We use ours in and around Orange beach Al. We often run to Pensacola across a wide open bay. We pick our days in the gulf. Not being a self bailing boat and with a low bow better to be safe

The boat in my sig picture is for sale if you want a 260.

 

Yes. I have a 270 SUNDECK and I go out into the Atlantic Ocean, occasionally. I try not to go out in the ocean if the seas are forecasted for 4-5 foot seas or greater. If I am out there when the seas are rough, I try not to go right into the waves. Instead, I try to tack back and forth hitting the waves at an angle. Stuffing the bow would NOT be good.
The only reason I do go out into the ocean is for a little sight seeing with family and/or friends or to do a little fishing. Our boats are definitely not set up for fishing, however.

 

Bowriders - whether built by Sea Ray, Chapparal or Formula - are not designed for rough water. The Sundeck line is well built but if you want to go out on the ocean in moderate + conditions buy a boat that is built for that purpose.

 

Appreciate all the feedback. To be clear, 95% of my boating would be on the Intracoastal. Its that other
5%, on a clear day, I would like to go thru the inlet and hit some coastal snorkeling spots and be prepared
for possible 2 ' - 3' chop. Just keep hearing and reading that the Formula is "better built". Also, that while they
both have "deep V's", the bow section of the Sundeck will not knife through the waves like the Formula BR

 

The Sundeck is a very popular design here in NW Fla. for day boating. On any given day you will see them off shore fishing or diving, or running 12 miles down the coast on the outside to a secluded barrier island where they duck in the land cut to anchor out for the day. Moderation is the key.....you have to pick your days and don't do something stupid.

 

Some good advice has been given. You may also want to look back a couple of years when the 240 & 260s were self bailing. Also if you want to compare apples to apples you need to compare BR to BR not BR to a sundeck.

 

I kept hearing in these threads the SD was not self bailing, but I remember buying my 2005 240 SD and they told me it was. Why did they change this?

 

Think it was in 2010. Not sure why they did it. I was on the features that sold me on the sundeck line.

 

My 270 had cockpit drains to thru hulls. They got used one night too during the 'trip from hell'.

 

The 2009 mid year change to the new style did away with the self bailing interlinear. Deck drain is routed to a single drain with a hose that drains into the hull. Very easy to divert it to a through hull for overboard drain. I have measured and determined that the through hull would be above the waterline almost all the time unless you are beached at a steep angle. If I keep the boat I am going to do this with a check valve inline so 90% of the water will drain overboard. You still will have some from the drains on the ski lockers as they just drain into the hull. I do not keep my boat in the water and the plug is pulled when it goes into the dry stack so no water remains in the boat. Overall I am very pleased with the boat. I am just thinking of going with a smaller boat since it is just two of us and a dog. I also want to keep the boat under the house when not in use instead of the dry stack and it is just a little too tall to fit under the house on the trailer.

 

I take my 220 SD out on big water all the time. As stated, it's all about timing and being smart. I actually took my poor little 180 Sport about 5 miles offshore in Florida (Atlantic side).