Beneteau 331 (Oceanis 331)
Built 1999–2004 by Beneteau (France; some US models built in Marion, SC)
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About the Beneteau 331 (Oceanis 331)
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1999–2004
- Builder
- Beneteau (France; some US models built in Marion, SC)
- Designer
- Groupe Finot
- Length
- 33.92 ft
- Waterline
- 30.5 ft
- Beam
- 11.33 ft
- Draft
- 5.5 ft
- Displacement
- 11,173 lb
- Ballast
- 3,253 lb
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Fuel
- 18 gal
- Water
- 48 gal
- Water heater
- 6 gal · AC
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- pedestal cable
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 18 gal
“18 U.S. gallons (68L; 15impgal)” — spec database (1999-2004), en.wikipedia.orgWikipedia (which cites sailboatdata) agrees; no builder figure could be checked.
-
Water 48 gal
“48 U.S. gallons (180L; 40impgal)” — spec database (1999-2004), en.wikipedia.org
-
Holding unknown
“a large-size (23 gallon) holding tank” — search excerpt (2000-2005), murrayyachtsales.comOne non-builder source only: a broker's compiled model review.
-
Water heater 6 gal · AC
“10 Water Heater [capacity : 22.7 L (6 US gal)]” — owner's manual (2003), cdn.yachtbroker.orgBeneteau USA's owner's manual (rev 02, Jan 2003) shows the heater in the fresh-water plumbing diagram and on the 110V panel (15 A breaker), without saying standard or optional. No engine coil is shown.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster unknown
The Beneteau USA owner's manual (R02) doesn't mention a thruster, and no option list was found.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source; the owner's manual is silent on thrusters.
-
Steering pedestal cable
“an emergency tiller for use if there is a failure in the wheel steering system ... Check at least once a year that the s” — owner's manual, cdn.yachtbroker.org · “4 Steering Cable / 5 Quadrant” — owner's manual, cdn.yachtbroker.orgBuilder's owner's manual describes wheel steering at a helm pedestal driving a quadrant by steering cables, with an emergency tiller; pedestal maker not named.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on Volvo hp — left blank rather than guessed.
Bulb fin keel with spade rudder; three keel options (standard bulb, shallow bulb, lifting keel with twin rudders). Also marketed as the Oceanis 331. Sailboatdata lists Beneteau USA as builder.
Engines fitted
-
Westerbeke 27 hp diesel (Mitsubishi-based) — 27 hp, diesel, single
standard
US-built Beneteau 331: Westerbeke 27 hp per sailboatdata and Wikipedia. An owner of a 2001 boat found the plate reading about 25 hp at 3,600 rpm; forum members guess a Westerbeke M4-30 on a Mitsubishi block.Sources: sailboatdata.com · en.wikipedia.org · forums.sailboatowners.com
-
Volvo Penta MD2030 — 29 hp, diesel, single
standard
European-built Oceanis 331 used a Volvo diesel (Wikipedia); a 2001 Oceanis 331 Clipper is listed with an MD2030, and a buyer's guide says many 331s have a Volvo of about 30 hp.Sources: en.wikipedia.org · listingsport.com · facebook.com
-
Yanmar diesel (model not stated) — diesel, single
factory option
A 2003 SailNet thread from the Miami show says Beneteau offered a Yanmar in place of the Westerbeke for about $1,500 extra.Sources: sailnet.com
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
The owner's manual electrical section covers shore power, charger and 110V outlets only; no generator mentioned.
Manuals and brochures online
- Document Beneteau heritage page, Oceanis Clipper 331 (builder model page; its specification table did not render in the reader) (1999-2004) — beneteau.com
Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.
Known problems for this model
No well-sourced problem reports found yet.
Engines & parts
Volvo Penta MD2010 / MD2020 / MD2030 / MD2040 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Volvo Penta MD2030”
Shibaura-based small diesels (MD2030 is a 3-cylinder, 29 hp, built 1994–2006 per a Swedish rebuild shop). Parts are still sold through the Volvo Penta network and some cross-reference to related Shibaura engines; aftermarket stainless exhaust elbows (replacing Volvo 861906) are widely sold. Often paired with Volvo 120S/130S saildrives, whose rubber diaphragm seal Volvo says to replace at least every seven years.
