270 or 290 Select?

You guys are really making this pretty easy. We were at the SR dealer last weekend and they've got a 270 SLX and a 290 SS on the floor. There is no doubt that, between 2 great boats, we are in love with the 290 in every respect (even though that one doesn't have the bow seats for us to look at--I'm assuming plenty of room up there on the SLX). My brother-in-law an sister were with us (also avid boaters in the FL Keys) and their words were, "it's not even up for discussion, get the 290" :smt021.

Our other discussions over the last week about all of this, helped in large part by all of the great feedback that I've gotten here, have led us to the conclusion that we would be happiest on the 290. As far as how the boat will be kept during the season, you guys have thrown out some other great ideas. This all began as, if we're going to get into a bowrider, lets really cut the costs by trailering the boat every time we want to go out, keep the engines out of the water, etc. Since we are pretty much limited to Sat/Sun use for 6-7 months a year, I think we may stick with a slip because time is limited as it is. I may eventually still get a trailer for it to do an occasional tow but primarily run it out of the slip. We currently slip about 20 miles south of Annapolis. For this boat, we may move south to Solomon's Island where we are on the Chesapeake Bay but also at the mouth of the Patuxent River and right around the corner from the Potomac River. This way I've got the flexibility of river use when the Bay becomes nasty. I'm also going to check on a lift or boatel option as well. I think there are some available around here.

Now to the tough part. Price. In this area, it will be an order boat as these dealers never order the SLX as part of their floor plan. The guy we bought our 280 from says that the best bet would be to just wait for a "program" on 290s and order it then. Of course, I know I'll take a hit on my 280 but that's part of the boating game right?

I already sent him the 290 SLX configuration we would like and it looks like this:

T-350 Magnum MPI Horizon Bravo III MCM
Preferred Option Group: w/ Canvas Package
Table, Bow: w/Filler Cushions
Spotlight, 5" Remote-Controlled
Graphics, Two-Tone Gel Coat: (Blue)
Optional Seating Plan B
Windlass, Rope/Chain
Sport Spoiler, Molded Fiberglass

Any glaring omissions here?
 
Yes. You need the fridge. :)

If you don't run at night. . .you don't need the spot.

Extended swim platform maybe? (I would not take this option)

BTW: How much higher in price is the 290SS? From the build up -> It almost doesn't seem like there is a price penalty, but I may be wrong.

And. .. .consider the used market. I would hate to bang a brand new boat up onto the dock. Not banging the boat into the dock. . .heh. . means you ain't using it!

Yacht world has a few 290SLX's listed. (the one below seems scary low in price. . must be something wrong with it)

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...rency=USD&access=Public&listing_id=54089&url=
 
Good point on the fridge. If we're leaning towards slip/power, fridge can be on and ready all the time. I think (hope) there's still room for a good sized carry on cooler. I know there's the built in one on the platform.

I had the same thought on the spotlight. On the rare occasion that we might be out at night (almost never), I could plug in a big handheld spot to the 12V jack and have the admiral point the way when needed. She needs to do something useful while I'm commanding this vessel to a safe harbor :grin: .

I'm with you on the extended swim platform. We really like the look of the boat without it. If we did more in the water activity around here, I would add it, however, the Chesapeake Bay and rivers are more fun to be on than in. Something about those mutant fish they're pulling out of the Potomac that discourages us from splashing around in anything but the hot tub here :smt119.

I think when I did my yachtworld search I only went back to '05 so I didn't catch that one before. Motivated seller or leaky boat...who knows :huh: .

The SS comes out about 5-10K more than the SLX. Gotta pay for that cabin I guess. We feel like we'd really like to move to the bowrider. We already have a nice boat with a cabin that we're not really using so no sense getting another cabin.

Sitting in the bow seat of a 290 on a clear day with that high powered wind in your face--priceless :grin:
 
Scotty,

Inside the the starboard storage compartment there is a huge cooler that is standard. I would also recommend the stereo upgrade. Vaccum flush is a must. I would also suggest docking lites (they look cool) . Radar arch and bow cushion that coverts the the bow into a huge sunpad. Corsa exhaust too..Gotta have those!!
 
