new boat questions

boatman37

Hello. So currently have a 1986 Sea Ray Sundancer 250 we bought in 2015. Been a great boat but been thinking about moving up. Last year I had my mind set on a 29-31' twin engine cabin cruiser. Now starting to have second thoughts. Do I really want something that big? Do I really want 2 engines/outdrives? Do I want trailering issues? Starting to think maybe a 270 or 280 single engine? Is a single engine enough for that size of boat? I do almost all of my own work but getting older and fatter....lol. If I get twins I will have a pretty hard time fitting in there to do anything.

Must haves are A/C, windlass, generator, hot water, and pump out head. 99% of the time it's just the 2 of us on the Ohio River. I would like to occasionally trailer it to Erie for a weekend trip but that isn't a priority. I would also like to stay at about $30,000.

I guess what I'm looking for is how much extra work is there with twins? How much harder is it to work in that tight of an area? Is having the extra engine worth it?

Wife is happy with the size of our boat (8' beam) just want better options and newer styling/layout.

randy56

280 or 270 is a fine boat, and has all the items you mentioned. you will need a big heavy duty truck, if you do not have one it is an extra expense. 
The single engine 300 mpi is enough as long as you use tabs, and have proper props, bigger is better, as far a engine goes. 
cruse speed on a 270, will be 28 mph, top speed 38 at around 5000 rpm. fast enough?
figure on towing weight of 10,000 lbs. minimum.
We are getting older and fatter, it does get tight in the engine compartment even with a single. 
What part of the Ohio?

boatman37

Thanks Randy. Not concerned about top speed. We cruise in ours at about 25MPH, just enough to stay on plane. Rarely ever go full throttle. As far as truck, my current truck is rated to about 8600 (2013 Ram 1500 Hemi). But I have the 6 spd auto and 3.55's. The newer 8 spd with 3.92's are rated to about 10,200. My step-son and step-father each have one of those. I know it is really close to the limits but that would just be to get it from the marina to home. I would make other arrangements if going long distance.
On the Ohio near Pittsburgh

Liberty44140

Twins are twice the work and maintenance. Have had twins on my last 3 boats and while there is some efficiency in doing both engines at once you are still doing it twice. Love the reliability and maneuverability of twins though. Just bought a second boat for Day boating and I insisted on a single, have enough engines to deal with! 

Stodge

I wouldn't want a bigger boat without twins.  Little boats are maneuverable enough with a single.  When you have 10k pounds plus of fiberglass in the water you want all the help you can get when docking etc.

@Liberty44140 we did the same thing a couple years back.  Our 342 is our weekend boat, the center console is the weekday boat.  What did you get for a day boat?

69fastback

A half ton truck isn't enough for a big boat. 

MarkB

280 is fine, but for sure you want the max engine it can handle. I had a 260 and the 8.5' beam did get to me a bit. An extra 1 or 2' would have made a huge difference. But docking is an absolute dream with twins ... my next boat I think will have 2 engines.

reneechris14

If you find a 270 or 280 with a big block I think you will be very happy. To go up to twins with 30G is just a start plus you must slip for summer  and store for winter, and no trailering around with a 12' beem.

Liberty44140

Stodge said:

I wouldn't want a bigger boat without twins.  Little boats are maneuverable enough with a single.  When you have 10k pounds plus of fiberglass in the water you want all the help you can get when docking etc.

@Liberty44140 we did the same thing a couple years back.  Our 342 is our weekend boat, the center console is the weekday boat.  What did you get for a day boat?

Stodge, we got a 15’ jet boat. Admiral always wanted one so she is a happy camper. 

LaRea

Twin engines = easier to dock in wind = you can go out when a 1-wheel boat might stay home.  To a lot of us, that's worth the extra maintenance.  

