Crownline 270 BR
Crownline's 270 BR doesn't run like most other bowriders. With premium features and kicking engine options, it can step up from light lake duty to play in offshore waters.
by Alan Jones
May 1, 2003
How good of a cruising area is Tampa Bay? Well, it's the only body of water that has an NFL team
named after it (Green Bay is named after the town). Those who boat in the bay have a vast and
varied playground at their disposal. If you want to venture off by yourself, there are plenty of
isolated anchorages, but if you are in the mood to socialize, there are some great spots to hang
with the gang and experience what the Gulf of Mexico does best: Provide sun worshipers with white
sandy beaches that have swimmer-friendly, gently sloping drop-offs.
If you catch a day with no wind, you can cruise around in a 14-foot jon boat, but Tampa Bay
is a big body of water, so when nature's fan is clicked on high, you had better have a seaworthy
vessel. Most bowriders don't fit into that category and are best sui-ted for light lake duty, but
Crownline's new 270 BR is a 26-foot runabout that thinks it's an offshore boat.
First impressions are
important, and the 270 BR scores high marks for its sleek styling. The pointy snout and highly
raked windshield that wraps around the cockpit like a pair of designer sunglasses gives it the
predatory look of a performance boat, and armed with a 375-hp, 8.1L Volvo Penta GI power plant,
it's no sheep in wolf's clothing. Another pleasant surprise is being able to board without stepping
on the plush 34-ounce vinyl upholstery, thanks to the walkthrough at the center of the stern that
has an available filler cushion when you need extra seating. The plush standard snap-in Berber
carpet invites those who come aboard to kick off their shoes.
Sliding behind the helm is like settling into your favorite chair at home. The adjustable
helm seat has a flip-up thigh riser that sports an important difference. Most flip-up bolster seats
pivot 90 degrees and are fine if the driver is standing up. But if the pilot sits on the top, they
end up getting a sideways wedgie with the skinny end of the cushion. Crownline's wide flip-up
section stays parallel and raises the driver 7 inches to provide a comfortable high chair seat that
allows better visibility and ventilation as you peer over the windshield. Even though the helm can
accommodate a range of drivers from tall to small, the bucket seats can be ordered with a height
adjuster for a perfect custom fit. The standard tilt steering wheel is thickly padded and has thumb
rests for those who like the nine-and-three driving position. The Faria gauges have stainless-steel
bezels that sit in a dash that has a sporty faux Kevlar look. The tach and speedometer sit fairly
low and can be partially obscured unless the wheel is sufficiently tilted down, and there are some
dash and compass reflections visible in the lightly-tinted windshield, but these minor nitpicks do
little to detract from the otherwise ergonomically correct helm design.
After cranking up the
engine, the driver engages the Volvo Duoprop outdrive into reverse and eases the beefy bowrider
back with a subdued, yet throaty 'chub-chub-chub' sound that measures only 58 decibels at idle. For
those who want their presence announced via high performance through-hull exhaust, Corsa's
Captain's Call or Quick and Quiet II systems are available as options. The wind is fresh from the
southwest at 15 knots as the crew pushes away from the dock at the legendary Renaissance Vinoy
Resort that has hosted many celebrities, like Babe Ruth, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Presidents
Coolidge and Hoover. It is a suitable disembarking location for the boat that wears a crown. After
clearing the marina and advancing the power lever, the Crownline comes smartly on plane and streaks
to 30 mph in less than six seconds.
For those who have smaller boats, puttering around this relatively pro-tected section of
Tampa Bay isn't a bad way to spend the day. On the starboard side is the futuristic, five-story St.
Pete Pier that is a destination in itself, but for those who want to explore and have seaworthy
boats, it's just the appetizer before the main course. Rounding the pier, the seas are better than
two feet in the open bay and are tightly grouped. But with a 23-degree deep-V deadrise that
progresses slightly sharper toward the bow, the Crownline 270 slices through the chop effortlessly.