Actually the vacuflush is standard and I did configure with the arch. Might as well not get the boat if you're not getting the arch--very cool look :cool:.
Also, while it's only listed as a bow table, it also includes the filler cushions. I believe the fill cushions for the aft seat are standard. What a great lounging boat eh?

On your other recommendations:

- Is the starboard cooler storage there with or without the fridge?
- How much better is the stereo upgrade over the standard 6 speaker config? You can only hear so well while underway and once you're stopped, it seems like it does the job on our 280. Is is that much better?
- Docking lights, while I'm sure very cool, I'd probably leave off as they will be an unused pair of holes in the hull. Keep the aerodynamics clean :wink: .
- Corsa is another thing I'm not sure we would use. I'll bet it's an attention getter leaving and arriving at the dock, but again, it seems like an extra something to go wrong and I'm into as quiet a ride as I can get.
(I guess I'm firmly in my forties after a statement like that :smt009 )

Okay, convince me Duke...
 
Scotty,

I didn't see that you added the arch until I submitted my post. I agree, it just wouldn't be the same without it. As for the stereo upgrade, you can actually hear the stereo underway, it's that powerful. Now, the Corsa exhaust. There really isn't much that could go wrong. Basically it just redirects the exhaust, you can turn it off and on from the helm. Man does it turn heads. From inside the cockpit, you can only tell that it's on when at a slow cruising speed. Also, the cooler is located in the front storage area just in front of the help. The fridge is located in the wet bar area aft. One thing that is over-kill is the wine/bottle rack located underneath the sink area...What were they thinking.. I removed it. I also added a fresh water flush system (after market). I keep my boat on a outdoor lift at the marina. Mine also has the graphics package vs. the boot stripe. (Don't know if you've checked out my virtual marina pics...)
 
Nice pics! That is a great looking boat and I like the floating docks where those were taken. We have the opportunity to keep the boat at a floating dock marina which sits on the Bay and right at the mouth of the Patuxent river. That gives us a calmer water option when the Bay's misbehavin' (like last night when we went out and got beat to death in 3 footers--turned into a picnic in the slip kinda night).

Thanks for the system help on those items. I put the Horizons on the order for the closed cooling system, however, I believe you still have to flush part of the engine. Not sure yet how that works. Maybe just another hose attach point on the engine?
 
I have one or two regrets with my boat purchase (it was used)

1) It lacks the closed loop cooling :smt013
2) Too expensive to get a boat lift :huh:

For a NEW boat, you REALLY, REALLY want the closed loop cooling. Keeps salt out of the engine. But, many systems still use seawater for the risers and exhaust manifolds. You want to flush those as well. If the boat doesn't come stock with flush kits. . .you want to add one. Yes. .these all involve fresh water hookups of some sort.

Don't bother with the boat if it doesn't have the arch. :)
I think that is my other regret. . .no arch. (this is a quasi-regret: I would have bought RADAR if I had the arch. And in retrospect, I am not sure I want to suffer the weight penalty). Buying new. . .get the arch. No question.

Corsa exhaust is nice. . .but not if you pay for it. (I guess I am in my 40's too, eh?)

Do you have the water system for the sink and swim platform hose hookups? I suppose you must with the vacuflush.

Regarding lights at night: Less is more. I put about 30% of my hours on at night (go out to dinner in daylight, return in the dark! -> plus sunset cruises). In *rarely* use the spot light. When I do, it is to pinpoint markers that I *know* are there. I do not run with the boat cockpit lights on. . .too hard on night vision. Not sure I would use docking lights if I had them. And yes. . even with the bow spot, you want a handheld spot on board as well.

