Ready to upgrade from 220 Select. Suggestions?

[qflyer]

I've got the 2-foot-itis pretty bad, so I've starting looking around to see what's out there. Currently have a 220 Select, and thought I had decided on a 250SLX. Now I'm questioning if I really want another bowrider, or if it's time to get something with a cuddy. Most of my boating is on the TN River, or other lakes in AL/TN. I do plan to start taking a yearly trip to the Keys or Bahamas, hence the reason for considering something with a sleeping area vs open bow, and must be trailerable. Main things I want:


Budget: 60K, and I've got to have thru hulls, wake tower/arc, sound system. So if that stuff isn't stock, I've got keep those additions in budget.
Year: Early 2000s - Max budget
Trailerable 8'6" beam
Comfortable sleeping space for 2. Kids are in the plans, but not a concern for this boat.
Head
Generator/AC, if not stock, something I can add
FUN, I'm just turning 30, so I don't think I want a full blown cruiser with mid cabin for a few more years. To keep it trailerable, I just don't like the short stubby look of the 240-260 DAs. Love the looks of the 280+ DAs, but not realistic for my current situation.
LOA 24-28'
Single engine, love the 496, and don't think I'd be happy with smaller when we're talking about a 5500+ pound boat.


I would prefer to stay with Sea Ray, but I keep going back to the Chaparral 265 SSI. Has everything I want, and can run 55-60 MPH depending on 496 or 496 HO. Only test report I can find also claims 3 MPG at 45MPH cruising speed, or a max 3.9 MPG around 30 mph. That's amazing, if accurate. I can't quite match those numbers in my 220 with a 5.0.


I've seen the Weekenders, but don't know much about them. I've also seen a 290 Sun Sport, but the beam is too wide. Did SR ever make a 25'-28' Sun Sport with 8'6" beam? That seems to be the best comparison to the 265 SSI if it exists.


Any other suggestions? Cobalt, Regal, etc would all be options, or convince me that the 265 SSI is a good/bad choice.


Thanks for any input!

 

[Woody]

For a SeaRay the 280-290SS sounds like the one except for the speed and beam. Look into your states tow permits. I say this because here you can get an annual permit for that size boat cheap with little restrictions. You'd really appreciate that wider beam.

Don't know anything about Chaparral but there are quite a few Baja running around up here. They'd have everything you'd want and still the 8'6 beam up into the mid 30' size.

 

[qflyer]

Will look into the Baja, but in the past they've always struck me as more speed boat only instead of a nice medium between sport/cruiser which I think is more what I'm after. Absolutely love the 280SS, but can't get past the wide beam, and twin engines. Maybe a single engine is available, but afraid it would be under powered. That's a lot of boat, and I'd really like to stay at least in the 2.25 - 2.5 mpg efficiency. SR 280SS appears to be closer to 1.75 mpg.

Stumbled across Formulas 260 and 280 SS while looking up Sea Ray SS, and am really liking them. About the same speed as a Chaparral, efficiency in the 2.5 mpg range, and from everything I've heard about the two brands, the Formula is a higher quality boat.

 

[qflyer]

Wide load permits in AL are pretty cheap for single use or a yearly permit, but the restrictions are the main reason I'd like to keep 8'6" beam. No night towing, no weekends, and no holidays.

 

[Joe5.0]

Sea Ray made a 260 overnighter that you could get with a 454 MPI, which should be good for 50mph and get decent gas mileage.

Chap makes some really nice boats, and so does Formula. Other than the 280/290SS Seae Ray really didnt make a 26' cuddy with some luxury and performance. Not sure why they dont just throw a deck on the 250/270 SLX. Like you I didnt want/need the aft cabin and all the extra weight & windage of the cruisers.

I have a Rinker 276 cuddy and have really liked it so far. The cabin is big enough for two adults and a dog to sleep comfortably, and I could have gotten it with the 8.2 MAG HO with 430hp, and that would be fun. Even with "only" the 350 Mag mine does 45mph and gets ~ 3-3.5mpg at 26-31mph. Its a 9' beam, but thats probably close enough that no trooper would ever notice.

I paid $62k brand new, so if you could find a used one loaded up with options you could probably get it for under $50k