In addition to the soft ride, the driver and co-pilot have bucket seats that have a four-spring,
SAS shock-absorbing system that dampens the punishment when things get rough.
Turning the big Volvo loose, the 270 accelerates to more than 50 mph, despite a
three-quarters full 88-gallon tank and choppy sea conditions. When all three passengers sit on the
starboard side there is a slight list, so the driver looks for trim tab controls that unfortunately
aren't there. But they are available as options and should be added, even though the boat runs
surprisingly well without them. Handling the Crownline at top speed is about as easy as driving
your car on the interstate. Carving hard turns in the 270 BR shows a nimbleness not generally
associated with most 5,500-pound boats.
Heading southwest, the 270 BR is pointed toward Egmont Key, one of the best recreational
areas accessible by boat only. Approaching the island with a southwestern wind puts you in the lee
and is the preferred anchorage for smaller boats, but the most scenic beach is found on the
windward side. The best approach is around to the north of the island through Egmont Channel, being
careful not to turn too soon to the south. But once on the western side, the water is deep enough
for the 270 BR's 38-inch draft. On the weekends in warm weather, you will have plenty of company,
but on weekdays like this, you can find a stretch of beach all to yourself.
Anchoring the 270 BR is safer than on a closed-bow boat in rough conditions, because instead
of standing on a pitching deck, you just kneel on the bow cushion, flip open the triangular hatch,
which can be dogged shut, pull the anchor out of its Danforth cradle and drop it. There is a cutout
for the line and the two pop-up bow cleats are very close to the front, so you don't get a lot of
side pull when anchoring in rough water, which can generate an uncomfortable sloshing motion. When
the hook is set, hopping off the boat to do some beachcombing is simple with the stainless-steel
boarding ladder that is neatly concealed under a cover on the roomy swim platform. There is also a
pair of storage compartments on the Euro-transom essential for equipment like fenders, ski ropes
and vests.
As good as the 270 performs when running, it excels as an entertainment platform. The cockpit
features a U-lounge that maximizes the ability to invite all your friends. The large, removable
oval-shaped cockpit table is within easy reach of all those seated and stows away neatly in a
dedicated storage area under the seats. Crownline's carpeted, under-seat storage compartments open
'backwards' with the hinge toward the centerline and are easy to access because of the pull straps.
The sculpted sectional seat cushions are well-padded, have comfortable backrests, and with 16
cupholders scattered about, there is always one within easy reach. A wet bar resides behind the
captain's seat and is nicely integrated into the cockpit. Fed by a 20-gallon freshwater tank that
also supplies the transom shower and head spigot, you are not likely to leave anyone high and dry.
There are two built-in coolers ' one in the bow, one in the cockpit ' in addition to the 25-quart
Igloo carry on, so a cold drink is always close by. The roomy head compartment is easy to enter and
has a sink and a standard portable head.
After catching some rays and splashing around while listening to the jammin' premium Sony CD
stereo, it's time to head back to the Vinoy. This time the driving duties are turned over to the
second in command and the captain reclines on the port bow rider seat, which has a backrest with
just enough angle for reclining comfort and with enough legroom to accommodate a Shaq-sized
passenger. Despite the choppy seas, the rider up front gets a smooth-enough ride to doze off. Soon,
they are lacing the Crownline 270 up to the hotel's floating dock after a great day on the water in
a boat that is perfect for a big-water place like Tampa Bay.
With the Volvo 8.1L GI DP configuration, the 270 BR is priced at $70,367, which isn't cheap.
But in a recent J.D. Powers and Associates survey of Crownline owners, Crownline received no less
than a four out of five ratings in boat quality and reliability, value, riding and handling, and
overall rating for large runabouts. Only Cobalt scored higher. So while you are paying a premium
price, you are getting a superior product, which is not always the case. You can find plenty of
boats on the market that cost less, but trying to find one you like better will take some work. And
isn't the idea of boating not to work?