260 Valenti; 272 Commodore

The 272 Commodore (called the 260 Valenti in 1991–92) was a popular family cruiser in the 1990s with traditional lines and a surprisingly spacious interior. Like most boats of her type and length, the 272 has a lot of unattractive freeboard—a necessity for standing cabin headroom. Featuring a molded bow pulpit and an integrated swim platform in addition to a curved windshield, the 272 was constructed on a fully cored, deep-V hull with a wide 9-foot, 2-inch beam. Her mid-cabin interior—slightly revised and updated in 1995—is arranged with a semicircular dinette/double berth forward, a standup head with vanity, and a spacious queen-size berth aft. Privacy curtains separate both sleeping areas from the main cabin, and the decor is a blend of quality furnishings and off-white joinery. On deck, the cockpit is arranged with a triple-wide helm seat forward and bench seating aft. A large, electrically operated hatch in the cockpit sole provides good access to the engine compartment. Among several sterndrive engine options, twin 180hp Volvos cruise the 272 Commodore at 22 knots (high 30s top), while a single 300hp MerCruiser will cruise at 20 knots and top out around 35 knots.