48 Sea Ray Sundancer

Source: David Lockwood, Boatpoint Magazine

The performance and finish of the Sea Ray Sundancer 48 will have you seeing stars… and stripes, writes David Lockwood

There’s never been a period in the Australian boating industry quite like this. American boats are a dime a dozen. The choice s bewildering, especially when you take into account the competing local marques. But amid the star-spangled assault there are some badges that have earned their stripes and become household names. Sea Ray is one of them. If the market suddenly dived I don’t think you’re going to get ‘stuck’ with a Sea Ray.

A mainstay amid the Yankee crop, Sea Ray has always pitched itself as a cut above the pack in terms of sports performance and finish. But it’s only in recent years that it has made a really convincing impression in the big boat arena. Adopting more universally appealing European styling, Sea Ray has taken a global view and is hitting home runs in foreign markets.

The Sydney dealer who supplied the demo boat (pictured) was recently named Sea Ray Dealer of the World. That award isn’t just for selling a shipload of Sea Rays. Just a few months prior to penning this article, the agent staged a Sea Ray Rendezvous, as dealers are known to do right around the world, attracting 32 luxury Sea Ray’s that rafted up in a giant ring in Port Hacking.

A social and educational event, the soiree is symptomatic of a boatbuilder and local dealer offering more than just the keys when you sign on the dotted line. They take a holistic approach to boat ownership and provide compelling excuses to use your boat more often and with likeminded boat owners.

For these reasons, Sea Ray earns a place on my shortlist. Performance, finish, resale, service, and events.

What more could you want?

Well, a lot more, actually. It was bucketing down when I arrived to test the latest Sundancer 48 express cruiser and I wanted protection from the elements and, well, the ability to go boating irrespective of the weather.

Thankfully, with a fully moulded helm enclosure, the Sundancer 48 offers that protection, plus great views through huge panes of safety glass, and a very social deck layout for fair and foul-weather boating.

Such is the performance, with a pair of the latest Cummins fully electronic QSC 540 517hp diesel motors – an upgrade from the standard 490hp models that use the same block – that I could very easily chase some sun and decamp for a distant waterway in this capable cruiser.

Typically for Sea Ray, the hull even on this 15.5-tonne cruiser has a sharp 19-degree vee, a deep vee for a 48-footer, and as such the ride is nice and smooth when travelling at sea.

And while away from dock there’s a floating apartment below with accommodation for a family of four. Back on deck, you’re looking at a snazzy entertainer.

PRIMED FOR PASSAGE
I headed through the hatch in the cockpit floor using the short vertical ladder for a pre-passage engine check.

There is not-quite standing room and there is tight access to the farthest parts of the Cummins diesel engines. But to its credit, Sea Ray has ensured all the primary servicing items are right at hand and key items like the big sea-strainers with glass inspection bowls can be seen for at-a-glance pre-start checks.

The engine room and utility space are combined and Sea Ray sure packs a lot into the space, with the generator and the boat’s three fuel filters aft – there are also redundant filters for each motor – an oil-change system supplied, coolant bottles on the passageway between the motors, and easily reached paired oil dipsticks.

There are wing tanks carrying fuel, wet exhausts, and you will notice the Cummins are linked to ZF vee drives to maximize the boat’s internal volume. The boat meets US Coast Guard and ABYC standards, with GRP hull construction, fibreglass stringers, vinylester resin, and stainless steel rub rails and through-hull fittings with ball valves with double hose clamps.

There are systems’ monitors and alarm panels on the dash, a fire-suppression system, and fully coded wiring with supplied diagrams.

In the meantime, the 1514lt fuel capacity will give you the kind of range you need to explore nearby ports and undertake weekend or longer passages, and the 416lt water supply capacity should last a couple of a weeks if rationing, but a frivolous family of four will be looking for a refill after a weekend.

And it’s great to see a big 227lt holding tank so you don’t have to weigh anchor and head outside to empty it every day or two.

DANCING ON DECK
On deck, the hydraulic boarding platform, which is so required on top-shelf Europeans boats these days, is a winner for the snappy dispatch of the tender, jetski, or to create a semi-submerged platform on which the kids can wade. Stepping on the welcome mat, I also notice an aft boot for fenders, with toggles for swinging mooring lines, and the Shorepower connection and lead.

Despite its high-volume yet rakish moulded hardtop, the Sundancer has walkaround decks to assist with mooring. En route I noted big cleats to take fender and mooring lines during those Sea Ray raft-ups, and the moulded toe rails and bowrail to assist with my footing.