Final word of advice: Have you actually SEEN a 290SLX? While I am sure the cockpit, helm, and hull are identical in the 290SS. . .for $120K+ . . .you really want to eyeball the bow seats with the admiral and make sure you like what you see. Worth a 2 hour car ride if necessary in my mind.

Count me as jealous. :grin:
I just don't have cahones to throw around money like this for a new boat. :smt101
 
Well, I know she's an expensive (new) bowrider, but here comes the rationalization. We actually had a deposit down on a 320 as little as 3 months ago then pulled it. We also looked hard at 340s. So while the new 290 will be spendy, I'm getting away with far less than a new 320/340! :thumbsup:. I really believe, based on what we've discovered about our boating style, that we'll be much happier with the 290 SLX.

I think we'll wind up in a floating dock slip which will be the best for a boat with that low profile. Lifts, as you say are hard to come by around here and very expensive.

I agree with everything you said on the options. Definitely an arch, closed cooling engines and you're right; I've got to go find one to look at in person. I know you and Duke both say that this a great handling boat and I can only imagine that the bow seats will be crazy comfortable. If this turns out to be an '08 boat, I may even look into the Mercury SeaCore engines as an option but don't know much about them yet. I'm going to have to leave the Corsa off--as a $3900 option, I just can't see the return on that "investment".

I think the admiral and I are to the point of being ready to go as soon as the dealer can come through with a reasonable price, whatever that may be. I tend to think about 25% off MSRP but we'll see.

Couple of other follow-up questions on this boat for you guys.

I'm not getting the Smartcraft systems view so how big of a chartplotter could I put in that space behind the wheel?

How do you guys like the separate shifters in terms of dock handling? This will be a Bravo III boat and I've heard they grab enough water to maneuver fine with just differential shifting, no extra power (generally).

These are the same engines I was going to have on the 320. I assume that since this boat weighs half as much, I will get some descent cruise numbers at about 30mph? Also, no problem jumping up on plane?

Man I can't wait. I just got off the phone with my dealer and he said they've started production on '08 boats beginning July 1. He's going to call me later this week and tell me where they may be price wise on this. I'll let you know.
 
My boat has alpha drives, with 5.7LX engines (260HP). Also. . .being older, my boat lacks the arch and a few other goodies. Nominal weight: 6400lbs.

That said: The boat hauls. Minimum planing speed is about 28 mph. Cruise at 3000 rpm is in the 30-31mph range. The boat is comfortable in the 30-38mph range (3000-3500 rpm). WOT is about 46mph.

Bottom line: You are much lighter than a cruiser. Therefore, you are faster. Your boat will be heavier than mine, but you will have more powerful engines. You will be happy. :) (although. .. I suspect in the case of rain at night, what I really need are biminis and Eisenglass!)

_____________________

Docking is with differential shifting in my case. My alphas make it happen pretty easily. "umph" in terms of throttles is only needed if I am dealing with good cross winds.

- - - - - - - -

Hmmm. Are you SURE you don't want SmartCraft? I don't have smartcraft, but I wish I had it. I like to know exactly how BAD or GOOD my engines are running.

My layout is older and has no space for either Smartcraft or plotter. I have recently mounted a Garmin 545 on the dash. Works great, except at night in foul weather. In foul weather, I tuck my head under the line of the windscreen. . and at night the chartplotter is in my direct line of vision and is too bright.

_____________________
One final thought: Yes. . far better to buy the boat that suits your style, rather than changing your style to fit the boat. Especially given the huge savings you will see buying a 290 vs a 32DA.

I was thinking about this thread as I was washing my boat today: I did a quick dinner run today. . .ran into a 20-25mph head wind with 1'-2' chop. The bow area was very wet and covered in salt at the end of the day. Yes. . .I did get minor spray into the cockpit as well, but nothing to compain about. I run in a shallow bay, so the waves are NOTHING like what you get on the chesapeake.

I think you not only want a to SEE a SLX, but you want a SEATRIAL in something other than pristine conditions. You may find that you will run with bow cockpit cover in place more than you expect.

