rubrail, I made a mistake in my previous post. The 94 290 I had was a single engine, just like my 99 270. My 98 330 was the only twin SeaRay I owned. It had V-drives, a nice boat, but too big for my needs and the V-drives are not the way to go in shallow waters.
If you read some of my previous posts, you know I basically love my 270. I was the second owner of the boat and bought it in 2001, from a liqudator at slightly over half the price of the original purchaser who only owned it 6 months before giving it back to the bank (I saw the invoice). It only had 50 hours when I bought it and I now have personally put over 700 hours on it. We use it all the time mainly for restuarant runs, dolphin excursions and sunset cruises.
I don't remember my 290 being underpowered with the single drive. However, if the prices are even close, I would strongly recommend the 270 1998-2002 timeframe over the older 290. The dimensions of the boats and the layouts are similar, but the 270 acutally seems larger. The cockpit on the 270 is a lot better than the older 290, IMO.
I have the big block 454, MPI. I have no problem getting on plane and crusing 10 miles down the bay at 25 MPH for lunch. We use it pull the kids on their watertoys, which they enjoy as it can put out a monster wake when going 15 MPH.
I keep detailed records and the boat burns a little right at 6.5 GPH, regardless of what we are doing. I think it is very efficient at cruising speed because the boat rises up on it's strakes once you plane.
The B3 is the way to go on the outdrive. My old 290 was a single prop and the difference in backing is night and day with the B3. You have a lot more control with the B3 and it will pull the boat back with a lot more force than the single prop ever did.
Like anyone who is into boats, I go to boat shows and spend time walking the dealer lots looking at newer boats, but every time I look at the prices and what it costs to operate other boats, I come back and hug my 270. I can easily see me in this same boat 7 years from now.
