Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 boat specs
Formula
Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009
2009
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VS
Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 boat specs
Formula
Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008
2008
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Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 vs Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 — Which Deep Vee Fits Your Needs?

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 and the Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 are deep vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 measures 34,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 5,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 at 29,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 tips the scales at 1 095 lbs — 200 lbs less than the Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 at 895 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 34,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeFormula
MakeFormula
Model290 Sun Sport
Model330 Sun Sport
Model Year2009
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam9 ft. 0 in. (2.74 m)
Beam10 ft. 2 in. (3.1 m)
Beam - Meters2.74
Beam - Meters3.1
Beam - Inches108
Beam - Inches122
Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 10 in. (1.77 m) With Arch: 8 ft. 2 in. (2.49 m)
Bridge clearance - DetailLight Load: 6 ft. (1.83 m) Light Load w/ Arch: 9 ft. (2.74 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.49
Bridge clearance - Meters2.74
Bridge clearance - Inches98
Bridge clearance - Inches108
Deadrise22℃
Deadrise20℃
Draft [max] - Detail40 in. (1.02 m)
Draft [max] - Detail35 in. (0.89 m)
Draft [max] - Meters1.02
Draft [max] - Meters0.89
Draft [max] - Inches4
Draft [max] - Inches35
Weight - Detail8,950 lbs. (4,060 kg)
Weight - Detail10,950 lbs. (4,967 kg)
Weight - kg4059.65
Weight - kg4966.83
Weight - lbs.895
Weight - lbs.1095
Length - Meters8.84
Length - Meters10.5
Length - Feet29
Length - Feet34
Length overall - Detail29 ft. 0 in. (8.84 m)
Length overall - Detail34 ft. 5 in. (10.5 m)
Length overall - Meters8.84
Length overall - Meters10.49
Length overall - Inches348
Length overall - Inches413
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches5
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Max no of engines2
Max no of enginesnot available
Engine/s standardVolvo Penta twin 5.7 Gi DP
Engine/s standardVolvo Penta Twin 5.7 GXi DP
Fuel tank capacity - Detail110 gal. (416 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail160 gal. (606 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters416.4
Fuel tank capacity - Liters605.67
Fuel tank capacity - Gal11
Fuel tank capacity - Gal16
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or diesel
Drive typeInboard
Drive typeInboard
Operational Info
Headroom5 ft. 1 in. (1.54 m)
Headroom5 ft. 7 in. (1.7 m)
Water capacity20 gal. (76 l)
Water capacity20 gal. (76 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail22 gal. (83 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail26 gal. (98 l)
Holding tank capacity - Liters83.28
Holding tank capacity - Liters98.42
Holding tank capacity - Gal22
Holding tank capacity - Gal26

Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 vs Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 or the Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008?
The Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 is the longer of the two at 34,0 feet overall. The Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 comes in at 29,0 feet, making it roughly 5,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 or the Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008?
For trailering, the Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 has the edge at 895 lbs dry weight versus 1 095 lbs for the Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 is certified for 10. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 measures 122" wide, compared to 108" for the Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 or the Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008?
The Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 has the bigger tank at 16 gallons, versus 11 gallons on the Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009. That 5-gallon difference translates to roughly 15–25 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 and Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Formula 290 Sun Sport 2009 and the Formula 330 Sun Sport 2008 are built by Formula. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.