260 vs 8'6 270 sundancer

[SDA]

Original Post
What are the pros and cons of say a 2004 260 Sundancer vs a 270 8'6 beam Sundancer. For the 270 say a 1997 or special edition with the 7.4. For the 260 say the 6.2 MPI. Preferably B3 on both but possibly have to go B2 on the 270. Air Conditioning on both. 8'6 beam a requirement on both (no 9'2). I believe the 270 is yacht rated capacity while the 260 is only 10 persons I think. The updated looks of the 260 cabin are by far more pleasing to the eye. I prefer the cockpit seating setup on the 270.

How big a difference will there be in handling water? Which rides better? Does the 260 lean back and forth much more than the 270? If loaded with a large group is there much difference in performance? General opinions

 

[Bob & Sue]

I have a 1999 270DA SE 8'6" beam with 5.7l carbed B2 the SE being in salt water I wanted a B2 a 454 will have a B3 drive on it the weight of the 454 makes it a lot heavier in the rear to get on plane both boats 260 & 270 are pretty much equal depending on your needs maybe you can find one of each to spend a few hours on. You'll be really crowded with either boat if you have more than 6 aboard. We have had ours in some very rough conditions it handles just about any conditions you'll ever be in or get stuck in like what happened to us last weekend. We headed out about 6:30am to go shrimping maybe 5 knot winds 1' wind waves by 9:00 we had 3-6' wind waves with ENE 15 knot winds gusting to 30 several times we barried the bow with waves coming over the windshield and over the canvas never felt like we were in danger but there's a pucker factor. Find the boat you want don't rush in to it or you'll be looking again soon.

 

[SDA]

Bob & Sue
Wow. I will say pucker factor. Definitely gets the heart beating when you stickthe bow, especially several times. We do not get shrimp out this fresh waterway but that sounds like a good and tasty time.

You think 6 people remains about the normal max and do not think the 04 260will handle rough water much differently than the 270 SE (8'6 beam). Thanks for the info.

 

[Bob & Sue]

I can't comment on how a 260 handles rough weather never been in rough water with one there are a lot of them on hear maybe someone will post.
Here's a post from another forum on what they went through Saturday. Our 270 handled these conditions with no problems.

Well the sky and temps were fantastic, the water was ROUGH. When we left out of Des Moines it was choppy, by mid way to Pt Beals, it was 1ft rollers, when we got there it was into 2 ft waves. We got in 55 shrimp before high tailing it into the cove at Maury Island for shelter and repairs to the pot puller (Bulldog failed). We were in 3 ft seas and many boats were headed in by 10am.

We took another stab at it off of the S side of Robinson, about 200' ft from the surface the puller suffered catastrophic failure and the pot went down in 500' of water as we were drifting in the hard seas during the pull. When the pot went I got a dislocated right shoulder, just dang lucky I didn't go with the pot!

So in all 55 Shrimp. 1 failed puller. and a bum shoulder. Disappointed, but we'll try again.

Tomorrow I'll make the longer trip up to Alki to have a dock to pull the boat out at. Not trying it at Redondo with no dock and a bad shoulder.

Apparently we weren't the only injured party, multiple boats took injuries in the high seas today, broken ribs, fingers, nose and split lip I heard about at the dock. Nurse friend at the hospital said they saw quite few shrimping injuries throughout the afternoon due to the rough seas.

 

[CV-23]

The 270 is a larger boat and has the dinette and berth seating/sleeping and better mid-cabin. The cabin on the 260 is smaller....no dinette and tight mid-cabin. I'd go 9'2"...no big deal and more stable, Mike.

 

[Nodrog]

SDA
I have a 99 270 DA with 8'6" beam, It has the 7.4 MPI with B3, it has a nice set-up with the dinnette. I have been in some rough weather and had no problem with it. I trailer it, since it is a 8'6" beam I do not need any wide load permits. So if you want to trailer it keep that in mind.

 

[MonacoMike]

The 270 is a larger boat and has the dinette and berth seating/sleeping and better mid-cabin. The cabin on the 260 is smaller....no dinette and tight mid-cabin. I'd go 9'2"...no big deal and more stable, Mike.

The OP asked about the 8'6" that does not have the dinette, not the wider beam vessel.

SDA
I have a 99 270 DA with 8'6" beam, It has the 7.4 MPI with B3, it has a nice set-up with the dinnette. I have been in some rough weather and had no problem with it. I trailer it, since it is a 8'6" beam I do not need any wide load permits. So if you want to trailer it keep that in mind.

That is an unusual boat you describe. You actually have a 9'2" beam that does require permits to transport if it is what you have in your profile.

MM

 

[MonacoMike]

I wrote this for the Mid-90's 270 forum:

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/936-Mid-90-s-270-Sundancer-Thread

1994-1997 270 Sundancer and 1998 and 1999 270 Sundancer Special Edition History

The number 270 has been used since the early 80s for various styles of boats manufactured by Sea Ray. The SRV 270 Sundancer moniker was used in 1982 for a 28 foot, 10 foot beam express cruiser. The 270 designation went through various changes in length and beam throughout the 80’s and into the early 90’s.