Although. . .I think it is clear that I will run in far more marginal conditions than you like to run. :) So I may be biased -> but today running into the strong head wind with light chop, the boat felt firm and steady. . .so I don't even consider that to be marginal conditions.
 
Scotty,

I made the big mistake and went to MarineMax on Saturday. You'll never guess what they had there in the showroom..Yep, an 07' 290 SLX....

I wish I would have gotten an 07' vs. 06'. Those Bravo 3's sure would've been nice. The couple of other differences I noticed where the Smartcraft gauges (with digital readouts) vs. The SmartView. You will be able to get a pretty good size plotter right behinid the wheel which is what I wanted. Also, they put 4 MORE speakers in the aft storage lockers (I'll probably do the same). Getting on plane is amazingly quick. I wish you could get the same sales guy who took us...He did things that I still haven't been able to do... For a big boat, it turns on a dime at a pretty good speed. I was afraid we were going to roll the thing. They told me if I ever did, let them know how cuz it's almost impossible...Regarding the ride in the bow. Everyone that has been up there has been thrilled. Very smooth, even in chop. Which, due to it's size, handles extremely well.
 
Well I tell ya, on the smartcraft gages on our 280, I've been very satisfied with the amount of info I've been able to pull when I want it (which isn't very often). I think the system view would take up the space of what I'd really like to improve, and that's the size of my plotter screen.

I know you're right about a sea trial. I spoke with my dealer the other day and told him I'd like the earliest opportunity to run one of these boats. I don't think I'll make any purposeful attempts to roll it but it's nice to hear what a stable and powerful boat it is. You guys are making me very anxious to lay my hands on this thing and start enjoying. Duke maybe I should just come down there and get one now! I'm in the hurry up and wait mode now :smt013.

I take it from what you said that the BIIIs will make a noticeable difference in performance? We typically don't plan to go out in anything more than 2' so it sounds like the boat will eat that chop up without much problem. Anything worse than that in the Bay and we'll be in the river with much calmer water. What can we say, we're fair weather boaters. :cool:
 
Duke;

How do you like the split shifters / throttles? Especially the fact that the throttles have "notches", where each notch takes you up several hundred RPM.

Here is my take:

Pros:
1) Docking is a breeze. Shove it forward to forward. Back for reverse. No mistakes by applying too much power.

2) Performance is predictable. I am at max hull speed at notch three. Notch five is minimum planing speed. Notch Eight is honking :)

3) When I allow a "newbie" at the helm, I have very good indirect control. "Please back down one notch" gives me a very predictable result, with little misinterpetation by the newbie. So does "Add two notches to get us going!"

4) Less reliant on Tachs to judge engine setting. I now instinctively know how much one more/less notch does to the boat.

Cons:
1) If a given notch setting doesn't result in PERFECTLY syncronised engines. . . you ain't fixing it.

2) Seperate throttles / gear shift means you can grab the wrong lever and take the engines out of gear while running at 3400 rpm.

3) Can't tweak RPMs. For instance: I can't run at exactly 3200rpm. Boat will jump from 3000rpm to 3400 rpm with one notch. (That's usually good for 4-5mph on GPS)

On balance. . .I really like the split throttle arrangement when docking. And family harmony is FAR improved when I can simply say "down one notch on throttles please". I don't have any "please trim back. Trim more. MORE" conversations. These outweight the cons in my mind.
 
Scotty said:
I take it from what you said that the BIIIs will make a noticeable difference in performance? We typically don't plan to go out in anything more than 2' so it sounds like the boat will eat that chop up without much problem. Anything worse than that in the Bay and we'll be in the river with much calmer water. What can we say, we're fair weather boaters. :cool:
Click to expand...

I have Alpha drives. I am content. :) BIII's will probably be better. :) Note that elimination of prop walk (a major BIII feature) is irrelevant in a boat with Twins, as the props are contra-rotating.

