making salt water cooled diesel gensets, but make sure your gen is cooled via heat exchanger, my 2003 came with diesel gen (saltwater cooled) but had to be replace with a newer fischerpanda gen because the salt ate her away from the inside do to poor maintenance. Just trying to help and learn at the same time

Goodluck!

 

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

I also had a 2007 330 with F250's and yes, power was good for that type of boat.

 

[grady33]

OK so my brother and I pulled the trigger and made a offer on a 330 Express. Just got done with a test ride in the Ocean. Seas were 3-4 with occasional 5 and short intervals and boat handled well. Handled head sea at 20 MPH easily and beam sea without a problem. Dry boat. Has twin YAM 250's and we were able to cruise at 20-25 MPH @4200-4300 burning about 25-27 GPH. A little more than I'm burning now with my OX66 225's on my Sailfish. We can usually cruise at 25-30 knots burning 20 MPG. Does this sound right to everyone? I would have liked to have a little more speed but it was fairly rough so it probably will do much better in calmer seas.

 

[HMBJack]

Yup, those numbers sound right. Speed in knots right?

 

[phs115]

I have a 2007 330 with the twin 250's. Ran yesterday with a full fuel load flat seas 31 mph at 4600RPM burning 25.8 gph. Boat does
have enough power with the 250's. Ran to the canyon a couple of weeks ago in 2' to 3' chop at 4400RPM at 28MPH burning 24GPH.
So hope this helps..

 

[grady33]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm looking forward to getting out there and seeing what my new 330 can do. Seems that trimming the motors and tabs seems will be really important. Having generator and duel furuno vx2 will be great! I will be adding underwater lights and ser weather.

Fished my sailfish yesterday for he last time. Love this boat and the power it has(ox66). We cruised at 32 mph burning 21-22 gph in 3 ft seas. Will be posting boat for sale today.