2007 Sea Ray 270 SLX Buying Advise

BleednBlue

Member
Jul 22, 2015
163
Lake Of The Ozarks
Boat Info
270 SLX
Engines
Merc. 496 MAG Bravo III
Considering buying a 2007 Sea Ray 270 SLX w/ merc. 496 (275 hrs on the clock) and would like some advise. Price negotiation and trade value work has already be done. This will be my first used boat purchase and therefore it seems the next step is to do a HIN check. What HIN check service to you guys use? Is there an equivalent for an engine check? Is there a way to get service records?

Once everything "checks out" my next step will be to test drive. Anything I should look or listen for when testing driving?

Any other answers to questions I should be pursuing?

Thanks for your time.
Rich
 
There are so many systems to check in this boat I recommend a professional unless you are truly qualified.

You need to check the smartcraft system, lower unit, engine mounts, moisture content, bonding system, electrical systems, plumbing systems, waste systems, charging system, stereo system, dts system, windlass, ....

any merc repair center can pull up the history and tell you what was repaired by authorized centers. You need the software to pull up stored engine codes. Really should do oil analysis on engine and drive oil.

Trouble areas - cool fuel module, raw water pump, heat exchanger, risers and manifolds, lower unit water egress.

I recently bought mine used. Great boat, but lots of areas to get you in trouble. I found about $1400 or items that needed addressed when I looked at mine, with 100 hours on it. Since I have owned it, out another $2500 on items that went south after purchasing.

Hiring a surveyor is recommended.
 
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There are so many systems to check in this boat I recommend a professional unless you are truly qualified.

You need to check the smartcraft system, lower unit, engine mounts, moisture content, bonding system, electrical systems, plumbing systems, waste systems, charging system, stereo system, dts system, windlass, ....

any merc repair center can pull up the history and tell you what was repaired by authorized centers. You need the software to pull up stored engine codes. Really should do oil analysis on engine and drive oil.

Trouble areas - cool fuel module, raw water pump, heat exchanger, risers and manifolds, lower unit water egress.

I recently bought mine used. Great boat, but lots of areas to get you in trouble. I found about $1400 or items that needed addressed when I looked at mine, with 100 hours on it. Since I have owned it, out another $2500 on items that went south after purchasing.

Hiring a surveyor is recommended.

Thanks for the thorough response, but man you are scaring me :wow:. I will be contacting a surveyor. Should I ask the seller (dealer) for a copy of their survey if available?
 
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I would make that part of the offer. "based on successful survey results with nothing needing immediate attention/repair".... And require you get to at least read the survey if they pay, get a copy if you split the cost or front the cost.

Not trying to scare you, but go in eyes wide open. As I said, great boat for performance, handling, looks, space, etc. I get compliments on mine every trip out.
 
Thanks for the thorough response, but man you are scaring me :wow:. I will be contacting a surveyor. Should I ask the seller (dealer) for a copy of their survey if available?

Get your own survey - don't trust one that's produced by the dealer. Consider it a small investment in preventing a much larger one (or ones) later.
 
You may want to see if you can find out if any Sea Ray warranty work was done to the hull. There were some 270SLX boats made during that time that had hull issues. I don't really know details but a guy at my old marina had an 07 or 08 270SLX and Sea Ray sent a crew to come out and do some major work to the hull. I asked at the time and lets just say it was not the first or last they had done. Maybe someone with more details can say whether it was a certain hull number range or all of them.

They are great boats though!
 
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You may want to see if you can find out if any Sea Ray warranty work was done to the hull. There were some 270SLX boats made during that time that had hull issues. I don't really know details but a guy at my old marina had an 07 or 08 270SLX and Sea Ray sent a crew to come out and do some major work to the hull. I asked at the time and lets just say it was not the first or last they had done. Maybe someone with more details can say whether it was a certain hull number range or all of them.

They are great boats though!

Thanks for the post. I did find this thread:
http://clubsearay.com/archive/index.php/t-4693.html

Is this what you are talking about? The thread is about a 2005. Anyone know if the design flaw was fixed in 2007?
 
Thanks for the post. I did find this thread:
http://clubsearay.com/archive/index.php/t-4693.html

Is this what you are talking about? The thread is about a 2005. Anyone know if the design flaw was fixed in 2007?

I believe so. I know the boat I referred to was an 07 or 08. Definitely not an 05. Not sure if this is a problem they went around and fixed on all the boats or just people that complained. I do know the last I heard they were going to have to perform the repair again on the boat I mentioned but I have since lost touch with him so don't know the outcome.
 
Just an update... Mechanical inspection came back great. Compression test between 149 - 151. So took delivery last Friday. What a great boat so much fun to drive! Look forward to being an active member on this forum.
 

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