Official (1990-1993) 270/290 DA thread

[Don Sr]

My HDS7 Gen 1 arrived. I couldn't resist the the $200 rebate. Minus selling the Garmin for $100 = $600, I thought it was too good a deal to pass up.

 

[bigblockcutlass]

My HDS7 Gen 1 arrived. I couldn't resist the the $200 rebate. Minus selling the Garmin for $100 = $600, I thought it was too good a deal to pass up.

Are you going for the fuel sensors also Don?

 

[JerryS]

I can't help but wonder WTH is that bollard doing on the bow of Quints old boat?
What in the world was someone thinking?

 

[Don Sr]

BB - I would to eventually use the sensors. Do you need two per engine? Flow and tank level?

 

[bigblockcutlass]

BB - I would to eventually use the sensors. Do you need two per engine? Flow and tank level?

Don, you should need just one but you also need a nema 2000 starter kit. There can not me a reture line to the tank. Cheapest place I found for the fuel flow sensors was Overton's. Ep-60r 79.99 and the starter kit is 59.99. Looks like the price's have gone up. I paid $59.99 and $42.99. I know the fuel sensors were up to over a $100 at some places when I place my order and overtons just haven't rasied there's yet. They were on back order for about a two month's. The fuel lever sensor just makes is so you don't have to manually input the gallons when you put gas in it from what I understand. Once you get the nema starter kit you can add to the system, like radar, weather, external gps anta......ect.

 

[Don Sr]

BB - I see what you mean. Did you add any probes other than the fuel flow? How was the programing of the unit, I saw the 200 page book it came with. Reading the directions has been a last resort!

 

[bigblockcutlass]

I just have the two ep-60r fuel flow's and the Sturcture scan. I can be a bit tricky getting everthing turn on to you can read you MPG.

 

[Don Sr]

BB looks like Lowrance updates the software every couple months. Mine shipped with 2.1 and they are on 4.1 currently. The latest up date corrects problem with the fuel flow sensor.

 

[bigblockcutlass]

I have the gen 2. It has problems too. I wonder about this thing sometimes. Great unit if it would just work all the time.
the Hull Truth forum in the eletronics section is a great place to answer problems and questions with these units. Been a great help for me. http://www.thehulltruth.com/

 

[Danny Troy]

Just as the thread starter Quint4 upgraded from a 220DA to a 290, I'm thinking I might do the same. I was originally thinking a newer 280 would be the boat for me, but the older 290's have caught my eye. I know the 220DA inside and out, but the 290 and all it's versions has me a little confused. First of all, I'd like opinions on a large block, single screw. I use my boat on a lake, where I start the engine, run 10 minutes, drop anchor and remain there till it's time to go home. I really don't want the added expense of twins for this limited use. I also don't pull skiers or towables, so I don't need a lot of power. I would like to know that I can get on plane in a relatives short time with 4 people on board.

1. Is there a big difference between the newer Bravo III drives as compared to the Bravo II drives in boat speed?
2. Any years in particular to stay away from?
3. I haven't researched the different version beam by year, but due to docking limitations I'd like a 9'6" beam max.

Thanks for any suggestions....

 

[JerryS]

Danny - the '90 & '91 270's are the same as the '92 & '93 290's. The beam is either 9'1" or 9'2" (I forget). The LOA is 30'6". Mine, a '90 270 has the 7.4l engine with a BravoI and does fine getting on plane with four (4) adults. I have completely re-worked my canvas, interior and cockpit, so, it is not the same animal anymore. The upholstry that SR used in those boats was in my opinion just plain horrible. You can probably find one at a really cheap price, but, keep in mind that most people do not have the time to take care of a boat properly and so you are going to have a hard time finding a really clean one.

I believe that the '91's and up used the BravoII drive. I heard of a guy in Seattle that changed over from a BravoI to a a BravoIII. Better handling around the dock and a little more top end. Nothing that I could get excited about.

