Need more advice...

[AntVinTas]

...and maybe some opinions...

I have an opportunity to look at a 1989 SeaRay 270 Sundancer with twin carb'd 4.3's with Alpha 1 Gen 1 outdrives....
I'm sure someone has this set up here.....What's your take on this combo?? Im not looking to win any races. Will mostly be cruising and fishing. So Im looking for info regarding getting up on plane, fuel consumption, general maintenance and so on...

Any help/opinions/thoughts would be appretiated...

If this thread looks familiar it's because I did post something similar in the 'general discussion' area on a later model with T4.3's but with MPI's...I'd like to know your thoughts on the carb'd version of the 4.3...

Thanks,
Anthony

 

[Molson]

I have a 1990 Doral 30' with that setup. I can get max 38 MPH at 4400 RPM and cruise around 23MPH at 3400. I think its a good setup, and fairly economical. I do not have fuel burn or MPG calculations at this time though.

 

[JimFromMD]

My dad has this combo on an 87 sundancer 270 which he's had for 12 years now. She burns about 10GPH (calculated unscientifically by fillup, 4 hour cruise, re-fill up, divide) and cruises comfortably around 22-24 knots. She will get up and run into the mid/upper 30s, but we dont run her hard. We had the engines replaced with new 4.3lx merc (crated engines) around the 850hr mark our second season with her. Also as a result of a submerged branch strike about 5 years ago, and 1 outdrive resulting replacement, we now have a set of true counter rotating outdrives. At that time, the mechanic offered up the idea of 4 blade aluminum props, which we really like as well. This boat handles well for her size. The 10'6 beam makes her especially stable on the hook and in the slip in comparison to the same vintage 268. Our maiden voyage home with her had us in 3-4' seas just below plane with the bimini and camper top up. We took quite a bit of spray and sever good drenchings on the bow, but never felt in danger (had an early 2000s 25' maximum fall in behind us on the way home too happily letting us plow the way.) The boat holds plane around 3000 rpms, and will cruise all day happily at 3300-3550 rpms. Happy to answer or get answers/impressions for any other info you would like.

 

[Jersey Mike]

A friend of mine had one several years ago..nice solid boat...good layout...counter rotating props would have made it that much better

 

[Billhaskin]

I have a1989 270 with the twin 4.3 and I love it !
troling I use about 1 gph I only run one motor.
When cruising its about 16 gph. About 30 mph

 

[dwna1a]

Slip neighbor has one...he loves his boat and the set up

 

[Jaay757]

We previously had a 1989 280 sea ray with 4.3lx's with alpha drives for 10 years. 10'6 beam. The boat was great on fuel, burned around 17 gallons an hour. This setup was awesome and very roomy for a 28. I installed four blade props also. I will have to say that this boat cruised ok around 22 knots, but I do think it was underpowered. The 4.3's really worked hard to move this boat but were economical to run. In rough seas like we often encounter in buzzards bay the motors had a hard time keeping a constant speed. These motors were raw water cooled and I will never go that route again, I replaced both motors due to salt water corrosion. Hope this helps...

 

[rcon]

'93 300DA w/ 4.3l carb'd engines.

Runs good, reasonably economical at 1gal/nm when cruising just under 20kts (3700ish rpm) but wouldn't say no to a repower.

 

[JVM225]

Many years ago I knew someone with that exact boat. He boughti t new at the time. It was a great boat. So much so that it convinced me that I wanted one. I wound up getting out of boating for many years, and when I came back to it that was the boat I looked for to get me started again.
I came across my 300 Sundancer during the search and went for it, but the 270 with those motors is a really great boat.
If you do get it the only thing you may want to do is look in to a counter rotating drive for the port side. Once you have the drive it is an easy swap. It really makes a difference in the way the boat handles backing in to a slip.

 

[AntVinTas]

Great advice and opinions, guys...I can ALWAYS count on my SeaRay Brothers!!!
My ole 268, the Storm II, was taken by SS Sandy, and I just loved her single 454 (or 462, as it was bored .40 over), and Apha 1- So Im just looking around for something...When Im looking at Sea Rays, I see this combo a lot and really dont know much about this combo (the T4.3's)...

JVM, the add for this particular boat didnt say anything about counter rotating props, other than stating that he had the motors professionally rebuilt with all new Merc parts, manifolds, risers, etc...This would be a conversation I would have with the owner if it goes that far......

JAAY, with my previous boat (the 268), I took her out past Debs inlet into the Atlantic to fish, and have encountered rough seas (not the Perfect Storm seas, but pretty rough), so that might be a concern for me, as you mentioned it kinda worked hard to push the boat...
Any other thoughts on this setup being underpowered..?

Still looking, guys...Im not sure what Im doing as of yet. So I will probebly have more questions..:huh:
There's also a 29' Aquasport TM I might look at, but it's a true twin screw- small blocks with direct inboard drives- as I was thinking about going back to a full fishing machine, I know that the direct inboard/drive handle differently, and I was considering/looked at some SR 300's with direct twins.... but I do like the SR and it's I/O's...So, again, not sure what Im doing...

Argh!

 

[JVM225]

The twin inboards will handle much better around the dock than the twin I/O's and have less maintenance, but the I/O's might be a little more fuel efficient and forgiving if you happen to find bottom in this sandbox we boat in.

 

[AntVinTas]

Indeed, JMV....I know twin screws handle better with manuverability and maintenance is better, which are good points...
I always liked my I/O, the way it handled, ran, and I got very used to it as I always docked stern in...as far as the "sandbox" we play in out here, like you mentioned it's a bit more forgiving just in case- and Im a 'nut' about keeping an eye on the guage to make sure I'm in deep enough water, especially when Im drifting in shallow water inshore while fishing...I start to sweat when Im in 5' of water (even tho I know I have plenty of room), I guess it's just a 'thing' for me not wanting to kick up mud- which I have a few times...
I'll have to take all these things into consideration....

 

[Pachanga Boy]

well I've had my 88 270 for 2 seasons now and no complaints with regards to power. I have the twin carbed 4.3/alpha's. it is no speed demon, but it has plenty of grunt, only time it's ever struggled to get on plane was with 6 adults, 4 children and a dog on board. I cruise around 27 mph and top out at 34 with 3 blade aluminums. no idea on economy, I tend not to track that sort of stuff for fear my wallet will have a heartattack. I will say room to work on motors is very limited. you can stand in the bilge in front of the motors and that's about it, no way to neel or lay down in the bilge. can reach most service items, but there's alot of blind wrenching and spaces you can only fit arms so deep into.
when I was shopping I was looking between 270 and 268. loved both, but the bigger beam does seems to have a very distinct advantage in terms of sea manners and of course room. good luck, they're tanks but there good tanks