Formula’s 330 SunSport Struts Her Stuff

Even though it was rough, raining off and on and we were working on a very tight schedule, life was good! Here I was working (aka having a great time) testing the 2003 model year Formula boats daring anything to ruin the day. Scott Smith and the rest of his crew from Formula did a fine job of providing very clean, complete examples of the boats we tested. This in itself showed their dedication to excellence in product. I have seen too many boats come off the assembly line and show up in the dealer show rooms with mediocre “fit and finish” that seemed to scream they really don’t care.

The 330 Sun Sport for 2003 offers some new tricks this year. A very sporty looking arch is their most obvious option added. Besides being functional, it gives the boat a very sporty look. Stainless steel wrap-around windshield frames are also an option this year. A new Sun Sport Imron choice enhances the lines of the boat nicely. There are about a dozen other options you can ask about along with the dozens of standard items on this sweetheart. She is NMMA Yacht Certified and carries a transferable 5-year Formula limited warranty.

The 330 is beamier than her little sister the 280 at 10’ 2”. Her waterline length seems much longer than her 33’0” centerline. She weighs in at 9,700 lbs, carries 20 gallons of fresh water, 160 gallons of fuel capacity and has a 26-gallon holding tank. Although the fun happens up on deck in what I call “Party Central” the cabin is ready for the evening with a cabin height of 5’7”, comfortable for most everyone. The Ultraleather U-shaped forward dinette lounge/double berth invites you to enjoy the evening on the hook.

The galley challenges most cruisers out there with a refrigerator, microwave, Corian countertop and in-counter trash receptacle. You will have plenty of tunes for entertainment with the Kenwood system you choose. Two 100W speakers and an AM/FM/CD with controls below, at the helm and at the swim platform should keep you in control of things nicely. A full head rounds out the comfort below.

On deck, with the canvas up for rain, I still had plenty of room at 6 feet. And when you feel like getting in close to shore her draft of 35” will get you into most areas with room to spare. She offers tons of room to sit or lounge on deck, with the port lounge which can seat two or convert into a great sun lounge for one. The helm seats have flip up bolsters, which help make the ride more comfortable for the driver. The area behind the helm is the focus with a double table that drops to become the oversize sun pad. The U-shaped lounge area entertains a crowd with space in the floor for the skis and under the seats for all the other gear to hide safely away. The molded in cockpit galley has an integrated sink and 54-quart Igloo cooler for the cold beverages. There’s even room to dance here under the night sky, but I would put the tables away first!

When you need to get to the engines, the power lift is great. You have space to step down in front of the engines to reach any of the standard service items. Batteries and Y-valve are easy to see and work with. Even with the big 6.2’s, I had room to hang around the engines and look for the connections for my test gear. Now that is giving you room to work!

I took the 330 Sun Sport out late in the afternoon when the wind had settled somewhat. With two guys, forty gallons of fuel and as much humidity as Southern Florida could wring out, we pushed the twin Mercury 6.2MX MPI’s as hard as they would run. She was eager to plane and consistently hit plane in only 4.9 seconds. Once out of the hole, the 330 Sun Sport was just as eager to race on getting to 30 miles per hour in an average of 7 seconds. She cruised very comfortably at 3000 rpms and just under 30 miles per hour. At best cruise, the 330 Sun Sport will take you 170 miles between fuel stops. Although I don’t recommend flying along at top speed all the time, this one averaged 53.5 miles per hour in a busy seaway skipping over others wake. She is still rather efficient at top speed, offering around 120 miles between fuel stops. Sound in the cockpit was comfortable with a low of 67 dBa at idle to 85 dBa at cruise and 92 dBa at top speed.

The 330 Sun Sport ran very comfortably regardless of whether I was at the helm or lounging back in “Party Central” behind the helm. Her 20-degree deadrise and deep-V hull seem to split the chop well continuing the comfort of the ride with ease, even at speed. She took turns well without excessive slip and without over revving the engines. I purposely jumped a couple of large wakes and found she handled them quite well.

John Adams, exclusive designer for Formula, has done a great job putting this together and giving you a predictably fun ride. You will have the speed and control you expect from Formula. You will also get the comfort and feel of the cruiser line in a boat they call one of their day boats. She is much more than a day boat and will serve you well for a weekend on the hook. If you are looking for a boat you can drive hard, party hard and sleep comfortably on, take a look at Formula’s 330 Sun Sport for 2003. You will be very happy you did!

By Capt. Bob Smith

Test Captain

Speeds measured with Stalker ProSports radar gun. Fuel consumption (gallons per hour) measured with Floscan digital fuel-flow meter on gas inboards, sterndrives, and outboards, TechMate electronic scan tool on gas EFI inboards, Caterpillar digital fuel-flow meter on diesel engines, or permanently installed fuel-monitoring equipment. Range is based on 90% of published fuel capacity. Sound levels determined using Radio Shack digital decibel meter on A scale. 68 dBA is the level of normal conversation.

Performance Chart

Test Conditions