Moving up from a 250 to a 270DA

W

Wayner

New Member
Jan 20, 2011
5
Central Ontario
Boat Info
260 Sundancer 2003
Lowrance GPS
Clarion Tunes with amp and Sirius Sat
Engines
5.7 MPI with Bravo III
Good morning all,

This is my first post! I currently have a 1995 250DA which is a fantastic boat. I was looking at doing a few upgrades to it (extended swim platform, canvas etc) and decided by the time I spend the money on that I can move up to a little bit larger boat with all that already there. After looking at all the various boats out there it seems the 1998-2000 270 is perfect. My question is engines? They are available with twins, efi twins, or a single 7.4 with a Bravo 3. I think the single 7.4 would be the best as the beam of the boat (9.2) wouldn't seem to be wide enough to get the full benefit of twins from a manuverability standpoint. Is the single enough power? Better on fuel?

Couple of opinions would be greatly appreciated..
Thanks,
Wayner
 
Besides maneuverability, there is a peace of mind that comes with a second engine to consider. If you are out on the open water, and one breaks down, you can still get home.
 
A lot depends on your use. A single 7.4 and a B3 offers ease of maintenance access and only one of everything to buy when it breaks. The advantage of twins has already been stated.

If you are inland I would look to the single.
 
My $.02, In that boat I would go with the 7.4 EFI with the Bravo III, I totaly agree that twins add some insurance, but in that size boat the two 4.3's they pack in too tight and it's just not worth the double maintenance headaches. That's a nice boat that is easy to run and maintain as a single, I wouldn't want to complicate it....

FYI, before you buy that boat check out the sleeping arangements, the forward V bunks are very short and the dinette can only sleep one short person too.
 
Thanks all so far

I am definitely leaning to the single. It seems that the boat will perform nicely with that motor and we are mostly on the waterway with some jaunts out into Georgian Bay. I will check the sleeping arrangements. There are only two of us and I am hoping the aft will be fine. Even the aft on our 250 is ok once squeeze in.
 
Larry said:
My $.02, In that boat I would go with the 7.4 EFI with the Bravo III, I totaly agree that twins add some insurance, but in that size boat the two 4.3's they pack in too tight and it's just not worth the double maintenance headaches. That's a nice boat that is easy to run and maintain as a single, I wouldn't want to complicate it....

FYI, before you buy that boat check out the sleeping arangements, the forward V bunks are very short and the dinette can only sleep one short person too.
Click to expand...


Don’t know if a generator is on your list of options, but with twins you lose that option due to lack of space. Good luck,

MM
 
A generator is definitely in my future. We moor at a lot that has no power. Also I am a little confused. I have looked at a number of listings on yachtworld and some of them mention a cooler and wet bar in the cockpit area. Where would they be hiding this little gem? (or is the ad wrong) I know the 260's have a wet bar
 
Go with a single. if you have a radio, you have insurance - a 2nd engine is expensive insurance.

The boat is 27 feet long - how hard is it to drive? Not that hard and I'm in a tight marina
 
Wayner,

You sound like me. I was looking for a 250 for a bit, then my wife and I decided a 270 was a better fit. But as others have suggested, I preferred the single engine big block for that boat, generator was required. We looked at a few, but then made the mistake of hopping up on a 280DA that was also for sale, sitting right next to the 270DA. Got home and really began to think. Shortly thereafter, we decided the 280DA was the best fit. And then it took us a year to find the right boat. But we never wavered from that...we had finally found the perfect sized (and priced) boat for us.

Reasons we "upgraded" to the 280DA? More standard availability of a generator. Wider beam. More room in the cabin; the seperate dinette is a winner (and can sleep a couple of kids). Twin engines. Yes, in the 270, I only wanted a single, but in the 280 I required a twin. And the radar arch. You can't get one on a 270. I love the higher height of the bimini and the lighting recessed in the arch after dark.

Oh, and one plus on the Alpha drives...they are much cheaper to maintain (props, bellows).

Food for thought. Good luck in your search!

Tom
 
I am voting for the single ( and did with my 290) Access is hopeless with the twins, and the holding tank shrinks to 13 gals. which you don't notice until after you bought it.
True the alphas are in fact half the cost of the B3 to replace, which is good if there are two of them. Check out the diff between the 270 and the 290-you can leave the table up to take a snooze forward, and full six foot head room below including the head.
 
A bravo 3 (duo-props in general) is a more efficient drive than a bravo 1 (single prop). It planes quicker, the trim angle will make the boat respond moreso and it doesn't suffer as much bow steer. At 60 plus mph the 'bite' advantage is negated by the friction... so a single prop is faster up there.
As for twins vs. single...imho twins are better and singles are cheaper.
 
If generator is on the list go single. I have BII and have had no issues. It is the strongest stern drive available from Sea Ray. Someone said you don't miss what you never had. Many do say BIII's are great to dock, but we haven't had exceptional difficulty.

MM
 
Speaking strictly from my own past history, the 2-footitis itch should only be scratched widthwise and NOT lengthwise. Meaning I went from 8' beam to 10' and now to 12'.
 
Others of you may know better, but in my research, I could not understand interest in twin 270's and 280's. Once trailering is off the table and the cost of twins is in, does it cost that much to go up one more notch? They sure offer a lot more space and stability.

MM
 
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