The dedicated sunpad area comes with foam mattresses that have headrests and incremental angled mounting positions. Two stainless steel grabrails provide sturdy handholds.

As with all great entertainers, there’s a great spread of seating in the two-stage indoor/outdoor cockpit. The outdoor area has a surround lounge for six set around a teak-topped lunch table that converts to a sunpad. The amenities centre to port features an icemaker, sink, hot/cold water and top-loading bin for the paper plates and empties.

Alongside was a handy Corian-topped food-prep space with stainless steel grabrails that double as fiddle rails to keep the salad bowls contained, storage lockers, drink holders and, get this, a permanently-mounted LCD television back far enough under the hardtop to gain protection.

So it’s cricket in the cockpit while lunch is served. Or perhaps a video of the day’s exploits after the sun goes down. Or how about switching to party mode and playing some DvDs? Your choice. The remote control for the boat’s stereo isn’t far away, either.

ON THE BRIDGEDECK
There is a step up to the bridgedeck under the hardtop, where there are superb views provided in air-conditioned comfort. That’s important with so much glass and, in winter, with the open rear bulkhead to the cockpit.

You could leave the camper covers in place if you wanted more protection, but invariably covers do ruin the lines of a sleek craft like this.

Seating under the hardtop, which was high enough that you gained excellent headroom, included a portside Cleopatra lounge that was big enough to recline on while enjoying the views. You can also easily seat three people here.

Opposite is a truly innovative helm seat that can seat two and swivels aft to face your guests, thereby creating one big indoor/outdoor entertaining space.

Along with the air-con, some thought had gone towards natural ventilation under what are sometimes stifling hardtops.

There were two ceiling hatches and, as with many Sea Rays, a centre windscreen vent that opens at the push of a button on the dash. Other electronics ranged from a Raymarine E120 and ST&001 autopilot to a MerCruiser Smartcraft panel with engine diagnostics and fuel flow.

While seated I also noted a remote for the stereo, switches for trim tabs and bowthruster, spotlight and wipers, windlass, and a very complete set of lights.

Personally, I would add a chain counter, but that’s the only oversight. The gearshifts were, unsurprisingly for an American boat, split controls with separate throttles.

Contrary to what you may think, split shifts don’t take that long to get used to and you are less likely to make the boat suddenly lurch during a parking panic attack with separate throttles.

In fact, you can easily park on the gears and thruster. The ZF gearboxes also include low idle, synchro, two preset cruise modes, and a plus/minus revs per minute rocker switch, plus a spread of analogue gauges on a low-glare dash. It was nice to see a small pocket provided for stowing personals.

WHERE THE HEART IS
The 48 Sundancer is big-hearted below decks, with plenty of head and shoulder room, and a saloon that comes to life thanks to triple superyacht-esque windows, and a skylight.

The joinery is a kind of cherry wood, with the timber hues extending to the blinds, galley floor, coffee table, and timber-framed mirror on the wall. Quite traditional, almost sombre, reminiscent of a smoking den, perhaps.

The soft furnishings ranged from mushroom-coloured nubuck Ultraleather on the lounges to cream carpets covered by a carpet runner, and cream headliners.

The lounge to starboard opposite the galley is joined by a pullout ottoman that together could seat six for dinner. The lounge also converts to a sofa bed to boost accommodation for six if you must.

A large entertainment centre is built-in aft of the saloon among a series of storage cupboards. The 55cm LCD television was linked to a Bose lifestyle system with an iPod jack for serious partying indoors.

The U-shaped galley features solid counters, but without fiddle rails, which would assist with serving a big meal. And, just as importantly, there’s abundant storage in drawers, overhead lockers, a dedicated bottle and crockery locker, and pullout pantry.

Amenities run the gamut from a small domestic-type fridge/freezer to a compact microwave oven, deep sink with Grohe pullout rinser, and two-burner cooktop with a pot-holding function. There was also a Krupps coffee maker and extractor fan. But I prefer the Italian espresso stovetop coffee makers and a handheld milk whisk for whipping up the best coffees when afloat.

BIG CABINS
This is a two cabin/twin ensuite boat – very much my preferred layout for heading away with family members – with the saloon splitting the accommodation and bathrooms. As such, you are assured a decent amount of privacy. That both cabins had shower stalls is another welcome feature.

The aft cabin featured two transverse single berths with innerspring mattresses, a shared bedside table and an ottoman. There were trick reading lights, an opening port with blind, an air-con control, and a separate LCD television with DVD. All you need.

