Design and Construction
A solid GRP hull paired with a balsa-cored deck forms the 331's shell, and Beneteau bonded a structural inner grid to the hull to provide rigidity and distribute loads. The beam-to-length ratio, carried well aft, gives the wide stern real form stability: the boat stays relatively upright and composed as the breeze freshens rather than heeling hard. At 11,173 pounds displacement with a 30.58-percent ballast-to-displacement ratio, the 331 is a light boat by cruising standards, and its 176.40 displacement-length ratio places it firmly in the coastal cruiser camp. The 2.02 capsize screening figure and 20.80 motion comfort ratio reinforce that this is a near-shore vessel, not an offshore passagemaker.
Rig and Handling
The 331 is a masthead sloop carrying 500 square feet of sail area on a deck-stepped spar, with swept-back spreaders that do away with the need for a backstay adjuster in most cruising contexts. In-mast furling was offered as an option to further simplify short-handed sailing. Three keel configurations were built: a standard bulb fin at about 5 feet 2 inches, a shallow-draft bulb at 3 feet 4 inches, and a lifting-keel centreboard version with twin rudders and a minimum draft of 2 feet 11 inches. On the lifting-keel models the twin rudders maintain steering authority even when the board is raised, and the stub keel must house the pivoting cast iron foil and manage the stresses of the lifting mechanism.
Accommodations
Below, the standard two-cabin Owner version places the master stateroom in the V-berth forward behind a sliding privacy door with a hanging locker, and a massive athwartships aft berth dominates the stern. The three-cabin Moorings 332 charter configuration — a role the 331 filled as the Moorings 332 — splits the aft into two separate cabins. A surprisingly large and open saloon holds a large L-shaped starboard settee that converts to a double with the drop-leaf table, while the straight portside settee shares a seat with an aft-facing nav desk. The compact head aft of the saloon to starboard omits a stall shower, though the Owner layout instead provides a massive heads compartment and a dedicated wet locker. An L-shaped galley to starboard and 48 gallons of water support the boat's stated capacity of six to nine people on overnight cruises.
Cockpit and Deck
Above the waterline the 331 offers a spacious cockpit with a walk-thru transom for easy water or dinghy access, plus stowage lockers that extend outdoor living space. Navigation instruments sit in a pod at the single helm station, keeping sightlines clear. The battery was located just ahead of the engine under the companionway — an unusual placement given that batteries generally tolerate heat poorly.
Power and Known Issues
Most 331s left the factory with a 27 or 29 hp diesel, though boats.com notes many with a 30 hp Volvo and a few with a 27 hp Westerbeke, all on 18 gallons of fuel. The only documented configuration caveat is the centreboard version's grounding requirement: it can dry out safely provided the ground is level and firm, sitting on its stub keel and twin rudders.
The Verdict
The Beneteau 331 is a thoughtfully packaged coastal cruiser that trades offshore ambition for volume, simplicity, and a stiff, composed motion in freshening wind. The Finot hull delivers real living space from a modest loa, and the multiple keel options broaden its cruising range from shallow creeks to open bay sailing.
Pros
- Wide beam carried aft creates a roomy, open saloon and large aft berths
- Form stability keeps the boat upright as the breeze builds
- Swept-back spreaders remove the backstay adjuster for simpler rig tuning
- Three keel choices, including a lifting centreboard for thin water
- Walk-through transom and spacious cockpit extend outdoor living
Cons
- Compact head lacks a stall shower in the standard two-cabin layout
- Battery placement ahead of the engine exposes it to heat
- Centreboard version demands level, firm ground to dry out safely
- Light displacement and ratios mark it as coastal, not bluewater
