Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf Review
It’s tempting to say that the Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf is a versatile runabout for families who want to do a lot of different things on the water, including wakesurf. But that does the boat a disservice because there’s a lot more to the SDX 270 than just that.
At a Glance: Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf
SEA RAY SDX 270
- Great surf wake from MerCruiser’s Bravo Four sterndrive
- Versatility provided by modular cockpit seating arrangement
- Swim platform step for easy reboarding
- Available cockpit heater to extend boating season
- No provision for even a small galley
- Few fishing features
- Families who want to do a bit of everything, including wakesurfing
- Anyone in search of a comfortable and versatile day boat with above-average comfort
Specs
- Length: 27 feet, 2 inches
- Beam: 8 feet, 6 inches
- Maximum draft: 43 inches
- Dry weight: 6,976 pounds
- Fuel capacity: 75 gallons
- Passenger capacity: Yacht certified
- Maximum horsepower: 350
Power
- Tested: MerCruiser 6.2L MPI ECT w/Bravo Four drive
- Cylinders: V-8
- Displacement: 6.2L
- Weight: 862 pounds
- Top speed: 42 mph
- Base price w/base power: $204,950
Features We Love
- Versatile and spacious bow seating
- Above-average surf performance for a sterndrive boat
- Huge stern sunpad
- Bow and stern boarding ladders
- Swing-down swim step
- Anchor windlass
- Transom shower
- Concealed gear storage under cockpit seating
- Folding watersports tower with a Bimini
- Twin 9-inch Simrad NSX displays
- MerCruiser SmartTow software and digital throttle and shift
- Seamless curved windshield
- Cockpit and bow drink holders, cellphone charging spots, grab handles, and stereo speakers
- Discreet engine trim switch on the transom
Design and Construction
In many respects, it’s easier for a boat builder to design and build specialized vessels intended to do one thing very well than it is to build a versatile boat that can do a lot of things with equal ease. Knowing that, Sea Ray accomplished something fairly difficult with its SDX 270 Surf. This is a versatile family entertainer that’s equally adept across a range of activities.
Do you like to host after-dinner cruises? It can do that. Do you and the family like joining parties on the sandbar? It can do that, too. Do you like giving watersports fans a ride they can remember fondly? Well, you see where this is going.
Weighing in at a solid 6,976 pounds and stretching more than 27 feet in length, the Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf is a big boat. And it performs even larger when you factor in its 1,900 pounds of watersports ballast. Yet, with a sporty hull and hefty MerCruiser 6.2L V-8 with twin, counter-rotating propellers, it drives more like a sport boat than a yacht-rated family runabout.
We’re reviewing a boat with the word ‘Surf’ in its name, right? So let’s begin at the stern since, for watersports fans, that’s the business end of the boat.
What’s Going on at the Stern?
It’s clear that designers envisioned the Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf with wakesurfing, wakeboarding, and tubing in mind. The boat’s neatly integrated transom swim platform sits low to the water and hides a couple of useful features. First is a four-step retracting stainless boarding ladder concealed under a panel on the starboard end. Second is a centrally mounted swing-down swim step. Both make reboarding from the water as easy as it gets.
Situated at a perfect seat height above the swim platform is a huge sunpad. It is useful for both lounging and for getting set up before a turn on the surfboard. An adjustable backrest facilitates comfy seating or flat lounging In either position, two beverage holders to the port side of the sunpad ensure a cold drink is never out of reach.
The stern accoutrements also include a remote control for the stereo and a transom shower. Reboarding passengers can rinse off their sandy feet and keep the boat interior clean.
One nice addition at the transom is a discreetly positioned engine trim switch. It’s a convenient feature during launch or retrieval at the ramp.
A starboard-side transom gate that closes when underway leads from the swim platform into the cockpit. Look closely and you’ll spot the generously proportioned wet locker situated in the floor here. It provides a convenient, self-draining space to stow wet ropes, vests, and other gear.
The standard flooring in the SDX 270 Surf—and that includes the swim platform—is a tough fiberglass nonskid. Buyers have a couple of options to upgrade it. They can choose either gray or brown SeaDek soft-touch foam or a snap-in Infinity woven vinyl. The latter provides greater comfort and can be removed for a more thorough annual cleaning.
Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf Cockpit
The Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf is a big boat, and that generous interior space allows a great range of seating and entertaining options.
The boat’s cockpit layout revolves around an L-shaped lounge seat that spans the transom and continues forward along the port side. It faces a starboard-side inward-facing seat. It’s an effective arrangement.
What gives the cockpit seating such great versatility, however, are the reversible seatback cushions on both the helm and copilot seats. Both can be situated forward so their occupants can become part of the cockpit entertaining space. The result of this is that the boat has three separate social areas: the swim platform, the cockpit, and the bow. Each area has plenty of space and comfort.
The other benefit to this arrangement is hidden. The seats conceal storage for gear. Lots of gear. That portside cockpit seat in particular accommodates a ton of gear with ease. This includes bulky items such as wakesurf boards and longer items such as fishing rods.