Corrosion shouldn't be an issue if you take care of the boat.
The only downside is that if you ground with BIII's. . .you just wrecked four props instead of two. :grin:

Get the BIII's. Be happy.
_________________________

A primary reason I jumped to the 280 size was the ability to deal with 2' chop. We are happy on the water when others want to go home.

Haven't faced 4' ocean swells yet. 2' ocean swells seem fine. . .although the bow seemed to be getting wet from spray. Very different than Barnegate Bay chop. I am sure to find out by the end of the season how 4' swells will treat me.
 
Comsnark,

Regarding split shifters, you hit the head on the name on several points. Especially on the Pro's. But on the Con's, I've been able to sync up the engines pretty good on mine. The nothces are helpful and I can tweak my shfiters so that the are not in the notches. As for docking, I make it a habit to sit down (like Capt. Harry @ MM) taught me. This helps not grabbing the wrong shifters :smt018 . Which can be done if in a panic. They should have spreaded them out just a bit more for that reason.
 
So my Sea Ray Living Mag just arrived with a couple of pics of the 290SD, and I'm glad I'm heading toward a 290 SLX. I didn't really care for what I could see of the layout.

Comsnark, hopefully my careful navigation will prevent me buying four new props :smt089. I'll be interested to hear how your 4' day goes. I'm sure she'll handle beautifully but man I just gotta be comfortable if there's a choice in the matter. Let us know how it goes :smt024.

Duke, I'm passing on the transom speakers. I hope this doesn't get me kicked out of the small but exclusive group of 280/290 SLX owners :smt009 . (Although, first I need to get one--C"MON DEALER). I'm not sure when or how those would be useful to the boating experience? I did upgrade the stereo however.

On Comsnark's recommendation, I'm going to have to add the cockpit fridge into the mix. Do those things hold up okay being exposed to constant and direct heat?
 
Are the 290SD pics online anywhere?

Personally. . I can't think of how to improve my 280SS layout. The primary difference between my 10 year old boat and the new one is the center vs side walk through. I can't get excited about that. The 290 models have the storage lockers on the stern. .which my boat lacks. . . and I think I would like that option.

The "intent" of the sundecks is to give more cockpit/forward space than the SLXs. This comes at the expense of hull form. . . but honestly I can imagine that a 290SLX/SS has a good enough deck layout (layout B) such that you don't need to compromise the hull form.

Unless you really, really need that daffy sunpad from layout "A". Or perhaps a huge bow area. Really curious about the 290SD layout.

_______________________

I am content with my Alpha drives. In truth, back 1997 none of the engine choices features BIII drives. Today, ALL of the engine choices feature BIII's. The boats now, however, with the Arch and Swim platforms, are starting to get heavier. I think NOW you want BIII's.

And you always need good charts and good markers! :thumbsup:

________________________

I saw white capping 2' (maybe 3'?) waves on the bay on July 4th, with strong winds and pending thunderstorms. Local papers reported a fully loaded 20' center console flipped in that weather.

I noted that 2' bay swells every second are very different than 2' ocean swells four-five seconds apart. The boat laps them both up!

It takes my about an hour to get to either one of the two Ocean inlets (Barnegate and Manesquan). I don't have plans to get there in the next two weeks. But before the end of August -> I plan a good day cruise that will feature Ocean inlet hopping, as well as a stop at one or two watering holes. I will report when it happens.
 
Scotty,

Of course you will be welcomed without transom speakers.. Heck, I don't even have them.. I agree about the fridge. Since my boat is on a lift with power, I keep it plugged in and the fridge on. (Just in case I want to stop by and sit in her and watch the sunset with a cold one) :thumbsup: Plus I can't imagine what you could put in it's place with Seating Option B..It would be a door and what??

Quick little story. The Mrs. and I went on the boat last night for dinner at a nice place, docked the boat and went in. Was feeling pretty good about myself and the 290 SLX..Came out to leave, and who/what was docked next to me? Hulk Hogan's Donzi 38ZX!!!
 
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