We have taken ours to the St. Lawrence River and Rideau Canal for month long trips and have been very satisfied with it. (see the link under my sig pix)

Here is a link to show you some of things that I have done to my boat. http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/34038-Mods-Updates-to-90-270da

 

[CV-23]

I believe the 1990 270DA is the best deal out there feet per dollar! Our cabin is huge compaired to others and performance with a single 454 BravoI or III can not be beat. You only get 1 mpg but a nice 26-28mph cruise with low service costs. To run from a storm, 38mph is pretty fast at 4600rpms. The 454/330hp is very reliable engine with lots of torque. We can get on plane with 8 adults on board but tabs are needed. We normally run with 2 to 5 adults on board. The 270 is also the most you can really tow with a 3/4 ton vehicle. To go bigger you need a one ton tow vehicle. A genny would be nice but we do have factory AC that works great with shore power. We love our 270 but a few rain water leaks can be a pain to seal up but she is 22 years old, Mike.

 

[Danny Troy]

Thanks for the good info guys.

Jerry, I love your upgrades. It reminds me of the additions and changes I made to my 220. The camper canvas and extended swim platform are both a must for me. Whatever I get, I'll have to keep that $$$ amount in mind. In my area a complete canvas setup can easily be around 3000.00. That said, I'll at least have canvas that will last for many years. Of course, I'd rather find a boat with new canvas on it already!
Good to hear the 7.4L engine will be good enough for my needs. I do see the newer 290's got quite a bit heavier, which can mean a big hit in performance. I'm taking a look at a 290 this weekend, and see if I can get the wife's approval. We took a tour of a newer 280 last weekend, and I know she was impressed, although if a 290 had a much lower price tag that would impress her even more!

I noticed the 270's and 290's don't have a walk-thru windshield. Is this available, and if so what year boats have this feature? I've gotten used to quick and easy access to the foredeck with my boat.

 

[JerryS]

This is really shameless! I think that my 22 year old raggity a$$ boat looks pretty good and so I want to show it off. Shameless:

 

[bigblockcutlass]

Looks like a new boat, thanks for th pic's

 

[bigblockcutlass]

How did you get the anti skid surface to look so good?

 

[JerryS]

BBC-the deck and swim platform just get a regular washing/scrubbing. I have never done anything else with those parts. There is a wax that you can put on it, but, I have never used it. We don't go out on the starboard side, so that gets treated like the rest of the boat. The port side just gets buffed out occasionally where we walk. We always wear deck shoes going out so it has never been a problem and we do a lot of lock duty when we take the boat out of town, so, there is a lot of in and out of the boat. I think maybe the photo makes those areas look a little more shiny than they actually are. Take a look at the deck again, it is really pretty flat, just clean.

 

[bigblockcutlass]

In the picture, it looks like the bow has never seen the sun.
I have started to try the buff Magic but evertime it looks like I"ll just mess it up with all the residue left in the deep valley of the anti skid. Maybe the rotor buffer with Wool wheel is not the thing to use. Woody wax don't work, Starebrite deck cleaner, cleans good but don't shine.

With my colored boats, I noticed the wax just bleed out and turns chalking for a short time when in the sun. Better off just polishing, last longer. The Best wax I found was Megurar's 56 pure wax (not the flag ship) it seemed to last the longest. Sometime's I think the wax causes more of a problem than it helps. This sea ray, all I have used is Buff Magic and the Propolish. Is seems to last ok, but this boat is white and don't get half is hot in the sun as a colored boat does.

I have to get the boat out of the Barn and work on it today. I may play around with buffing tthe top side.
Thursday were going to Frankfort for a few days hopping to run along Sleeping Bear Dunes National park and then up to south Manituo Island. We'll see what the weather does. Don't need 5 foot plus waves.

 

[JerryS]

The boat stays under cover and on a lift, so, that helps a lot. I have had boats that I kept in the water, but, not on a lift and I was never able to keep them as clean as I can keep this boat. The first boat that I ever bought was red. You know what that looked like after a few years.

 

[bigblockcutlass]

I play with my old orbital buffer, used a cloth pad and Propolish. Looks pretty good. Now to see if it last in the sun. The boat don't see 30 days worth of sun a year, better last more than a year before it Bleaches out. I'll find out how good this stuff really is.