The following review was written by John Page Williams, Editor-at-large, Chesapeake Bay Magazine. John, senior naturalist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, has been a regular contributor to Chesapeake Bay Magazine for 30 years, specializing in environmental issues, nature, wildlife, fishing and boats. He has been testing new and used boats for the magazine's Time-Tested and New Boat News departments since 1998.

FEBRUARY 2011

LOA  28' 6" Beam 9' Draft  36" Deadrise 21Ëš Weight  6,016 lb Fuel 94 gal Max. Power 430hp Base Price  $107,795 with 380hp MerCruiser

A 27-foot bowrider makes a lot of sense for Chesapeake boaters who seek a sporty runabout for day cruising and tow sports. It's big enough to stay safe in nasty seas, carry a large family, and offer a head big enough for real people, but it's small enough to power with a single engine. In this vein, Sea Ray continues to refine its 270 SLX. This year's model features an L-shaped lounge and a cockpit wet bar with a Corian countertop, comfortable helm and companion seats with bolsters, an aft sunpad with a walk-through to the swim platform, abundant storage, and a forward cockpit with sumptuous lounges.

Sea Ray stays in touch with its customers well enough that its designers know the little touches they need, like a space for a carry-on cooler, strategically-placed beverage holders, and an anchor recessed in a chute under the stem head of the bow. The company's highly automated production system is precise enough that this 270 SLX comes with a limited lifetime warranty on the hull and deck. The three MerCruiser power options range from 300- to 430-hp, all turning Bravo 3 dual-propeller stern-drives. The middle-of-the-road 380-hp MerCruiser 8.2 mag DTS offers big-block power for carrying people and gear, with good efficiency at cruising speeds from 20 mph to the upper 30s and a top end in the mid-40s. Sea Ray Boats, Knoxville, Tenn., www.searay.com