Looking at 270 Sundancer

[yako]

I am thinking of upgrading from a 21 foot cuddy to a 270 Sundancer. In the 90's there Sundancers with an 8'6" beam and a 9'2" beam. This boat would be used on Lake Erie and I am wondering how well the 8'6" beam in a 270 would do on the lake in the typical chop that we get.

If anyone has any input on this I would be grateful. Also if someone has Lake Erie experience with this boat from any year, please share your experience in Lake Erie.

 

[Kay Lee]

I'm not on Lake Erie, but I made almost the same move you're considering! I really like the extra space and better ride the wider beam 270 offers. I'd recommend the DA over the SE unless there is some reason you have to have the SE.

Larry

 

[MonacoMike]

You need to decide if you want an 8-6 to easily trailer or a wider beam boat. If you do not need to trailer then I would also think about a 290.

I am too new at this to comment on handling at this point,

Good luck in your search,

MM

 

[EricW]

Both boats are great, and will handle waves nearly the same. I would say that the 98-01 270 (9'2" beam) will be very slightly more comfortable in a chop due only to the boats extra weight. The difference, however, is probably very small. At rest, the 9'2" beam boat may also rock just a bit less.

Both boats perform very well with the same engines -- single 7.4 or twin 4.3s. Avoid the standard 5.7 on the 270 SE!

The 94-99 270 (& later SE 8'6" beam) is legally trailerable, has no separate dinette in the cabin, but has much larger sleeping spaces. This boat also has the smallish integrated swim platform.

The 98-01 270 (9'2" beam) has more room overall, and a roomier bolt-on swim platform. The cabin is larger, and the V-berth and dinette are separate. The cockpit is larger also due to the extra 8" in beam.

I nearly bought a 98-01 270 (9'2" beam). I found the sleeping spaces to be VERY small. IMO, the forward V-berth is not large enough for 2 adults. The aft cabin berth itself is plenty large, but the cabin entry stairwell protrudes badly -- with 2 adults down there, 1 adult will be hitting those steps when rolling over. Overnighting was important to me, and the small sleeping spaces on the wide beam 270 was the dealbreaker. However, that was really the only thing that I did not like about the 98-01 270.

 

[yako]

Did you end up purchasing the 290?

 

[C-SIDE]

buy mine - low hours, clean and runs great

 

[EricW]

Did you end up purchasing the 290?

Yep. There are some things about the 98-01 270 that I like better than my 290 -- cockpit layout and larger bolt-on swim platform are 2 examples. My wife and I tested out the V-berth and aft cabin on a 2000 270, and we knew the berths were too small for regular overnighting. My older 290 has much larger berths and the open aft cabin that converts to a conversation area. When I found my 290 with A/C, genset, new FWC engines, and trailer at a good price, my search ended.

 

[island trek1]

I have a 98 270SE on lake Erie and she handles well. I once cruised from Lakefront Marina to pelee island in 5 to 7 footers with no problem. Wouldn't do that on a regular basis though.

 

[CV-23]

The older '90 & '91 270 is really a 290....I would not go back to a smaller cabin. 9' beam is nicer than the 8' 6" and nobody notices the 6" extra on the trailer. 10' and up is a different story. I guess I'm spoiled now. My son is in Erie and I hope to do some boating there, Mike.

 

[mstaglia]

I owned a 96 270 with twin 4.3's for 6 years and LOVED it. I boat out of Boston and took many trips up and down the coast with no problems. Finally upgraded to a 98 310. I love the new boat also but the 270 will always be one of my favorites.
Mike

 

[tdappleman]

I've got a 96 270 with twin 4.3's and absolutely love it. It handles the waters around the Outer Banks very well - both sound and ocean. I wanted the narrow beam so I could legally tow anywhere without any permits, restrictions, etc. The boat does very well in chop and has a very dry ride for the most part. A larger boat may be in my future but I'm working on how to keep the 270 as well since I know I'd miss it as soon as it was gone.

 

[290sundancer]

I recently purchased a 1990 270DA, its great i have a single 7.4 454 and its plenty of power and the others said its really like a 29foot boat and the 9 foot beam is good. Im over 6 feet tall and i can lay down no problem in the mid cabin, and the v-berth and the dinette also turns in a bed. the back of the boat has plenty of seating with the fold down bench. the numbers are confusing like i said its 28.7 feet and 30.6 from swim platform to pulpit they are long for a 27, it does move around alot in the marina becuase the weight but its not bad. I sleep good haha!!!!