Parts sources: AB Marine Service (exhaust elbow 861906), FYB Marine (saildrive diaphragm seal kit), Parts4Engines
Common problems (3)
-
Exhaust elbow corrosion and clogging exhaust
The cast exhaust elbow and pipe corrode or clog with seawater scale and carbon; stainless aftermarket elbows are a common fix.meksta.com · ab-marineservice.com
-
Saildrive diaphragm seal replacement running gear
Volvo's 7-year saildrive diaphragm replacement (sometimes an insurance requirement) is a frequent question; DIY is possible in a day with a haul-out, while yard quotes vary widely.forums.ybw.com · bavariayacht.org · fybmarine.shop
-
Blocked heat exchanger, broken impellers, glow plug faults cooling
Other frequent faults are internally blocked heat exchangers, disintegrating raw-water impellers, failed preheat/glow plugs and carboned injectors.meksta.com
Maker’s service schedule (20)
| Engine oil & filter change Early engines (1993 instruction book 7735333-2: MS2 reverse gear / 120S drive) | 100 hrs or 6 mo | “Service every 100 hours of operation, or at least once every 6 months” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Engine oil & filter change Later engines (2002 operator's manual 7741986: MS10/MS15 reverse gear / MS25S drive) | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 100 operating hours or at least once a year” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “Service every 200 hours of operation, or at least once a year” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Raw-water pump impeller | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “every 200 hours, or at least once a year:” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Transmission fluid change | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “Service every 200 hours of operation, or at least once a year” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Check / adjust idling speed | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “every 200 hours, or at least once a year:” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Take apart and clean the vacuum (siphon-break) valve | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “Take apart and clean the vacuum valve, if fitted.” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Lubricate the rubber propeller-shaft seal (shaft installations) | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “Lubricate the rubber propeller shaft seal (inboard engine).” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Check S-drive / reverse-gear corrosion protection (zinc ring / anodes) | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “Check the S-drive’s zinc anode (zinc ring).” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Coolant replacement & freeze-point test Glycol antifreeze mixture (the normal fill) | 400 hrs or 2 yrs | “every 400 hours, or at least once every other year:” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Coolant replacement & freeze-point test Anti-corrosion-agent mixture without glycol (later manual) | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “If the freshwater system is filled with an anti-corrosion agent mixture it must be changed every year.” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Air filter / intake silencer | 400 hrs or 2 yrs | “Service every 400 hours of operation, or at least once every other year” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Heat exchanger & oil cooler cleaning | 400 hrs or 2 yrs | “Check that the heat exchanger is not blocked.” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Injector test / service | 400 hrs or 2 yrs | “every 400 hours, or at least once every other year:” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Valve clearance check / adjust | 400 hrs or 2 yrs | “every 400 hours, or at least once every other year:” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Re-tighten cylinder head bolts (workshop) Early engines (1993 instruction book 7735333-2: MS2 reverse gear / 120S drive) | 400 hrs or 2 yrs | “every 400 hours, or at least once every other year:” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Check the seawater filter Early engines (1993 instruction book 7735333-2: MS2 reverse gear / 120S drive) | 50 hrs | “Service every 50 hours of operation” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Check the S-drive rubber seal (hull/drive) Later engines (2002 operator's manual 7741986: MS10/MS15 reverse gear / MS25S drive) | 1 yr | “S-drive. Check rubber seal (hull/drive)” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Replace propeller-shaft seal (reverse-gear installations, workshop) | 500 hrs or 5 yrs | “Every 500 operating hours or at least every fifth year” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
| Replace S-drive rubber seal between drive and hull (workshop) | 7 yrs | “Every seventh year” — manufacturer, sbo.sailboatowners.com |
Service part numbers (7)
| Oil filter MD2010 / MD2020 |
Volvo Penta 861473 | “p.90 "MD2010, MD2020, MD2030, MD2040" block: Oil filter (MD2010/2020) — 861473” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “# Volvo Penta MD2020B … [OIL FILTER] Part Number: 861473” — dealer, marinepartsexpress.com |
| Oil filter MD2030 / MD2040 |
Volvo Penta 3840525 | “p.90 "MD2010, MD2020, MD2030, MD2040" block: Oil filter (MD2030/2040) — 3840525” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “# Volvo Penta MD2030B … [OIL FILTER] Part Number: 3840525” — dealer, marinepartsexpress.com |
| Raw-water impeller MD2010 up to SN 5101203008; MD2020 up to SN 5101309052 (VP footnote 3) |
Volvo Penta 3586494 Also: Johnson 09-806B, Jabsco 4528-0001, Sherwood 9979 |
“p.90 "MD2010…MD2040" block: Impeller kit 3) — 3586494; 3) MD2010 SN -5101203008, MD2020 SN -5101309052” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “MD2010A**, MD2010B**, MD2010C, MD2010D / MD2020A**, MD2020B** … Volvo Penta: 875807-0 803729 3586494 876689” — dealer, poseidonmarine.eu |
| Raw-water impeller MD2030 / MD2040; MD2010 from SN 5101203009; MD2020 from SN 5101309053 (VP footnote 4) |
Volvo Penta 22222936 | “p.90 "MD2010…MD2040" block: Impeller kit (MD2030/2040) 4) — 22222936; 4) MD2010 SN 5101203009-, MD2020 SN 5101309053-” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “IMPELLER KIT … MD2010,MD2010B,MD2010-C,MD2010-D,MD2020,…,MD2030,…,MD2040-D” — dealer, volvopentaparts.shop |
| Thermostat MD2010 / MD2020 |
Volvo Penta 861911 | “Volvo Penta thermostat for various MD2010 and MD2020 engines … 861911” — dealer, ab-marineservice.com · “Fits engine versions MD2020-A, MD2020-B, MD2020-C, MD2020-D / Volvo thermostat part number 861911” — dealer, parts4engines.com |
| Thermostat MD2030 / MD2040 |
Volvo Penta 3580365 | “Thermostat designed to replace Volvo part numbers 3580365 … MD2030A … MD2040D” — dealer, piecesbateaux.com · “# Volvo Penta MD2030B … [THERMOSTAT] Part Number: 3580365” — dealer, marinepartsexpress.com |
| Drive belt MD2010 / MD2020 (alternator, cogged V-belt) |
Volvo Penta 973534 Replaces 966898 |
“Current part number: 973534 Previous part number: 966898 … MD2010A … MD2020-D” — dealer, marinepartsystem.com · “# Volvo Penta MD2020B … [V-BELT] Part Number: 973534” — dealer, marinepartsexpress.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Model sources (7)
sailboatdata.com · en.wikipedia.org · forums.sailboatowners.com · sailnet.com · listingsport.com · facebook.com · cdn.yachtbroker.org
Other Beneteau models
- Beneteau 393 (Oceanis Clipper 393) 2002–2007
- Beneteau 423 (Oceanis 423) 2002–?
- Beneteau First 38s5 1989–1994
- Beneteau Oceanis 390 1987–?
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.