2004 sundancer 300 vs 330

[Bruce Colley]

I have read many posts that say that the 330 is the a great overall boat, I just sold my sea ray (older one) and am looking at an 04 300 its nicely appointed with painted hull, twin 5.7 bIII drives generator, camper back canvas, seems thats is one of the better years smart gauges fuel filter system etc. but as i mentioned several posts articles suggest eith the 330 or the 360. I havent been on one beside room what is going to be the difference and what is everyones opinion. this will likely be the lasat boat i buy, so iwould like to make the best decision. i belive 330 and higher have shaft drives is that correct. so that might affect the draft a bit. i live on vancouver island so lots of island cruising as opposed to open ocen cruising.

 

[ZZ13]

I owned a 2004 300DA with the 350MAG engines. Has the ideal combo of Smartcraft and Cool Fuel II fuel cooler. So it’s before the troublesome Cool Fuel 3 came out. Loved the boat. Did not like the maintenance of the BIII and the mercathode anti corrosion bandaid. I was in fresh water. I wouldn’t own one in salt water unless it was on a boat lift.

Only thing I can say about the 360 is the few people I knew who had one couldn’t wait to sell it because of the expensive fuel burn rate.

 

[Stee6043]

I have read many posts that say that the 330 is the a great overall boat, I just sold my sea ray (older one) and am looking at an 04 300 its nicely appointed with painted hull, twin 5.7 bIII drives generator, camper back canvas, seems thats is one of the better years smart gauges fuel filter system etc. but as i mentioned several posts articles suggest eith the 330 or the 360. I havent been on one beside room what is going to be the difference and what is everyones opinion. this will likely be the lasat boat i buy, so iwould like to make the best decision. i belive 330 and higher have shaft drives is that correct. so that might affect the draft a bit. i live on vancouver island so lots of island cruising as opposed to open ocen cruising.

I'm not sure which years you're looking at but the 340 is also a great boat. It's taller down below than the 330 and has a centered master berth, much taller arch (helm headroom), among other things, but generally the same hull as the 330. When I was shopping for 330's I got on a 340 and my decision was made...feels like a very different boat in the cabin.

If you're leaving the boat in the water full time, V-Drives should be on your short list of "must haves". You'll find straight shaft drives on the express/amberjack boats, but not the Sundancer. To get straight shaft drives you have to give up the mid-cabin sleeping area you see in the Sundancers.

The 360 is a slick boat with a very limited production quantity. It's fills a strange gap between the 340 and the 380. But shoot, if you're going that big you might as well step into a 400/410. With that you get a solid door to the mid cabin, a full size separate shower, all kinds of nice things.

Good luck with your shopping!

 

[BillK2632]

I can't speak specifically about the models -- although a friend I cruised with had a 2003 300 and liked it. I had a 2000 290da and also like it. My regret about that boat is that I did not step up to a 310 or 340 at the time so I could get V-Drives. I had other friends at the time that had a 310 and 340, I still think the 340 is about the best cruiser of that size built - by anyone. Never ever again will I own a sterndrive boat that stays in the water -- yeah you can do it, but the maintenance adds up, along with the emotional aspect of seeing how those drives age as the slowly corrode away.

My 3yr old Bravo III that sat in freshwater (these were the older drives without the additional anodes) The newer ones are much better:

My 20yr old Alpha I that was dry stored:

 

[Stee6043]

I can't speak specifically about the models -- although a friend I cruised with had a 2003 300 and liked it. I had a 2000 290da and also like it. My regret about that boat is that I did not step up to a 310 or 340 at the time so I could get V-Drives. I had other friends at the time that had a 310 and 340, I still think the 340 is about the best cruiser of that size built - by anyone. Never ever again will I own a sterndrive boat that stays in the water -- yeah you can do it, but the maintenance adds up, along with the emotional aspect of seeing how those drives age as the slowly corrode away.

My 3yr old Bravo III that sat in freshwater (these were the older drives without the additional anodes) The newer ones are much better:

View attachment 158999
My 20yr old Alpha I that was dry stored:
View attachment 159000

+1. A 340 with v-drives handles like a skidsteer around the docks too. It's like having an easy-button for docking