Handymans342

Yes

boatman37

Thanks all. Being on the Ohio the conditions don't usually get too bad that twins would be necessary. There have been days where it was just too windy so we stayed in but I think we would have stayed in even with twins. As for towing, if the 1/2 ton isn't enough then I will either borrow or rent a truck for those couple of times a year.
I wondered about the single engine because with ours fully loaded with 4 or 5 people we struggle to get on plane with the Merc 260.

Oh, another necessity is a the large swim platform and walk though windshield (which pretty much leaves Sea Ray out). Wife won't walk the 'DUI checkpoint' as I call it...lol. And to go through the locks I would have to climb up front. It would just be easier if she could get up there so walk through windshield is a requirement.

JonnyM

Welcome boatman37.  Nice to see another Pittsburgher.  Where do you dock at?  I am on the Ohio at Neville Island.  I have a 270 and love it.  It has a 9'1" beam which creates a lot more room.

Dude_Himself

I've got a 280EC with the 496: ample power. We've had 100G fuel, 30G water, 8 people, and food/drinks for the weekend and had no issues getting on plane.

Cheaper than maintaining twins: get a bow thruster if you decide you can't handle the boat in winds. We keep ours on a trailer, on a wide tidal river, using a busy ramp, and have 3 kids 5 and under, which means splashing/retrieving single handed in current, wind, and with an audience every time. With some real basic understanding of spring lines I've never had an issue.

Cableguy Greg

I have a 280EC with the 6.2MPI. Like JonnyM, I am in Pittsburgh. The 280EC is the updated version, new hull and all, of the 270Fiesta Vee/270EC. If you want to compare the two without tire kicking, you can come look at my 280EC and @tniggel 's 270EC. We are docked next to each other so it would be easy to look at both of them.

rasbury

I like my 270 just fine, well, as soon as I can get it back in the water. Mine is the 350, bigger would have been better but heck, I'm not a speed demon and when I'm on the boat, no hurry to get anywhere. If it gets foul, I just anchor, hit the genny and go below and watch tv until it's over. And I can trailer with an F150 and go all over the state- I'm in Fl so pinning me down to marina with a boat I can't tow was not an option. Have not been on a 280, mine is an 06 and I love the layout of it and the room above deck. Good luck!

Willhound

Before I found out how well built for the money, and what a great bunch Rinker people are, I was looking at 270's for the express reason that it seemed to be the most boat I could get and still have a single engine. Didn't want the hassle and expense of twins. And don't regret it at all. Docking even in winds isn't too bad if you think ahead and turn the wheel while in neutral. No back up engine, but the one I have runs top notch because it gets all the attention. Enough power for my needs. 5.7L EFI. Here is a pic from the other day. 3 people on the boat. Full fuel and water tanks. All tops up. On plane at 3400-3500 RPM at 23.4 mph. My usual cruising speed. On plane using trim tabs in about 8 seconds.
Here's a link to a thread I posted last year with more operating info.
https://rinkerboats.vanillaforums.com/discussion/7758/im-lovin-my-rinker#latest

boatman37

Hey Jonny. We are on the Beaver river so not far from you, maybe 15-20 miles?

Looking at the 280's i think they might be a little over my budget though? Seems they are mostly over $40k? I definitely want something in nice shape that was well taken care of so if that means a 270 instead then thats the way i would go. And like was mentioned above, i could tow it with my truck.

Another concern I read about on here is leaking/rotting fuel tanks? Any certain years for that?

Not in a hurry for this. Still have to sell ours. If it happens this year then fine. If not we will wait.

JonnyM

I run up to the Beaver river a few times a year.  I will be there regatta weekend for sure.  I'd like to get up there more often this year.  Maybe a couple of Monday night trips for crab legs at Kelly's.

There was a problem with the tanks rotting but from what I saw on here it mostly happened in salt water.

boatman37

We have eaten at Kellys a few times but by car. We have taken the boat to Marios next door though. We will be at the regatta. We were in the boat parade last year (there were only 4 of us...lol).

Good to know about the tank issue and salt water. Staying away from any saltwater boats anyway.