2003 290 bowrider power

[KTodd]

Hello...

Been lurking around here for a while, great info and knowledge available here. I'm looking for some info on the power plants for the 290 bowrider. There are a couple that have been put up for sale locally, and they are both really well kept. My question is one of them only has a single Mercruise 6.2. Every other 290 I have looked at has twins. Is this boat severely underpowered with only a single either 300 or 350, with a bravo III.

 

[KTodd]

Anyone?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Be patient, young Padawan. Not everyone works on your schedule.

There's no question that a 290BR with a single small block won't be winning any races. Underpowered? Depends on how you plan on using it, though. If all you want to do is cruise around with a light load in relatively protected waters, then it will be just fine. It'll get up on plane OK, but it certainly won't do it in record time. If you want to do any more than light cruising, consider at least the big block or the twins.

It would help to know the model year you're looking at, as well... but am assuming early 2000's? I think, later on, the standard engine became a single big block as there weren't many of those boats ordered by dealers, for obvious reasons.

Also... the value of that boat with a 377ci, 320HP small block should be considerably less than others with a big block or twins.

 

[KTodd]

Thanks for the info. I'm new to this type of vessel. Something my wife and I have been entertaining for a while, and when I found this one in particular I originally thought I have found a deal. Now I'm not so sure. The boat seems to be in really good shape, I do think it's been in a slip for extended periods of time, the bottom has been painted recently, and there is some pitting and corrosion on the outdrive. A good friend of mine that has a place down the street from our lake house has owned several sea rays, currently has a '96 260 with a big block. I'll drag him with me when I go to lake test it. Thanks again.

 

[Lazy Daze]

when I go to lake test it

That's the best way. Find out if it will work for YOUR purposes. You've got a B3 and the boat will have tabs, so both of those things will help it.

You can't go wrong with bigger engines in boats, but if you're happy with the performance and the price is reflective of a boat that has largely undesirable engine, then go for it. Think of the future, though - don't get caught up in the "prettiness" of the boat so much that you overpay for it... then have trouble selling it down the road.

 

[Espos4]

If you plan on using it with 6-8 people on board, then make sure you have 6-8 people with you during the sea trial.

How does it perform with everyone sitting toward the stern?
How does it perform with everyone sitting in the bow?

You’ll be able to answer your own questions this way.

 

[KTodd]

That would probably be close the the load people wise we carried. I don't know if I can get enough folks together for the trial. Found another with twin 6.2s, same year and model, almost identical. The single engine rig has 250+ hrs vs 580+ on the twins. No trailer with the boat with twins, and the single engine has a '17 tri axle included. The twin rig is 15k more price wise. Got a lot of thinking to do.

Thanks again for all the advice, I've set up and ran Bullets and tunnels for 30 years, but this is a different animal for me.