Throughout, the seating features soft upholstery, firm and supportive cushioning, and some nice stitchwork details for added interest.
Cockpit Amenities
Inductive cellphone chargers are built into the gunwales, along with USB A and USB C connections for charging larger devices. An abundance of stereo speakers ensures all passengers can enjoy the standard Fusion audio system. And the head unit is positioned in the passenger console for easy access.
The generously proportioned helm console provides plenty of space for an available head, complete with a sink and a faucet.
Overhead, the cockpit is protected by a folding watersports tower with a Bimini top that provides a measure of sun and rain protection. I’m sure some buyers would upgrade this with a larger hardtop if it were available. Perhaps Sea Ray can consider adding one down the road. As it is, the foldable tower comes with wakeboard racks that pivot for easier access from inside the boat. It has available space to add can-style stereo speakers for the surfers to enjoy.
Helm
If there’s one onboard space Sea Ray did a particularly great job of designing, it’s the helm. A pair of 9-inch Simrad NSX displays dominates the dash in a highly customizable arrangement. The driver can monitor tow speed on one screen while adjusting surf controls with the other. Or they can follow a GPS route on one while monitoring a depthfinder to search for fish on the other.
As a surf boat, the Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf comes with MerCruiser’s SmartTow software. With that, operators can select between wakesurf, wakeboard, ski, or tube modes at the push of a button and adjust ride characteristics as they wish. A simple and intuitive interface makes it easy to dial in the perfect wake.
Fully adjustable launch settings control how aggressively the boat pulls riders out of the water and onto their board. It’s a cinch to switch between beginner and advanced riders on the fly.
Of course, the SDX 270 comes with MerCruiser’s digital throttle and shift, which brings additional controls to the throttle binnacle. The trim control has the effect of increasing or decreasing wake height when in surf mode. For normal operation, MerCruiser’s Active Trim control automatically ensures the smoothest, driest ride.
To the left of the brushed nickel and black steering wheel is a series of toggle controls. They operate accessories such as the engine blower, various lights, the horn, and the anchor windlass.
Above the helm, a beautiful seamless, curved windshield gives the boat a sporty appearance and protects occupants. It does so without interfering with the driver’s sightlines—seated or using the helm seat bolster. The windshield’s asymmetrical design situates the walkthrough portion to port for improved driver visibility.
Below the windscreen, a cockpit door can close off the bow entirely and protect occupants early or late in the season. Add the optional cockpit heater, and the SDX 270 Surf becomes a true three-season boat in northern areas.
Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf Bow
Its hull holds its width to a point well forward of the windshield, so the Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf offers an oversized bow seating space that becomes a social area unto itself. Wraparound seating offers a variety of forward-facing or aft-facing seating options. An optional filler cushion can convert the whole space into a big, inviting sunpad.
As in the main cockpit, the bow features an abundance of drink holders, cellphone charging spots, grab handles, and stereo speakers. These touches ensure the bow offers all-day comfort, especially when soaking at the sandbar on a beautiful summer day with friends. To keep everyone refreshed, an insulated cooler with an overboard drain resides under the forward-most seat cushion. The side seat cushions house storage lockers for gear.
Far forward, the Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf includes a bow swim platform to match that at the stern. It includes a stainless steel retractable boarding ladder and its own dedicated shower. And like its transom-mounted twin, it makes a nice elevated casting deck for the anglers in the family.
A spacious bow deck locker houses an anchor windlass and the four-step boarding ladder.
Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf Power and Performance
The only engine available on the Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf is the 350 hp MerCruiser 6.2L MPI. It comes paired with MerCruiser’s forward-facing Bravo Four sterndrive. Sea Ray chose this engine for good reasons. It provides solid acceleration, excellent top speed, and outstanding overall handling.
Lightly loaded with just a couple of big guys aboard on test day, the boat planed smartly with only a touch of negative trim. It reached an enjoyable cruise speed of 30 mph in just over 10 seconds. When I pushed the throttle farther, the boat reached a top speed of 42 mph at 5,400 rpm. That’s respectable performance for a 27-foot, almost 7,000-pound bowrider.
What was more impressive to me was the way the SDX 270 Surf managed its power. Part of that is due to the hull design and part to the twin, forward-facing, counter-rotating props on its Alpha Four outdrive. The hull’s aggressive 21-degree deadrise and sharp chines allowed it to carve through the water easily, while the contra-rotating props eliminated steering torque for responsive and effortless steering control.
The boat reacted to our throttle and steering inputs instantly. That should inspire confidence behind the wheel and deliver a truly car-like ride.
When we slowed the boat down to watersports speeds, the surf wave was better than you might expect. I saw no real dead spots and a clean, well-defined pocket. Let’s be clear, the SDX 270 Surf won’t compete with a purpose-built wakesurf or wakeboard boat, but that’s not the point here.
This is a boat for families who want to do lots of different things instead of focusing on one activity alone. In that sense, the Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf will be a great fit for a range of boat buyers.
Sea Ray SDX 270 on Boatmart
Craig Ritchie
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