In 1994, a new hull design was released known as the 270 Sundancer. This design featured oval porthole windows that have become synonymous with the Sea Ray look and two glass hatches. This vessel had a 27’ 4” overall length and with the integral bow pulpit was 29’ 11”. Standard power was a Mercruiser 5.7 BII, with optional 7.4’s, diesels, and 4.3 twins. In 1996 and 1997, the 7.4 with BII became the standard power package. The BIII’s were always an option. In 1995, A/C was offered followed by generator packages in 1996. Each year the options list grew smaller, even while they added options, as most options were moved to standard features by 1997. The base weight grew from 6100lbs in 1994 to 6500lbs in 1997 as the options list grew.

In 1998, the 270 Sundancer became a 9’ 2” beam boat and the package described above became the 270 Sundancer SE. (The 270 now offered a separate dinette in the cabin and is the quickest way to tell it and the SE apart.) This SE boat did undergo some changes. The standard power went back to 5.7 BII with the optional 7.4 BIII also available; diesel and twins were no longer offered. Other changes were the complete loss of one of the glass fore deck hatches, while the VHF radio and many other previously standard features became options again.

The advertised weight remained the same for 1998 but dropped to 6200lbs in 1999, it is thought this was an oversight as the options were removed in 1998 not 1999. At this point, they were using this hull for a “price point boat” as evidenced by the advertising slogan; “Is it too much boat for the money? The competition thinks so”. The 1999 270 SE continued, as in 1998, but now had competition from the new 260 Sundancer as a large trailerable Sea Ray. 1999 was the last year for this hull design.


MM

 

[SDA]

Bob & Sue - Wow sounds like Deadliest Catch

Nodrog
Mike wrote "That is an unusual boat you describe. You actually have a 9'2" beam that does require permits to transport if it is what you have in your profile." X2

If we are talking about the boat in the picture, it is a 9'2 beam. It has the extended swim platform rather than the incorporated into the hull platform. For a 1999 to have an 8'6 beam it has to be the Special Edition SE. It would also say Special Edition on the on the side under the 270 Sundancer.

MM - Thanks for the info. Looks like you have the 97 270 7.4 B3 with AC and Genny. That is just about exactly what I want. I cannot find that exact combination anywhere, so I am thinking about going with the 260. The 260 is a little smaller and I prefer the 270 cockpit setup but I am getting tired of looking.

 

[Nodrog]

SDA MM

Hey guys, the boat in the pictures is the one. I actually went out and put a tape measure on it and it is 8'6" beam, also looked at my survey I had done last sept when I bought it. It list the boat as a 8'6" beam and 29'11" in total length. I have emailed Sea Ray with the HIN to get any info on the build of this boat. I will post what ever I hear from them.

MM Thanks for the info. I did look thru the specs sheets that you posted.

 

[MonacoMike]

SDA MM

Hey guys, the boat in the pictures is the one. I actually went out and put a tape measure on it and it is 8'6" beam, also looked at my survey I had done last sept when I bought it. It list the boat as a 8'6" beam and 29'11" in total length. I have emailed Sea Ray with the HIN to get any info on the build of this boat. I will post what ever I hear from them.

MM Thanks for the info. I did look thru the specs sheets that you posted.

Where did you measure? The "fat" part is near the mid-cleat. That is how some can get by with cops not seeing how wide the 9'2" beam actually is.

MM

 

[Nodrog]

MM Yes I measured at the mid cleat. At the aft cleat it is about 8'2".

 

[Bob & Sue]

Here's a pic of my 270DA Special edition.

 

[sdarc]

MM Yes I measured at the mid cleat. At the aft cleat it is about 8'2".

Yours is the same as my boat.... 9'2". If you have the stand alone dinette it is th elarger beam.

 

[SDA]

Bob & Sue Looks great. I do like that interior. Leaning back toward the 270 if I can find a freshwater one with the options I want.

 

[SDA]

Nodrog - I will be interested to hear what they say. As far as I know the 99 would have to be the SE to have the 8'6. Some other tell tale signs for a 9'2 beam are the extended vs. integrated swim platform, the dinette (as mentioned), and the walk through windshield with the integrated door steps.

Also, I believe the standard mid-90s 270 up to 97 had two foredeck hatches. In 98 both the 270 9'2 as well as the 270 SE switched to one hatch in the foredeck (as mentioned). The hatches are not necessarily relevant to this discussion but provide a first glance tool to preliminarily identify era.

 

[Nodrog]

MM SDA

Sea Ray got back with me already and you guys are right it is a 9'2" beam. Kinda funny how the Sea Ray broker and surveyer got it wrong when they sold it to me. One of the main selling points was it is a trailerable boat at 8'6" or now I should say 9'2". Honest mistake don't you think? MM like you said it is visually close enough that the police shouldn't bother me and I also keep a copy of the survey to show them. Thanks guys for the info, I keep learning more about these boats every week.

Bob and Sue Beautiful boat. I love that interior.