350 Sea Ray Sundancer – Pure Gold

Source: John Clemans, Yachting Magazine

Sea Ray and Sundancer are synonymous. Sundancer cruisers 13 models, from 24 to 60 feet have become as well-known as their builder, Sea Ray Boats. This company was founded 50 years ago in Oxford, Michigan, by C.N. Ray. Last summer, Sea Ray now with over 450 dealers on six continents produced its 50,000th boat, a 350 Sundancer. In celebration of that milestone, which occurred during the firm’s golden anniversary year, Sea Ray tricked out this 350 like no other Sundancer.

Its hull is a stunning “anniversary gold” with a clear-coat finish an upscale paint job befitting a poker run showboat and its twin swim platforms are richly decked out in teak. Not all the boat’s adornments are exclusive to this anniversary version; the teak, for instance, is optional on every 350. The options list, in fact, was the starting point for this remarkable one-off. It features virtually every available extra, including a Kohler genset, Raymarine C120 chart plotter, SmartCraft VesselView display, built-in stainless-steel grill and ice maker in the cockpit and a premium sound system.

At the top of the propulsion options list for every 350 is the twin 375 hp MerCruiser T-496 Magnum MPI DTS package with Axius Control System and Bravo Three drives. With Axius stern-drives, you can achieve the same jaw-dropping maneuverability that MerCruiser CMD Zeus and Volvo IPS pod-drive systems deliver on inboard boats. In short, the handling of the 350 anniversary rendition is remarkable.

After running the boat with Greg Garland, Sea Ray’s marketing specialist, on the scenic French Broad River it passes within sight of Sea Ray’s Knoxville, Tennessee, headquarters I docked it between boats fore and aft with the joystick on my first try. The stern-drives work in tandem but operate independently to provide multidirectional thrust. This makes docking effortless, enhances power and delivers tighter turns at speed, especially when using Mercury’s responsive electronic/hydraulic steering system and velvety-smooth SmartCraft Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS).

The 350 Sundancer, the flagship of Sea Ray’s Sport Cruiser line, is a perfect family boat with both a walk-through windshield and walkable side decks. Its big swim platform has a foldaway, aft-facing bench, and the unique add-on swim platform turns the regular platform into a seat as well. The hardtop is standard, as is the cockpit wet bar. For entertaining, the two-person helm bench and companion seat can be swiveled to face the standard teak table. Ultraleather is a standard luxury in 350 interiors, but on the Anniversary 350 it’s present in the cockpit as well, replacing vinyl on all the seats. Exterior comfort doesn’t end there. Four Mr. Mister high-pressure misting nozzles are in the cockpit. Rounding out the exterior upgrades are stainless-steel footrests for helm and companion seating.

Even without the addition of anniversary specials, the 350 is as fully equipped for fun-filled voyaging with sleeping accommodations for six and a generous galley in the cabin as any boat in its class. But when it’s embellished with a number of fancy firsts, this 350 leaves the competition in its wake.

The Anniversary 350’s interior boasts many unique features, including a black Corian countertop, LED overhead lighting instead of halogen and an Ultraleather border around the V-berth with an embroidered 50th anniversary logo. A noteworthy standard innovation is that the forward third of the berth itself can be elevated electrically from a flat position to a lounge using a remote control.

There’s no telling if any of these features will make the options list of production 350s, but they elevate this one to a new level of distinction for midrange cruisers.