Stepping up to the 270 Islander means a 10′ beam, a gracefully-flared bow, and a hard-chine hull that rises easily onto plane with twin 150-hp four-stroke outboards on an Armstrong bracket. Even so, this new model retains the soft-riding characteristics at useful speeds for which Eastern boats are known. A cored hull above the waterline as well as coring in the cabin and pilothouse sides provide strength with light weight for a boat of this size. Below decks, a forward V-berth converts to a settee with table, while an enclosed head offers a shower. A mid-berth under the helm deck offers additional sleeping capacity or storage. A flatscreen TV for the cabin is standard. The helm deck provides a galley-up aft of the helm seat, opposite a double forward-facing companion seat, with a double lounge seat and an optional aft facing cooler seat to port. An optional aft Bimini top can shade the upholstered transom bench seat, and a bow thruster can ease the docking process.