Thoughts on 290 Engine/Drive (single Vs. Twin)

dpostman

Member
Dec 12, 2017
33
Fort Gratiot, MI
Boat Info
1987 Sea Ray Sundancer 268
Engines
7.4 454 Mag Alpha One
I currently own a 1987 Sundancer 268 and I am looking at upgrading to a 290. My question is what is the general consensus on the drive options (Single 7.4, Twin 4.3, or Twin 5.7) Alpha Vs. Bravo. My 268 has the 7.4 with the Alpha 1, which runs and drives great. Obviously this motor combination was changed due to the torque of the 7.4 and the Alpha 1 didn't hold up very well with folks that don't ease into the throttle.

Is the 7.4 with a Bravo sufficient for the 290 or is it underpowered? I like having a single engine (for maintenance, less things to break, etc...) but understand that there is a tipping point with boat size where twins is a must. Any and all information is greatly appreciated.

My goal with this next Sea Ray is a wider beam (currently my 268 is 8.5) and better seating accommodations. I like the U shaped bench on some of the 290s. I am not locked in on a 290 but I truly love Sea Rays and am not opposed to taking the blinders off and looking at a different model of Sea Rays. We use the boat for family (2 adults & 3 boys) but do like to entertain and travel to different Great Lake ports.

Thanks in advance!!!
 
I believe Quint4 on here had a 90s wide beam 290......hopefully he will chime in.......it was a single if I remember right.......how are you going to use the boat? Wet slip or trailer? For long trips in the ocean you would appreciate the redundancy/security of twins......also, if wet slipping in a tight marina the twins are WAY more maneuverable.....but in the absence of those two things, the single is way more economical to maintain......more room in the bilge and only 1 drive to take care of.....If you are going to wet slip consider a similar vintage 300 with shafts....
 
I keep my 268 in a wet slip. I am in fresh water in the great lakes (Lake Huron), my slip is in a river so I don't have to maneuver to much straight in and straight out. The river connects to the St. Clair river which connect to Lake Huron, it really a great boating area.

Agree on all you point about a single :)

and thanks for the input!!
 
I had a '92 290 with a single 7.4 BII. Owned it 6 years and had lots of fun with it.
The single 7.4 is fine for the boat.
 
Thanks so much for the input Quint4, I was hesitant buying my 268 with a single 7.4 but its just fine (when lots of people on it I've had to move people toward the bow to get on plane but that's to be expected) I figured with a bravo drive coupled with the 7.4 the added weight would be fine but want to reach out to those with experience.

BTW - that Silverton is a beauty!!!
 
I will add "a healthy 7.4" is fine for the boat. A compression check is a must on older engines.
 
I currently own a 1987 Sundancer 268 and I am looking at upgrading to a 290. My question is what is the general consensus on the drive options (Single 7.4, Twin 4.3, or Twin 5.7) Alpha Vs. Bravo. My 268 has the 7.4 with the Alpha 1, which runs and drives great. Obviously this motor combination was changed due to the torque of the 7.4 and the Alpha 1 didn't hold up very well with folks that don't ease into the throttle.

Is the 7.4 with a Bravo sufficient for the 290 or is it underpowered? I like having a single engine (for maintenance, less things to break, etc...) but understand that there is a tipping point with boat size where twins is a must. Any and all information is greatly appreciated.

My goal with this next Sea Ray is a wider beam (currently my 268 is 8.5) and better seating accommodations. I like the U shaped bench on some of the 290s. I am not locked in on a 290 but I truly love Sea Rays and am not opposed to taking the blinders off and looking at a different model of Sea Rays. We use the boat for family (2 adults & 3 boys) but do like to entertain and travel to different Great Lake ports.

Thanks in advance!!!

Take a look at the late 90s 330s. Yes I am biased but with 3 kids you need space.
 
Quint4-
I will have a survey done and full compression tests for sure (not sure if a survey covers compression). When paying between $25,000-$35,000 a full survey is worth its weight in gold. Thanks again for all the insight.:):)

Creekwood- I will look into the 330, was trying to stay away from twins. My thought is double maintenance, more gas but I do realize I'm vastly approaching twin engines in the size I'm looking for. A 290 will likely be the last single I'll own because we all want the next size up after a couple years. Thanks for the suggestion :):)
 
I'm looking for. A 290 will likely be the last single I'll own because we all want the next size up after a couple years.

