Thinking of upgrading to Islander 268 / 270 from the 228. Anyone in Eastern NC have one I can look at?

[GreenRoomSon]

As the title states I am looking to get something with little more length and cabin and was wondering if anyone in ENC has one that they would not mind me looking at? Im in the Greenville Area.

Best,
Sean

 

[wahoo33417]

Sorry to hijack without an an answer. Will you also consider the 270? You may already know this, but it is essentially the same boat except the running bottom was extended to the transom to support the weight of the newly popular four strokes. I do believe the last year of the 268 had that fully extended running bottom and Grady changed the name the following year.

Just might give you a broader search.

Again, if you've already thought all this through, then never mind this post!

 

[GreenRoomSon]

I am thinking that being 900 lbs lighter my single 300 would be better for the 265 and as someone who likes to refurbish boats I would likely be looking at much lower price point with the 265.

I have read that the 270 cabin is bigger than the 265 and has a better layout. Is this to an appreciable extent?

 

[Briansboat7]

As the title states I am looking to get something with little more length and cabin and was wondering if anyone in ENC has one that they would not mind me looking at? Im in the Greenville Area.

Best,
Sean

What year and price point are you interested in? I have a really nice 1995 268 Islander that I am getting ready to put on the market as soon as I can get the title to the boat in a couple of weeks.

 

[family affair]

I have read that the 270 cabin is bigger than the 265 and has a better layout. Is this to an appreciable extent?

Bigger in what way? I'm 6'1". I can stand up in the 270 with room to spare. I can lay down on the berth and just fit. Otherwise it is cramped unless you are 5'7" and under 170 lbs. I have not been a 265, but the added beam appears to provide more room below deck. Layout opinion is certainly subjective.

 

[wahoo33417]

You may want to take a look here: https://www.gradywhite.com/archived-brochures/

The archived Grady brochures provide pretty good specs and some limited pictures.

Also, the Yamaha Performance Bulletins pages used to carry archived data for engine tests on boats that used Yamaha exclusively. I'm not sure if they still do, but you can take a look here: https://yamahaoutboards.com/owner-center/performance-bulletins

We had an F300 on our 258. For a single engine, it was a great fit. I believe the 270 was the same hull stretched two feet longer. I think an F300 could do it, but you would find it lacking in a number of situations. Like trying to use instant power to stay on the back of a wave coming in a nasty inlet.

In my opinion, the same could be true for a 265. In calm water and lightly loaded, an F300 could do it. But, again, you may not have that instant power in situations where you want it.

In both cases, I believe the boat would be 40% below max HP. That's a lot below.

 

[Mustang65fbk]

Have you considered a 232 Gulfstream? They were produced up until a year ago or so and seem to be much more common/desirable than the 265 Express, as well as the 268/270 Islander is. They're also a bigger, heavier and longer boat than the 228 Seafarer, along with having a considerably larger cabin.

My neighbor has a 2005 GW 270 Islander but we're out here in the Seattle area and nowhere near eastern NC. I've been on his boat a few times, the cabin seems like it takes up more than half the boat and I honestly like the layout of a 2006 and newer 232 Gulfstream better. I can stand up just fine inside of his cabin of which I'm 6'2" tall, but as mentioned, it seems like the cabin takes up a good deal of space that could be used for deck space, fishing or other things. Or at least I don't think I'd ever need a cabin of that size, and I don't believe he's ever overnighted on the boat before either. As mentioned before, there's about 12 boats to pick from between the 265 Express and the 268/270 Islander that you mentioned you were interested in, whereas the 232 Gulfstream has 26 to consider, at least on Boat Trader that is.