The gold bedspreads were classy, but clothes storage was light on. The vented ensuite was more generous, with a vacuflush loo and shower area in the same moulded cubicle. A sink, vanity, mirror and storage area were back outside in the foyer area of the aft cabin.

The washer-dryer was also tucked into the aft cabin, while outside the door was the AC/DC panel with water and holding tank gauge.

I would also like to see a Tankwatch in the master head. I stumbled upon an interesting storage void and access panel beneath the switch panel for stowing the manual or instruction bag.

Despite the rakish lines, headroom extends to the master suite in the bow, which features an island double bed with innerspring mattress, gold-striped bedspread, and steps beside the bed to assist with access and pulling up the sheets. I found the boat’s third television here, his and hers hanging lockers and drawer sets, opening ports with blinds and insect screens, and a comfortable Ultrasuede lounge or dresser.

Behind the cabin door is a split ensuite, with a huge separate shower stall to starboard with lofty headroom and sprucing space (but where do you hang your towel to keep it dry?) opposite a separate vacuflush head and sink and vanity. While looking the part, the 48 Sundancer was utilitarian and serviceable. Long holidays really could be spent aboard in comfort. 

OUT TO SEA
I would like to think that owners of boats like this, which to my eye have a lot of big-city credibility, don’t confine themselves to their hometown waterways. The boat has the self-sufficiency, performance and range to head from Sydney to Port Stephens, the Gold Coast to Tangalooma, Fremantle to Mandura, and gad around Port Phillip Bay.

With that in mind, I put it to sea and, like a lot of Sea Rays I have driven, from bowriders to sedan bridges, this Sundancer had a great motion. Despite nice surf rolling in, I didn’t feel any thumps or bumps, nor did I put more than a lick of spray on the windscreen. The wipers soon fixed that anyway.

Low-speed cruise, with the trim tabs down to improve vision, was clocked at 1800rpm and 15.8kt for a total 97lt fuel burn. Better range and economy comes at 2180rpm and 21.1kt for a total of 130lt/h.

Fast cruise of 26.5kt was clocked at 2400rpm, where the motors consumed 167lt/h, and flat-out we got 28 to 30kt, depending on the direction we ran, for a 210lt/h.

Leaving 10 per cent of the fuel in reserve, the abovementioned 2180rpm throttle setting on the 517hp fully electronic Cummins motors will give you a safe working range of about 220 nautical miles. All the while the boat is smooth, quiet and comfortable. I liked it!

It has potential as a passage maker. In port, it’s a great entertainer and family boat.

But buy a Sea Ray like this and you’re also keeping good company. I liked most everything about it, with only the dark timber down below contrasting with what is an otherwise very clever, cheerful and contemporary boat above decks.

But really, you can’t go much wrong.

HIGHS

• Well-established badge with supporting infrastructure
• A world-class export-quality product
• Great ergonomics and design
• Excellent vision and weather protection under the hardtop
• Lots of amenities
• Practical two cabin/two head layout
• Range and tankage to visit neighbouring ports

LOWS

• Tight access around the outboard side of the motors
• No chain counter
• Had difficulty converting the coffee table into a dinette
• No fiddle rails on solid galley counters
• Microwave oven is small and hasn’t a convection function
• Short on storage in the guest’s cabin

Boat Specifications: 48 Sea Ray Sundancer

Sea Ray Sundancer 48

OPTIONS FITTED Extended hydraulic boarding platform, oil-change kit, pewter hull, engine upgrade, forward sunpad, wood galley flooring, LCD cockpit Tv and in aft cabin, Bose Lifestyle system, cockpit air-con, washer-dryer, central van, Raymarine electronics, bowthruster, power steering

GENERAL

Materials: GRP hull and stringers

Type: Deep-vee monohull

Length overall: 15.5m w/ std platform

Beam: 4.47m

Draft: 1.22m

Deadrise: 19 degrees at transom

Weight: 15,241kg dry std boat

CAPACITIES

Berths: 4+2

Fuel: 1514lt

Water: 416lt

Holding tank: 227lt

ENGINE

Make/model: Cummins MerCruiser QSC 8.3-540

Type: Fully electronic straight-six turbocharged and aftercooled diesel engine

Rated HP: 517hp @ 2300rpm

Displacement: 8.3lt

Weight: 579kg

Gearboxes (make/ratio): ZF vee-drive

Props: Four-blade bronze