Design and Construction
The 331 has a solid GRP hull and a balsa-cored deck. Beneteau bonded a structural inner grid to the hull for rigidity and load distribution.
Its beam is carried well aft, giving the wide stern considerable form stability. As the breeze freshens, the boat stays relatively upright and composed rather than heeling hard. At 11,173 pounds displacement and with a 30.58-percent ballast-to-displacement ratio, the 331 is light by cruising standards. Its 176.40 displacement-length ratio places it firmly in the coastal-cruiser camp. A 2.02 capsize screening figure and 20.80 motion comfort ratio further mark it as a near-shore vessel rather than an offshore passagemaker.
Rig, Keels, and Handling
The 331 is a masthead sloop with 500 square feet of sail area and a deck-stepped spar. Swept-back spreaders eliminate the need for a backstay adjuster in most cruising situations. In-mast furling was optional, further simplifying short-handed sailing.
Beneteau offered three keel configurations:
- A standard bulb fin drawing about 5 feet 2 inches
- A shallow-draft bulb drawing 3 feet 4 inches
- A lifting-keel centreboard version with twin rudders and a minimum draft of 2 feet 11 inches
On lifting-keel boats, the twin rudders maintain steering authority even with the board raised. The stub keel must house the pivoting cast-iron foil and handle the stresses imposed by the lifting mechanism. This version can also dry out safely on its stub keel and twin rudders, provided the ground is level and firm.
Accommodations
The standard two-cabin Owner version has a forward master stateroom, with the V-berth separated from the saloon by a sliding privacy door and accompanied by a hanging locker. A massive athwartships berth fills much of the stern. The 331 also served in charter as the Moorings 332; that three-cabin configuration divides the aft space into two separate cabins.
The surprisingly large, open saloon has an L-shaped settee to starboard. With the drop-leaf table, it converts into a double berth. A straight portside settee shares a seat with the aft-facing navigation desk.
An L-shaped galley sits to starboard. The compact head is aft of the saloon on the same side and has no separate shower stall. However, the Owner layout instead provides a massive heads compartment and a dedicated wet locker. Its L-shaped galley and 48 gallons of water support the boat's stated overnight capacity of six to nine people.
Cockpit and Deck
The 331 has a spacious cockpit and a walk-through transom, making it easy to reach the water or board a dinghy. Stowage lockers add useful cockpit storage and help extend the living space outdoors.
Navigation instruments are mounted in a pod at the single helm station, preserving clear sightlines. The battery is installed just ahead of the engine beneath the companionway—an unusual location, since batteries generally tolerate heat poorly.
Engine and Fuel
Most Beneteau 331s left the factory with a 27 or 29 hp diesel. However, boats.com notes that many have a 30 hp Volvo, while a few have a 27 hp Westerbeke. Fuel capacity is 18 gallons.
The Verdict
The Beneteau 331 is a thoughtfully packaged coastal cruiser that trades offshore ambition for interior volume, simplicity, and a stiff, composed motion as the wind builds. The Finot hull provides substantial living space for its modest LOA, while the three keel options suit cruising grounds ranging from shallow creeks to open bays.
Pros
- Wide beam carried aft creates a roomy, open saloon and large aft berths
- Form stability keeps the boat relatively upright as the breeze builds
- Swept-back spreaders eliminate the backstay adjuster, simplifying rig tuning
- Three keel choices, including a lifting centreboard for thin water
- Walk-through transom and spacious cockpit extend the living space outdoors
Cons
- Compact head lacks a separate shower stall in the standard two-cabin layout
- Battery placement ahead of the engine exposes it to heat
- Centreboard version requires level, firm ground to dry out safely
- Light displacement and design ratios identify it as a coastal rather than bluewater cruiser
