2002-2007 Sea Ray 270 Sundeck Specs and Review [Video]

Sea Ray marketed the first-generation 270 Sundeck from 2002 through 2007 with MerCruiser sterndrive engines rated at 300-425hp. After seven years of hiatus, the 270 SD made a comeback for the 2015-2016 model years.

Its closest relatives were the more popular 260 and the bestselling 240 Sundeck.

In this post, we’ll review the first generation 270 Sundeck (a.k.a. 270 SD).

2002-2007 270 Sundeck Review

Hull and Deck

Sea Ray Sundecks were known for their outstanding capacities and great comfort, and the 270 SD was no exception.

Even though it was classed as a deck boat, this model was built on a deep-V hull utilizing a 21-degree deadrise at the transom.

This architecture ensured a bowrider-like boating experience while the large deck offered plenty of space.

The first generation of this boat was revealed in 2002 and remained in production through 2007.

She measured in with an overall length of 26.5 feet with a beam of 8 feet 10 inches.

The advertised dry weight of the 270 SD was 5,800 pounds with the standard engine, which rounded up to 6,500-6,700 pounds with liquids and some essential gear.

Sitting on a twin or triple-axle trailer, you could expect its gross weight to be anywhere from 7,800-8,300 pounds.

With the optional 496 MAG engines and some personal gear, the overall weight of the rig could reach a range of 8,500-9,000 pounds.

Rated for 12 passengers, its spacious top deck offered a lot of free space and luxury amenities.

Fitted with a bow ladder and an anchor locker, the bow boarding platform ensured easy access to the forward lounge.

This area was designed with a self-draining bow cooler, speakers, pullout sprayer, dinette table, bow floor locker, and large cushioned seatings with underneath storage.

Protected by a curved walk-thru windshield, the cockpit came standard with large seatings and many convenience features.

Without the need for completeness, the most important of them included the L-shaped wraparound seating area, two bucket seats for the captain and his companion, a cockpit table, cup holders, and speakers.

The fiberglass-lined head came with a porta-potty and a tiny vanity.

Located on the starboard side behind the helm, the cockpit entertainment center was designed with a sink, cup holders, storage units, and a cooler.

Thanks to the walk-thru transom, the aft was very easy to access.

It was fitted with a fairly small integrated swim platform, reboarding ladder, ski tow eye, a transom sprayer, and handrails.

Engines and Performance

The standard power source of the 270 SD was the MerCruiser MX 6.2L MPI. Even though it was rated at 320hp out of the box, it made the 270 fairly underpowered.

More popular optional power sources included the 496 MAG and 496 MAG HO, which delivered 375 and 425hp, respectively.

Each of these V8 gasoline marine engines came standard with an advanced Bravo III MCM sterndrive propulsion system.

What’s more, the 496 engines could opt for Digital Throttle & Shift (DTS) controls, which provide an instant throttle response and smooth shifting. A very useful bow thruster also came as an option.

Let’s talk about the performance of the different engine variants.

Fitted with a MerCruiser 6.2 383 Stroker (325hp), the 270 SD topped out at 42-43 mph while her best cruising speed was 25-27 mph.

At that speed, fuel usage was 10-11 gph while getting 2-2.2 mpg for a range of 170 miles.

In contrast, the 270 SD could reach a whopping top speed of 50-52 mph with the most powerful 496 MAG engine variant.

At 3000 RPM, the same engine offered a cursing speed of 32-34 mph and burned roughly 12 gph.

Problems

Despite her popularity, the 270 SD wasn’t a perfect boat.

One of the biggest design flaws of this model was arguably its fairly heavy weight.

Let’s face it, the 270 was almost the same length as the 240 with the external swim platform, but its dry weight was 1,120 pounds heavier.

Since the 270 was underpowered with the standard engine, it was wise to opt for the optional engine packages.

The bigger 496 MAG power source (+300 lbs.), the extra 20 gallons of fuel (+120 lbs.), and a larger capacity trailer all continued to increase the trailering weight.

Eventually, the total weight difference between the 270 and 240 Sundecks was about 1,500 pounds.

On top of that, the latter enjoyed a large extended swim platform while the 270 had a much smaller integrated platform.

Due to this and the significant weight difference, many buyers chose the 240 over its bigger sister.

Even though the interior of the 270 was four inches wider and one foot longer, this size difference couldn’t compensate for the aforementioned drawbacks.

Specs Chart

The main specifications of the 2002-2007 Sea Ray Sundeck 270 were as follows:

Overall Length w/ Swim Platform	26’ 6”
Maximum Beam	8’ 10”
Height – Keel to Top of Windshield	6’ 10”
Height – Waterline to Top of Windshield	5’ 4”
Draft (stern drive down)	36”
Draft (stern drive up)	20”
Dead Rise	21°
Dry Weight	5,800 lb.
Est. Trailering Weight*	7,800 – 8,300 lb.
Fuel Capacity	85 gal.
Usable Fuel	80 gal.
Water Capacity	24 gal.
People Capacity	12 persons

*(w/ std. engine, liquids, basic gear, and trailer)

Takeaways

The 270 Sundeck was a unique blend of a 27-foot bowrider hull and a deck boat interior layout that could accommodate 12 people along with plenty of gear.

Sea Ray marketed this boat from 2002 through 2007 without any significant changes.

After seven years of hiatus, the 270 made a comeback in 2015 for two short years. Through this era, it was available with both sterndrive and outboard engines as well.

Even though the 270 was an amazing boat, its 24-footer sibling was far more popular due to its much lighter weight and more spacious swim platform.

Therefore, if you are looking for a used Sea Ray deck boat in this size, you may want to consider a 240 over a 270.

But if you are determined to get the latter for some reason, you can find many of them for sale at around the $15,000-$35,000 price range.

The optional 496 MAG engines are worth the higher price since the 270 is quite underpowered with the standard engine.

Disclaimer: Specifications in this post are for informational purposes only. For further information, please refer to the operator’s manual.