2016/2017 Sea Ray 250 SLX
 

Hi everyone,

As I mentioned in a previous post I am thinking about buying a new boat. I have owned a 2006 Sea Ray Sundeck 240 (26 ft LOA) for the past 3 years and now that my family and I know how we will be using the boat on the lake I am thinking of upgrading to a 2017 250 SLX. I know most people go up in size when they buy a new boat but I found that right around 26 ft was perfect for what we do. Typically it is me, my wife and my two kids on the boat and if we have people up to visit it typically adds 2 more adults and 2 or 3 kids. We mostly cruise around the lake and anchor in coves. We do some water sports like tubing, knee boarding and water skiing but that is not the primary use.

Originally I thought another Sundeck model would be best for how we use our boat but I really like the look and feel of the 250 SLX. I have also looked at Cobalt (test drove several models but R5 is where I ended up), Formula 240 BR, Chaparral Sunesta and several others but I really liked the ride and layout of the 2016/2017 250 SLX (the older model layout didn't work as well for my family but this seems to be perfect).

Does anyone out there currently own a 2016/2017 250 SLX? How do you like it? Is build quality as good as say a Cobalt? How have you found the ride on choppy, windy days? Are there certain options you really like and others that are not worth the money? Would you go with the 300 or 350 hp engine? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

I really love the SLX layout and performance. I would go with the 350hp. Never know when you need that little extra. As stated in the other post last year I upgraded from the 270 to the 310 SLX and I could not be happier as said handling layout conveniences. Awesome boats. I do prefer the larger models especially for cruising through the broads and extra room for guests. Good luck.


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Looks like a nice boat! http://www.searay.com/page.aspx/page...7/SLX-250.aspx

All Great Choices....
 

....3 great choices you have narrowed your search to. I can't comment specifically on the SeaRay, but I can give you my perspective on the Cobalt and Formula.

Many moons ago, before children, we had a SeaRay 250 Cuddy Cabin. It was a great boat, albeit underpowered. Kids came along, and The Supreme Leader said the boat had to go, ("my babies won't be safe...").

Fast forward to 2012....kids are teenagers and we were fortunate enough to snag a place on the water. The Supreme Leader decrees that we can have a boat again. We decided to go the used route and found an awesome Cobalt 250 Bowrider, with 430HP Big Block and Captain's Call exhaust. It was a rocket ship. We loved that boat. Ride was excellent in the rough water and the fit-and-finish of the interior was top-notch. It also had the extended swim platform, which came in really handy for water activities. Being a bowrider, it also allowed us to have a lot of freeloading friends and relatives on board for a ride.

After a 4 years with the Cobalt, The Supreme Leader was hooked on boating again and last year ordered her serf to find something "just a bit bigger". Our finalists ended up being the Cobalt R7 and the Formula 270BR. It was a tough decision, but The Supreme Leader and her serf opted for the Formula. Cockpit layout was key....seat-backs at the helm and on Port side adjust forward and backward, allowing for either front-facing seating, or aft-facing seating, allowing you to be part of the gang. Fit-and-finish in the cockpit was slightly nicer than the Cobalt, we thought. The Formula is also heavier than the Cobalt and you really notice that benefit in the rough water. Imron paint on the Formula was also a decision point. The fact that it will (almost) never fade was a huge selling point. The extended swim platform on the Formula was also a big draw. It is much bigger than what is available on the other boats. And, we found a 2015 leftover in 2016, which allowed us to get a very good deal.

I have only seen and been in the SLX at the boat show. It looks snazzy, but that's about all I can offer on that model. In a shameless plug for Paugus Bay Marina, I will say that they are great to deal with and I am sure they would do their best to help you get into a Formula, (I know they have a 2016 leftover 270BR they are anxious to move....)

Choosing between those 3 boats is a great problem to have! Good luck!

deadrise
 

A quick look at their specs show it as a 21 degree at transom deadrise hull. That is decent but not a super deep vee. I would suggest a good Winni "sea trial".

Having said that, it is a great looking boat and looks like it would do well on all but the worst days!

Thanks!
 

Thank you for the thoughts and advice everyone. I actually did take this boat out for a quick sea trial last year and I'm doing another today. We'll see how it goes! Thanks again.

About the sea trial of a new boat...

While driving by the lake this spring I have commented to my wife on the preseason smoothness of the water. Rarely have I found the wind to be the cause of discomfort on the lake. It's the boat wakes that churn things up.

I'm sure the 250SLX is a fine boat. If you wish to get a feel for its sea keeping nature, have the dealer sea trial a dozen other boats on multiple different courses all around you. :D

21 degrees should be fine and is still considered a fairly deep vee. Unless you're willing to expand your search per brand, class,size, or type you'll find that most bows in the same class and size as the 250slx (from Formula/Cobalt etc) have between 21-22 deadrise. You probably won't notice too much difference in ride quality unless you're a professional captain/boat tester.

Thanks again for all the advice. I took the 250 SLX out again today and loved it. The 350 hp engine really gave some nice pop and the boat itself had everything we need. So I bought it! Looking forward to summer even more now!


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Congrats. Post some pics up when you get it.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e90200f032.jpg

Here's one from the sea trial today!


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Congrats! You should have done some donuts in front of the Weirs Cam. We could have seen your entire test drive on time lapse.

Good luck with the SLX. I had a 2008 270 SLX. Best boat I ever owned. It took everything Winnipesaukee would throw at it. Enjoy!

Name, please
 

Congratulations, LongShort. That's a great boat for a lot of different things. (I have a Sea Ray too.) More important now:
What's the name? You can't get on the VHF and say "This is uh, uh, uh SeaRay"

Searay
 

Best boat I ever owned!

I am on my second SLX upgraded from a 2007 270 to 2016 310 I've owned many boats and many types but this is far and away the best one.


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The name of the new boat is "Just Liv'n" after my two kids Justin and Olivia. I personally like to add "the dream" but my wife likes the shortened version.

Great name, contrats!

Enjoy your new boat! Hope to see you on the lake.

How'd you like the '06 Sundeck? I have a 28' bowrider I love, but my friend is looking for something in the 26' range and the Sundecks are on his list. Does it handle busy/choppy Saturday's well?