Thoughts on these 3 SunDeck choices, 240 vs 270

SeaNile

SeaNile

Well-Known Member
Aug 16, 2010
1,522
Chadds Ford, PA
Boat Info
2003 50 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins QSM11
Possibly looking to buy what will be my 3rd SunDeck. Guess at this point I should have kept #1, or even #2! Anyway, considering looking at Monterey, Chaparral and even Rinker in the 23-28' range but figured why mess with the success we've had with the SeaRay 240 SunDeck.

We boat on the Upper Chesapeake Bay, flat water and really just cruise around, raft up, swim and visit a few on the water restaurants. No long trips, no open water, etc., and put minimal hours on the boat, probably 30-35hrs or less per season.

I'm going to say for argument sake I am considering 3 options.

1. 04-05 240 SunDeck with 5.0. I've had 2 of these (one did have 383 Stroker) and have zero complaints. Fit lots of people and in reality did all we asked it to do including pulling novice skiers with 10 people on board.

2. 02-03-04 270 SunDeck with 6.2l engine. Buddy of mine had an 04 with the 6.2 and loved it, always had 10+ people on board and really had zero complaints about space and engine combo.

3. 02-03 270 SunDeck with 496. Something deep inside of me wants this boat but I'm not sure on a limited budget I could get a 10/10 boat. Not sure we need the 496 at all but it'll always be a desire of mine to get this boat.

So, what does the collective group think? NADA has the 04 SunDeck at 16-20K and the 270's in the 20-25K range. Not sure 20-25K will get a nice 270 with 496 but a strong possibility of a 270 w/6.2. Or, the practical side of me says get the nicest example of a 240 I can find and just be happy. If those NADA values translate to sale prices it may be hard to turn down a 240 for under 20K.

I do think we will always have a crowd on the boat with our family of 4 (2 boys 7 & 11) and then add in the friends and their kids.

Thanks.

JK
 
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JK,
I have had both.

The 240 with the 5.0 is a felonious mistake. Sea Ray should be ashamed for putting a motor that small in an expensive higher-end boat. Having said that, plenty of people make it work, and don't realize how badly they have missed out on what that hull could offer until they try the correct engines, the 350 mag and 6.2.
There is minimal difference in out of the hole power for watersports between the 350 and the 6.2. The difference seems to be about 2 mph more top end with the 6.2. There are many more 6.2 versions in 2002-2005 models, and more 350's available in later models. In 2005, there was a cosmetic change to the instrument panel, and silver toggle switches replaced the molded rocker switched on the dash.

The 270 Sundeck is a battleship, and a terrific rough water boat. With the 496, it weighs about 1500 lbs more than the 240. The 6.2 in the 270 is underpowered. The boat is about one foot longer inside than the 240, with four inches wider beam.

Pricing...for a good boat, take the NADA and nearly double it. A 240 can be had for 22K if it is a well used 2002 or 2003, and it is possible to find a good vessel in those years. Condition is everything, and salt water causes boat cancer.
For a 2005 onwards, you are tickling 30K, and for a 2008 with the magic DTS shift/throttle, upper 30's.

A 270 will be well into the upper 30's to low 40's with a 496, and way too many were ordered without trailers, which is an expensive mistake. These boats don't teleport themselves.

So, the 240 rides like the heavy, quality boat that it is when on rough water, and the 270 is noticeably better. Not a very measurable standard, I know. Both are amazing boats.
 
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Leardriver said:
JK,
I have had both.

The 240 with the 5.0 is a felonious mistake. Sea Ray should be ashamed for putting a motor that small in an expensive higher-end boat. Having said that, plenty of people make it work, and don't realize how badly they have missed out on what that hull could offer until they try the correct engines, the 350 mag and 6.2.
There is minimal difference in out of the hole power for watersports between the 350 and the 6.2. The difference seems to be about 2 mph more top end with the 6.2. There are many more 6.2 versions in 2002-2005 models, and more 350's available in later models. In 2005, there was a cosmetic change to the instrument panel, and silver toggle switches replaced the molded rocker switched on the dash.

The 270 Sundeck is a battleship, and a terrific rough water boat. With the 496, it weighs about 1500 lbs more than the 240. The 6.2 in the 270 is underpowered. The boat is about one foot longer inside than the 240, with four inches wider beam.

Pricing...for a good boat, take the NADA and nearly double it. A 240 can be had for 22K if it is a well used 2002 or 2003, and it is possible to find a good vessel in those years. Condition is everything, and salt water causes boat cancer.
For a 2005 onwards, you are tickling 30K, and for a 2008 with the magic DTS shift/throttle, upper 30's.
A 270 will be well into the upper 30's to low 40's with a 496, and way too many were ordered without trailers, which is an expensive mistake. These boats don't teleport themselves.

So, the 240 rides like the heavy, quality boat that it is when on rough water, and the 270 is noticeably better. Not a very measurable standard, I know. Both are amazing boats.
Click to expand...

That's an excellent summary. I owned an '08 240SD with the 350 Mag and that was plenty of power. He's correct about the 5.0... and, it's not an issue of "do I need something as big as a 496", it's whether or not the smaller option is under-powered for the boat.
 
