When it comes to bowriders we all have some fond memories of a good day on the water but none of us have ever experienced a bow rider quite like this! The new Sea Ray 290 Bow Rider and it just might be the biggest bow rider ever! Sea Ray received repeated requests for a larger bow rider with more and more features and thus the birth of the 290.

The 290 SLX has sleek lines and smooth curves reflecting how far bowriders have come in design and style. This updated styling is a welcome sight out on the water or at any dock. The 29’ 6” length and 9’8” beam give the boat a solid “big boat” ride while still keeping to the nimble bow rider appeal.

At the bow there’s room for a spot light and an anchor roller and a windlass is available in addition to the already sizable anchor locker. The bow seating is really more of a bow lounge with plenty of room to stretch out on the dual front seats or convert it with an insert to make one big sun pad. Beneath each seat is a storage locker for dry gear and dedicated storage for cockpit tables. There’s also an insulated cooler that’s perfect for beverages and snacks of all types.

The helm resembles that of a fine luxury car with a burlewood dash, finely crafted gauges and meters, and a Euro style tilt steering wheel. Unique to Sea Ray is this compact electronic keypad with lighted ISO symbols for easy operation of other 12-volt circuits and all accessories are conveniently grouped on two ergonomically friendly keypads. Operational controls are perfectly placed for easy navigation and the helm seat features a flip up thigh rise bolster for added comfort and navigation as well.

Just opposite the helm is this neatly hidden private lockable enclosed head with sink making any day out on the water much more enjoyable for all aboard. The compartment is quite roomy and is nicely finished. Just aft of the head is a fore and aft facing double jump seat with the aft seat being perfect for a spotter to keep the captain informed.

The cockpit is perfect for entertaining thanks to the wet bar with sink and faucet, trash receptacle, and storage cabinet with a handy bottle rack. The crew will be comfortable in the U-shaped cockpit lounge that stimulates conversation and there’s even a removable table for snacks and drinks that also inserts up in the bow lounge. Beneath the seating are large storage compartments for gear and lines and there’s even dedicated table storage in the bow. The center section of the aft lounge doubles as a transom door making access to the swim platform much easier. The large swim platform has a concealed stainless steel swim ladder and gas assisted yacht style fender storage compartments that are hidden in the Euro style transom.

Engine access is easy through this floor hatch in the cockpit. Our test vessel featured this MerCruiser 7.4 liter engine coupled to a Bravo III outdrive although there is a new 6.2L option available as well. There’s plenty of room around the engine to easily complete the maintenance schedule and all fills are within easy reach.

The 290 has the ability to handle rough weather or chop thanks in part to the 7200 pound dry weight and the 21 degree deadrise at the stern. Her length of 29’6” and beam of 9’8” make her very nimble and easy to handle tracking very well through turns and at high speed. Even docking is easy thanks to the power assisted steering.

Out on our test track we recorded a top speed of 56.7 mph turning 4800 rpm and our best cruising speed was calculated at 34.6 mph turning 3000 rpm, giving us a range of 250 miles based on the 130-gallon fuel capacity. The 290 also clocked an impressive 4.5 seconds in our time to plane test and 9 seconds in our 0-30 trial.

The Sea Ray 290 SLX is quite possibly the biggest bow rider ever with great looks and features. With the size and performance of a big boat and the nimbleness of a bow rider, the 290 should soon become the standard by which all other jumbo bow riders are measured.

For further information visit www.searay.com.

• Top speed for the Sea Ray 290 Select EX (2005-) is 53.8 mph (86.6 kph), burning 41.4 gallons per hour (gph) or 156.7 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Sea Ray 290 Select EX (2005-) is 38.5 mph (62 kph), and the boat gets 1.67 miles per gallon (mpg) or 0.71 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 196 miles (315.43 kilometers).


• Tested power is 2 x 300-hp MerCruiser 350 MAG MPI sterndrives.