Evil Sports
New Member
- Sep 25, 2021
- 5
- Boat Info
- Current Yamaha
- Engines
- twin 1.8
Anyone here with insight on this boat ??
Total Noob considering a 290 sdx Ob
- Thread starter Evil Sports
- Start date
blaster
Well-Known Member
- May 23, 2011
- 3,467
- Boat Info
- 2010 sea ray 205 sport
F-250 CCLB 6.2 4x4 3.73 rear.
- Engines
- Mercruiser 4.3 mpi alpha 1.62
Where do you intend to use the 290? It’s a wonderful boat for day trips and entertaining friends or family. I wish I had one.
Do you plan to trailer the boat or wet slip the boat?
There are so many variables to consider in a boat purchase. No boat will be 100% what you want. How you want to use the boat and where will be deciding factors in whether this one is right for you.
Evil Sports
New Member
- Sep 25, 2021
- 5
- Boat Info
- Current Yamaha
- Engines
- twin 1.8
Dry rack, usage will be in the southern gulf below Ft Myers
paulswagelock
Well-Known Member
Ok, so I have the 270 sdx with an OB, use it at our house in the north. We have a house in Bonita, so I have boated on the waters you are describing, but not on my Sdx. Here are my thoughts: the OB version is well suited to saltwater use, the boat is big enough and heavy enough for the typical conditions, layout is great with more room than any similar sized boat, actually more room than most 31 footers. The day head is usable when needed. With OB power, it is a bit less stable side to side as the hull was designed to have an IO deep in the hull. Stick with a light color hull, and only the white interior. The negatives - for the price the SDX series appointments are a bit mediocre. Not bad, just average considering the $200k entry point. Build, fit and finish are all ok as well, not great, but ok. The hull design is not ideal for rougher water as you will take spray over the bow coming off of a wave, it throws water forward, not to the sides. So for running to lunch on nice days to Doc Fords or over to Sanibel, it would work fine. If the weather got snotty, you will get through it, but will be wet.
Puckolio
New Member
I've never experienced any side-to-side issues with mine, in fact find it extremely stable with it's 9' beam. I have had some bow bouncing due to (i assume) the weight/locations of the outboards vs. an I/O. I usually end up running with my trim tabs extended which solves the bouncing. Overall, I really do love the boat. I am content with the fit and finish, would rate it Pretty Good - significantly nicer than my 250 SDX OB, but agree with Paul's sentiment that it could be better for something in this price point. I will add that in the year i've owned it (and have put 160 hours on), i can count on one hand the number of times water has come over the bow and gotten somebody wet (maybe 2-3 times in the bow, and once in the cockpit, and the water was really rough). When I had my 250 SDX OB, that was a frequent occurrence. I use mine in the St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay area, including out into the Gulf of Mexico, so similar waters as the OP is looking to use.
For me, the interior layout of the 290 SDX trumped the other boats i was considering, including the Regal 29 OBX, Regal 33 OBX, and Cobalt 30 SC. Another boat you might want to look at as well is the 310 SLX. There is no perfect boat, but for me the 290 checks a ton of the boxes that I was looking for.
For me, the interior layout of the 290 SDX trumped the other boats i was considering, including the Regal 29 OBX, Regal 33 OBX, and Cobalt 30 SC. Another boat you might want to look at as well is the 310 SLX. There is no perfect boat, but for me the 290 checks a ton of the boxes that I was looking for.