I've had my best luck finding quality boats by searching the used inventory of my local dealers. I have about 10 local dealers bookmarked and I browse the listings daily. Also, talk to a few of the salesman and ask them to call you if they get something in that fits your budget. If they get a trade they will call you before it even gets prepped for sale. I bought my last 2 boats before they even hit the dealer's website.
 
I vote for the 270SD, hunt up one with the 496HO, not bad on gas unless you're hammering it all the time.
270SD.jpg
 
highslice said:
Love the 496 in our boat. On the 270SD though it is absolutely shoe horned into the boat. Can't imagine working on it in there.
Click to expand...

I find swearing helps.

If you end up with a 270 budget an extra 3k for a swim platform or find one with it already installed. The out drive is too exposed on this boat and was one of the first things (and best) I had done. I worried quite a bit with the amount of kids jumping off the boat before I got one.

This story helped make my decision.

http://www.propellersafety.com/8287/propeller-accident-report/aaron-tepfer-new-york-boat-propeller/

While my boat is never on with people in the water, it just struck a little too close to home.
 
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tdgard said:
I find swearing helps.

If you end up with a 270 budget an extra 3k for a swim platform or find one with it already installed. The out drive is too exposed on this boat and was one of the first things (and best) I had done. I worried quite a bit with the amount of kids jumping off the boat before I got one.

This story helped make my decision.

http://www.propellersafety.com/8287/propeller-accident-report/aaron-tepfer-new-york-boat-propeller/

While my boat is never on with people in the water, it just struck a little too close to home.
Click to expand...


Hmm, never even thought of that even though I realized how short the 270SD platform is.

In looking around it seems like it will be about a $10K difference to go from a 240SD with 350 MAG to a 270SD with 496. Ultimately I'd like the 270SD 496 but not sure if it makes sense to spend 10K more.

Pretty sure I can get an 05 240SD with sub 250hrs with 350MAG for 22ish. The 270SD I'm thinking of is really nice but it'll probably take $32,000 at least to get it.
 
SeaNile said:
Hmm, never even thought of that even though I realized how short the 270SD platform is.

In looking around it seems like it will be about a $10K difference to go from a 240SD with 350 MAG to a 270SD with 496. Ultimately I'd like the 270SD 496 but not sure if it makes sense to spend 10K more.

Pretty sure I can get an 05 240SD with sub 250hrs with 350MAG for 22ish. The 270SD I'm thinking of is really nice but it'll probably take $32,000 at least to get it.
Click to expand...

I obviously don't know your financial situation, but buy the boat today that you imagine having tomorrow. The time, frustration and depreciation you'll save will be worth the extra $10,000...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
almostenuff said:
I obviously don't know your financial situation, but buy the boat today that you imagine having tomorrow. The time, frustration and depreciation you'll save will be worth the extra $10,000...

I went from a 176BR to a 220SD to a 330DA to my current 390DA in 6 years

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
IMHO the 240SD is a better value. It already has the extended platform and is close to the same size as the 270SD. I will say that when we moved to the 270 SLX with the 496 I was very concerned about fuel burn rate. We actually use about the same as the 240 due to the increase in torque. Pulling a skier on the 240 required a WOT startup for several seconds. In the 270 I never get past half throttle before the skier pops up. FWIW.
 
Looking seriously at 2 different 270SD w/496. One is a 05 with 355 hours and the other 06 with 175hrs and vacuflush head. Like the color combo of the 05 but the 06 is better "deal" and the wise choice.

Quick question. Were there different 496 options? As in a base 496 and an HO 496? Some ads list 375hp while others list 425hp.
 
SeaNile said:
Quick question. Were there different 496 options? As in a base 496 and an HO 496? Some ads list 375hp while others list 425hp.
Click to expand...

Exactly that. 496 and 496HO.

Im a bit biased but I like the 270 better. We were after the 240 until we came across the 270. It has a bit more elbow room and with kids and friends it makes a difference. The kids also really enjoy the finished single berth on the boat. They retreat there and free up more space for us.

Its easy for us to spend your money, but when my dock neighbor pulled up in a 300 sundeck I probably would have been wanting to buy a bigger boat if I had a 240 or a 220 which we (briefly) considered. With the 270 I haven't had that urge (much).
 
Got it. I haven't seen many 496HO boats but a fair amount of the base 496. Both boats I'm interested in have the 375hp 496.
 
The difference between the 375 HP 496 mag base model and the 425 HP 496 HO is the cam and computer programming. Same engine block, same internals. The torque and HP curves are nearly identical until 4000 RPM, so the power you feel for pulling skiers is the same.
The HO is fairly uncommon in the 270.

The 240 is a far better value, based on 10X more production, and therefore more to chose from. It is a terrific boat that will put a smile on your face every time that you jump in. It is 26 feet long when you measure to the end of the swim platform, which is noticeably bigger than the platform on the 270. The 270 is a little bigger inside, but both are roomy.

As a side note, Sea Ray blundered in 2009 and changed the design to a much smaller version. I've heard it said that they ruined the boat. All of the delightful room is gone. Perhaps they were afraid that they were giving us too much boat for the money? Anyways, you will see a 2012 selling for less than some of the old style 2008's.
 
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