Of the 1/2 dozen 290s in my marina none of them are singles. Since you only want to keep it a couple years I would think that the resale value and preference of most for twins would override the minor difference in maintenance over a couple years of ownership.
 
Do the 290s only come with the 7.4 or the twin 4.3s? I am assuming they don't come with twin 5.7 options or do they? I have been told that the 4.3s don't really hold up long term in this size boat that the 7.4 is a better option. Based on the added weight of twins and resistants. This is based on people's opinion not scientific fact. Also I boat on the great lakes not the ocean so twins is not need in the since of having a second for safety to get back into port.

I take all advice so its greatly appreciated!!
 
Twin 5.0 and twin 5.7 are the most common around my lake. I have twin 5.7 Alpha Gen 2s. Having owned and maintained both Alphas/bravos to the point of full tears downs, seals, bearings etc... I prefer the alphas for ease and lower cost than the bravos, assuming you are matching alpha drive to the proper amount of torque and HP.
 
I have not seen any 290s with 5.0 or 5.7 yet, maybe I'm looking at the wrong years. I am looking at mid 90s 290s under $35,000. All I have seen was 4.3s & 7.4s.
 
Got 650 hrs on my 4.3's and they are still running strong and with full load of fuel and water with 6 adults and 4 grandkids it gets right up on plane with the trim tabs down and they are lot easier on fuel.
 
Creekwood- I will look into the 330, was trying to stay away from twins. My thought is double maintenance, more gas but I do realize I'm vastly approaching twin engines in the size I'm looking for. A 290 will likely be the last single I'll own because we all want the next size up after a couple years. Thanks for the suggestion :):)

Kids grow up fast. Buy the boat you will need in 3 years today and you will save money in the long run. Twin inboard vdrives. Bullet proof and pretty low maintenance especially if you do your own oil changes.
 
Do the 290s only come with the 7.4 or the twin 4.3s? I am assuming they don't come with twin 5.7 options or do they? I have been told that the 4.3s don't really hold up long term in this size boat that the 7.4 is a better option. Based on the added weight of twins and resistants. This is based on people's opinion not scientific fact. Also I boat on the great lakes not the ocean so twins is not need in the since of having a second for safety to get back into port.

I take all advice so its greatly appreciated!!
I don't know your boating background but be careful thinking like that, it could get you in trouble.
 
I have been boating most of my life (I own 2 currently) Where I boat I am typically in a group or close to shore. I have TowBoat insurance as well. If I were going across lake Huron I would definitely want twins but from my slip to the sandbar is a very short distance.
 
Kids grow up fast. Buy the boat you will need in 3 years today and you will save money in the long run. Twin inboard vdrives. Bullet proof and pretty low maintenance especially if you do your own oil changes.
thats a good point!!!
 
Got 650 hrs on my 4.3's and they are still running strong and with full load of fuel and water with 6 adults and 4 grandkids it gets right up on plane with the trim tabs down and they are lot easier on fuel.
Is your boat a 290?
 
If you are looking at a 290 DA ..... look for a later year 290 DA when the boat hull changed.

I looked at a few before landing on the 98 290 and the over all living space is fantastic compared to a 95 or 96.

The 2 links in my signature has all the boat information I could find and a thread on my fix-er-upper. I had a great year with the 290 so far..... so much more room over my 11 260 DA

BTW Mine has the twin 5.0's and I love how easy it is to get up and go. Throttle up it can easily drink up some fuel. But pull back the throttles a little and get it into its sweet spot and the boat stays on plane with very little effort and I bet not that much more fuel then my 11 260 DA when it was up on plane.
 
Last edited:
Is your boat a 290?
Yep 1995 sundancer 290 with twin 4.3 V6 with 4 barrel carbs alphaI gen II drives with all the tanks full 5 adults and 4 grandkids all under 7 cruising at 3400 rpm get about 1 mile to the gallon with a dirty bottom and at 2000 rpm used 20 gallon of fuel in 30 miles.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,948
Messages
1,422,811
Members
60,930
Latest member
Ebrown69
Back
Top