43 Sea Ray – American Girl

Source: Capt. Stuart Reininger, Yachting Magazine

When a builder introduces a 43 express that’s the first production boat to boast a revolutionary drive system and more than a few state-of-the-art creature comforts, you assume the company had experienced boaters in mind when it developed the design. After all, most buyers of any boat this size have laddered their way up from smaller cruisers. Yet Sea Ray claims its new 43 Sundancer was developed for the full spectrum of boaters, experienced and newcomers alike.

The technological sophistication, performance and livability of the 43 will appeal to many, and the innovative Zeus drive system will make it easy for those with little or no helm time to learn their craft quickly.

The 43 I tested at Sea Ray’s massive facility in Palm Coast, Florida, was the prototype, the first off the line. But if I didn’t know that, I wouldn’t have believed it. Many builders consider the prototype an in-house test platform. They use it to discover and iron out any bugs before the model goes into full production. But for some builders, Sea Ray in particular, a prototype is the first production hull. It’s expected to be ready for prime time, since wrinkles have been ironed out in extensive preproduction workouts. That was the case with this 43. In a nutshell, the detailing and workmanship of the boat I tested bordered on a custom build, which is not surprising, as Sea Ray has a lot riding on this model. The company made its mark with the Sundancer series over 30 years ago, and this line has been setting the standard for express cruiser design since then.

This is an all-new boat, including the hull, which was developed specifically for the Zeus pod drives. This propulsion comes standard with the 43, which is the first production boat to showcase the technology. Sea Ray partnered with CMD Marine (the joint venture formed by Cummins MerCruiser Diesel and Mercury Marine to produce and market Zeus), offering its boats as test platforms during the development of the drives.

Unless you’ve spent the last five years shipwrecked on a desert island, you already know pods have taken the marine industry by storm as more and more manufacturers develop new models specifically for this type of propulsion. Until recently, the only big player in the pod-drive field has been Volvo Penta’s IPS, but that’s about to change. Sea Ray and CMD are betting that Zeus will give IPS a run for its money. CMD’s choice of the 43 Sundancer as the first production platform for Zeus was a savvy choice.

Running the 43 was both fun and easy. With its electrohydraulic joystick control, handling around the dock was a no-brainer. With minimal instruction, it won’t take an inexperienced boater long to figure out how to twist the stick to activate the pods and direct the boat to exactly where he wants it to go. Teenagers, with their video game expertise, will dock like pros as soon as they eyeball that stick.

Another advantage of Zeus is the elevator-like jump to plane that’s achieved without bow rise or the feeling of being “pushed” out of the hole, as is common on boats with conventional drives. The 43 planed in just over four seconds! However, those who have been driving boats with conventional power will have to get used to the very subtle “feel” at the helm. There are no rudders here; the hydraulic rotation of the pods themselves provide maneuverability. As a result, a light touch at the wheel provides instant response, no matter the sea conditions, with no “feedback.”

While the MerCruiser SmartCraft diagnostic and vessel view displays at the helm will give you all the information you’ll ever need to know including ongoing fuel burn, amount remaining and suggested throttle settings for peak performance it will also provide data your mechanic will appreciate.

The Sundancer’s performance is just one of its finer points. Because I’m a professional charter skipper, I tend to evaluate boats based on their ability to enhance the comfort and convenience of passengers. I don’t think many people will find the 43 difficult to get around on or enjoy. For instance, boarding is a snap, thanks to the aft gate, which is hefty and fitted with a substantial positive lock, and the molded-in step that leads into the cockpit. Transom seating, with ample stowage underneath, allows three or four passengers to watch the wake unwind when the boat is underway, although the entire cockpit can comfortably seat many more. (I particularly like the dual bolstered seats near the helm that adjust electrically sweet.) The wet bar which includes an icemaker, two-burner Kenyon electric stove, refrigerator/freezer, sink and overhead flat-screen TV  is tucked into the cockpit without infringing upon the seating or the cocktail-party-size deck area.

To top it all off, the boat comes with a complete canvas enclosure for the cockpit. When you crank up the reverse-cycle air conditioning system (three compressors totaling 24,000 BTU are powered by a standard 11.5-kW Onan genset), the cockpit becomes a comfortable, climate-controlled area. Of course, some owners still like a little sun on their backs along with a cool place to relax. For those people, there are two motorized skylights set into the 43’s hardtop, plus a motorized side vent adjacent to the helm.

One high-end feature is the swim platform. It’s a massive hydraulic Marine Lift unit that has the capacity to hold a PWC or RIB. Plus, it can be partially submerged in the water, so you can float, rather than haul, your water toys aboard.

Having seen the top-of-the-line nature of the topside of this boat, I expected equal quality and attention to detail below. That was all there, but there were other touches that were downright surprising. The aft cabin, for instance, is a true stateroom with a locking door instead of a curtain or sliding panel. It took a nifty bit of design know-how to transform that space into a private place for two passengers. Our test boat featured two single berths, but a double is available. A head compartment with shower is adjacent.

The forward master stateroom has changing spaces on either side of the queen-size berth, but making it up will require you to stretch, as the bed takes up the whole forward section of the cabin. There’s an adjacent communicating head with shower and a third, separate shower room next to it. That makes three showers on this 43-footer, not counting the wash-down at the transom.

The salon’s well-crafted, planked maple floor and paneling give it a spacious look, and with its U-shaped settee and open arrangement, there’s plenty of room for the whole crowd to congregate without rubbing elbows. The port-side galley is par for the course. Corian counters, a two-burner stove, plenty of stowage and a spacious refrigerator/freezer are on hand, and because the galley is open to the salon, the cook will be working among the guests.

I like the 43 Sundancer. It shows the extra attention to detail Sea Ray owners have come to expect from this brand. They won’t be disappointed with the builder’s newest launch. I think the boat is impressive for another reason, too. We’re living in an uncertain economy these days, yet this company has chosen this year to introduce an all-new boat that incorporates revolutionary technology, convenience-enhancing features and top-shelf workmanship. In my mind, those things seem to reflect the builder’s optimism and confidence in the fact that true quality will find its market.

Boat Specifications: 43 Sea Ray – American Girl

LOA: 47’3”

BEAM: 14’4”

DRAFT: 3’6”

WEIGHT (DRY): 28,500 lbs.

TRANSOM DEADRISE: 19 degrees

WATER: 100 gals.

FUEL: 350 gals.

PRICE (W/TEST POWER) : AVAILABLE ON REQUEST