Hi and greetings from Glasgow,...

[Adieu]

Hi and greetings from Glasgow, Scotland.  Anyone else got a bowrider on the Med ? I bought an 21 SPX in Palamos last summer and after 5 weeks of cautious inshore boating I'm wishing I had got a deep Vee Cap Camarat for seaworthiness peace of mind. These Janneau French manufactured craft and similar (e.g. Quicksilver Actives) are speeding past me in comfort as I struggle not to slam in modest chop. Maybe a planing hull is just unsuitable for waves over about 6 inches. My tactic is to try to quarter the head waves, whilst slowing down, barely above 10mph or we slam, trim up to keep the blue stuff out, and if really worried, put front cover on. I'm not talking Captains Courageous here - real sailors would laugh at my troubles in modest waves  I'm sure but with family on board, caution is the watchword. With a 250HP engine it feels like I bought a Ferrari 308 GT just to trim  the front lawn. Forget planing under most sea conditions. Am I missing something ? 

BTW - when we arrive at a pretty little cove and drop anchor, having felt to ensure that our fillings are still in our teeth,  the spacious seating, comfort  and practicality of the swim platform leaves me feeling smug when I look at the less comfort orientated twin console and other more seaworthy boats. The smug smile disappears of course as soon as thoughts of the return journey swim in to focus. These boats in Europe are made in Poland. The speedo does not move under 15mph. Is this normal ? 

Incidentally my UK instructor would blanch at the Spanish boating protocols - nobody over 3 yrs wears a life vest, if at anchor you can't touch your neighbour's boat  with a cocktail stick you are too far away, and scope/depth longer that 1:2  is a waste of rope, pass on either side and it's fun to keep the oncoming boat guessing until the last moment. That said, they did discover  America so they can't all be bad sailors ! 

[haydn]

Good to hear from a UK owner. I live in London but my 270 SD is moored in Marbella so used to the sea conditions. My wife prefers the flat calm sea when we drift and watch the dolphins but the variation in sea conditions is what makes it fun to ride, 33 inch (meter) high waves no problem, can be a fun roller coaster. This is my 5th sea ray starting with the 240, moving up to the 280/270. Problem last year when the 280 destroyed by fire so had a 210 old lady as an interim awaiting order of the new 270. This may be your problem as possibly too small for the sea conditions. The new 270 made in Poland and euro spec, slightly
different design, wider in the beam and raised and squarer bow. Best sea ray I have had and fewer complaints from the calm water crew. Minimal slamming, waves head on and break around the boat.

[Adieu]

Hi and thanks for your response and comments. I was already after one month on the water suffering from one metre-itis (pathological craving for a boat a metre longer) and your comments on the 270 SDX are not alleviating the symptoms. I may well be short of a metre or two of floating real estate when it comes to the conditions I face on the sea near Palamos and it begins to look not so clever never to have gone for a test ride. Jeez the stupid things you do yourself that you would shake your head at if it was someone else. Anyway, enjoy your new boat (it's a beauty) and I may have to start saving pennies to upsize and in due course we can compare notes.