2001 Doral 330 SE

Testers Notebook: Doral 330 SE Location: St. Maurice River, Grand-Mere.  Quebec, Canada Test load: Safety gear, No water, No waste, Half fuel. Driver and one passenger. Test day conditions: Wind 8-10 knots, Short choppy waves. River current. Synopsis: By offering both sterndrives and V-drives, with gasoline or diesel power, the Doral 330 appeals to a wide range of cruisers; the stylish interior will also have wide appeal, whether with the standard or wood-accented interior.

By: Mike Milne
       One of the big advances in production yacht design in the late '70s and early '90s – and arguably one of the developments that helped lead to the increased popularity of small express cruisers – was the appearance of the mid-cabin.
       The increased use of sterndrives on express cruisers, which pushed the engines back further aft in the hull, opened up a cavernous space under the cockpit of the express cruiser design. A sleeping cabin was an obvious use; that meant even the most compact 25-foot express cruiser could boast sizeable private sleeping accommodations.
       Then the challenge was to make the mid-cabin comfortable. While many are spacious and well-ventilated sleeping and lounging areas, most small-cruiser mid-cabins still lack any standing headroom, a necessity for hassle-free dressing by most two-legged creatures. And while some express cruisers are beginning to bump up the headroom, often by moulding a lounge into the port-side forward cockpit area, few under 35 feet are making much headway. Until now.
       The new Doral 330 SE makes its mid-cabin the master stateroom, separates it from the rest of the boat with a real door, builds in a good-sized full-headroom dressing area to port and leaves the vast storage lockers, full beam width and port-and-starboard opening ports that are already found in Doral's mid-cabins. That creates a really comfortable room.
       With no worries about having to create a master suite forward, Doral uses the salon space to advantage. There's a large circular table right forward (which does convert into a large double bed if needed), along with a curving settee and elliptical table along the port-side wall.
       With the galley and enclosed head to starboard, the boat has a bright airy interior, that makes as much sense for cruising as for entertaining. If you choose the Deluxe interior (installed on our test boat) you get cherry wood veneer interiors cabinetry and details; the standard white Octolam laminate is not as warm, but bright and cheerful. Either way, Doral's careful choice of upholstery, fabrics and laminates, along with a full fibreglass liner, gives the boat up-to-the-minute style in concert with easy-cleaning practicality.
       As for storage space, Doral always adds plenty. The new 330 SE is no exception.
       Topsides, the 330 SE also gets top marks for its rakish good looks and reverse radar arch. It's a boat that introduces style to comfort and blends the two qualities effortlesssly. There's easy access forward through an opening windscreen, as well as walkaround side decks. The aft cockpit invites relaxation with curving sofas and removable tables, but also makes room for storage and allows easy access to the engines under the floors.
       Performance likewise does not disappoint. While the test boat was fitted with twin Mercury MerCruiser 7.4 MPI sterndrives, pushing twin counter-rotating props through two Bravo Three drives, the 330 SE is also available with diesels or with V-Drives replacing the sterndrives.  The sterndrives offer more sprightly sport boat style handling, while the V-drives lend more bluewater-cruising characteristics. It's just a matter of taste.
       Doral has been building its 30-foot cruiser (available in 300 SE or 300 SC versions) with a choice of sterndrives or V-drives for a few years, so its designers are capable of easily effecting the conversion. I've driven both V-drive and sterndrive versions of Doral's 30-footer; each has distinct characteristics, considered desirable for different boating and cruising styles. The 330 SE is an ideal size for V-drives, but many boaters prefer the convenience and handling characteristics of sterndrives. Take your pick.
       With sterndrives and twin 7.4 MPIs, familiar MerCruiser big-blocks with multiport fuel injection, the 330 SE had good acceleration, reaching 20 miles per hour in 6.88 seconds and hitting 30 mph in   well under 10 seconds. Zero to 40 mph in just over 13 seconds is nothing to sniff at in a more than six-ton cruiser.
       Sound levels are low as in most Doral cruisers; DoralCore construction and a tight finish ensure that. Sound levels are 78 decibels and less at cruising speeds. Even at top speed, sound at the helm is a quiet 79 decibels.
       Top speed, with the engines turning 4,700 rpm, is 43.4 mph. At 3,000 rpm, the 330 SE runs at 18.1 mph, but 3,500 mph is a better cruising speed, with radar-verified speeds of 28.1mph. Cruising all day at just under 30 mph, this boat could take you to some very interesting places, in the most modern style, at a pace that's sure to keep your adrenaline running.

Specs:

For the dealer nearest you contact:

Doral International,
1991 3rd Avenue, Grand-Mere, Que. G9T 2W6
(888) 84DORAL  or  (819) 538-0781
Fax: (819) 538-6330