1981 Sea Ray SRV270

[richard3rd]

Hello everyone. I just purchased a 81' SRV270. I'm planning on a full restore, looking for any pictures,spec and or advice on this project. It has twin 470's that I plan on using this season. I'm thinking about maybe going with twin outboards later? Tell me what yall think good idea or not? Looking for some parts aswell, so any help with this would be nice!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Welcome aboard, Richard. It probably won't offer much in the way of pics and specs, but you can try the archive section on Sea Ray's website. I think you can find a parts manual there, too.

 

[berth control]

Richard,
I recently refitted my 270 and am very happy with it. The 470's are the worst motor ever made (in my opinion), but with a boat of that age you are pretty much stuck with them, or put about 10,000 into new motors. I am looking at having mine rebuilt this winter, but may just run them until they die. They run fine now, apart from some leaks and oil burn. Have fun with the project. Depending on how serious you want to get, you can plan on spending about 6,000 on the boat (thats what mine was) and then more on the engines and drives if they need work. It's not cheap, but it's cheaper than the 100,000 plus for a new one!

About the outboards, that's crazy. there's a reason nobody does that.

 

[BarryCF]

there's a reason nobody does that

What is the reason? I have been considering a bracket and outboard on my smaller boat, 24.5 ft. I like the idea of not pumping water into my boat and hoping it pumps back out. And the idea of not dealing with a potential leaky transom assembly. As for power, I would imagine a pair of 250 or 300hp outbords would move a 270 along pretty well.

 

[berth control]

On a smaller boat it would be more do-able. With these older boats, if you want outboards just sell yours and get one with outboards. Sure, you could do it, but you would lose the clean transom and swim platform first. But the bigger problem is changing the boat's propultion design and weight distribution. An even bigger problem is the 5 to 10 thousand I am guessing it would take to mount something like that. Then the 20 thousand per engine, then hoping that it all works out. So, if you want to sink 50 thousand into the boat, it COULD work. I would rather sell my boat and get one for that much more. But hell, if you are concerned about the engines, you can put two spankin' new 4.3's in there for about 6 thousand each, or just rebuild yours for 2 to 3 thousand each.

 

[BarryCF]

Eric, it isn't cheap unless you are willing to go with a used outboard, that's for sure. But then again, if you repower with a new sterndrive that's also expensive. The most economical way is likely rebuilding what he has.

There are a number of company's that build brackets with integrated swim platforms and they do the engineering. Using a flotation type bracket helps with the balance and you end up with a boat that handles like a slightly longer boat.

Many consider the Armstrong bracket to be among the best:
http://www.armstrongnautical.com/brackets.htm

Some others:
http://www.stainlessmarine.com/
http://www.corsaperf.com/gil_marine/products/gbracket/brackets.html

 

[berth control]

It could be done, no doubt. I just don't think it's anywhere near practical. I would love to see pics of one that was done though, out of curiosity