The words Sea Ray and Sundancer are about as famous as yacht branding gets. Collectively or individually they are often used to describe boats that have nothing to do with the US builder, a mark of how well-known and revered the Sea Ray Sundancer is.
Where the range used to be cruising-focused, the latest Sundancers mix sportsboat style with some clever cabin options. We looked over the 320 to see how this new ‘Dancer’ stacks up.
Sea Ray Sundancer 320 Key Facts
- LOA 32' 3"
- Model Year 2023
- Cabins 1
- Max Speed 38 knots
- Status In Production
- Generations 2
- Yacht Type Express Cruiser
- Use Type Dayboating
Review Video
The Sea Ray 320 Sundancer comes in two versions: outboard and inboard stern drive. They’ve each got their own take on layout and finish, which makes it easy to spot the differences once you step aboard. It’s built with that usual American focus on deck lifestyle, but without sacrificing the cabin space below.
The swoop and flare of the bows belies the squared-off forward design and leads to a very considered and hardworking cockpit and transom. The exterior would look sublime without its basic hardtop but this must-have addition works hard to make life onboard better.
The cockpit design runs bow to stern with a forward lounger area, making the most of the broad-bow design, impressively upholstered and finished with arm and headrests. The design also makes the room needed for a proper cabin below, a convertible dinette and a mid-cabin joined by a toilet and shower compartment.
Like the bowrider area, the main section of the cockpit mixes sports boat cool with sports yacht luxury. The central seating area and wetbar lies under the hardtop with an extended awning adding more shade. The standard cockpit seating can be optioned with a hinged transom section to create a sunpad but the standard seating and cockpit table will easily convert and you have that forward lounge.
Stowage across the Sundancer 320 is excellent with lined and self-draining deck lockers across the square bow and standard transom.
You can spec the hardtop in a few different ways. It comes as standard, but you can add a sunroof if you want more light and airflow. As for the surround, it’s flexible - you can have it fully open, go for a hybrid setup with just the forward screens, or go for the full coupe version like the one shown here, with glass wrapping all the way round. One of those panels slides open to give direct access to the foredeck.
Upholstery options include a prototype ivory trim with a slightly textured, organic look, plus dune, grey stone, and the more traditional white. The forward space is much improved by Sea Ray’s decision to broaden the bow. It keeps the deep-V hull, but the extra beam up front makes the foredeck far more usable.
Below decks on this Sundancer, it really does give you the best of both worlds. You’ve got that broad expanse of deck space up top, but it hasn’t come at the expense of interior volume. The designers have managed to carve out a deep, surprisingly spacious cabin without compromising the boat’s lines.
There’s a dinette setup here, with a table that folds over and drops down to form a full double berth. Further aft, there’s another berth that can be used either as two singles or converted into another double with an infill. A few things stand out the more you explore - first off, the finish is excellent. The design flows really nicely, with a lot of thought given to both looks and usability. The hull-side windows and portlights follow a lovely organic shape, letting in good natural light and continuing that sense of style.
There’s plenty of warm woodwork and well-planned storage. The sliding doors reveal deep voids, giving you loads of room to stash gear out of sight. Behind a frosted, spa-like door, there’s a combined toilet and shower compartment. There’s no separate shower cubicle, but for a 9.75m (32ft) boat, that’s entirely reasonable. Whether you're planning to stay for a night, a weekend, or even stretch it a bit longer, this boat can handle it comfortably. There’s a microwave and fridge tucked in down here as well, which is handy - but in reality, most of the cooking is going to be done up on deck.
The helm station of the outboard version and the inboard version are virtually identical. Controls are laid out the same, and both versions offer the optional joystick control, so it really just comes down to what kind of power you want hanging off the back. If you opt for the triple 350 outboards, you’re looking at a top speed just shy of 50 mph, maybe even a touch more. The inboards and, depending on your horsepower and whether you choose petrol or diesel, you’ll be cruising comfortably between 30–35 knots.
The driving position is very good. The bolster seat offers decent lateral support, and the raised footboard gives you a solid braced feel when seated. The adjustable steering wheel adds to the comfort, and this big coupe windscreen in front gives excellent forward visibility. Sea Ray has fitted the Simrad glass helm, which looks sharp, something we’ve seen on a few other models, and it really lifts the look of the whole console. Nice detail touches too, like the stainless steel buttons rather than plastic switches - tactile and in keeping with the rest of the finish.
Whether you prefer to sit or stand, it works. Flip up the bolster, and you've got a solid standing position too. You can spec a lower windscreen or open side windows depending on where and how you do your boating, but the sunroof would be a solid addition.
Like many of the American sports cruisers and sports boats we've been seeing lately, this one puts a big focus on deck lifestyle, but without sacrificing proper cabin space. On deck, the layout is sociable and shaded. There's a generous run of wraparound seating, all beneath a hardtop that provides solid overhead shelter. On top of that, there’s an optional awning for added shade. It’s electrically operated, so at the touch of a button you can extend it or retract it, opening the area completely to the sun and sky.
In the cockpit, there's surround seating, and the backrest slides forward to create an even larger lounging area. Just opposite, there’s the wet bar, which acts as the main cooking zone up on deck. It’s fitted with a fridge underneath, and while there’s a more traditional galley below, this space handles most of the outdoor prep and serving needs.
Instead of being hidden away somewhere awkward, the main domestic system switches are placed right on the transom. That means when you arrive, or more importantly, when you're heading home, you can power everything down as the last thing you do before stepping ashore. A bit of practical thinking that makes day-to-day ownership just that bit easier.
The hardtop has three different setups available. The hardtop itself comes as standard, and you can also add an awning or a sunroof as optional extras. As for the hardtop glazing, you can go for a completely open surround, a hybrid version with just the forward screens, or the full coupé layout like we saw at the boat show, with glass wrapping all the way around. One neat detail is the sliding glass section up front, which moves aside smoothly to give access to the foredeck area.
Foredeck
As you'd expect from Sea Ray, the detailing is spot on with stainless steel cup holders, gas struts on every locker, and plenty of them, too. There are smart touches throughout, like fold-down armrests - when you're cruising along at 30–40 knots, a bit of lateral support makes all the difference. The forward loungers also adjust from completely flat to a more supportive position, depending on how you want to sit.
Starting at around €270,000 for the standard 250hp inboard engines, the Sundancer 320 looks good value. It is unquestionably a premium boat that, for once, costs less than it might.
At €340,000, the outboard boat is more expensive and offers less swim platform and flexibility, but we also know that, for some, it will be the only way to go.
This leads us to the standard, very practical, transom or the extended sun pad option available on the inboard boat. The pad option lends some dayboat cool to the 320, but if you plan to spend more time onboard, the extra transom lockers and easier access around the platform are very useful.
The Sundancer 320 is a sports boat that offers some proper weekending options, but it is a sports boat. This might make the full Coupe glass for the cockpit a step too far, but the optional full forward screens will help with windburn or in colder climates.
Our Verdict
Sea Ray might not be the all-conquering force it once was, but when you look at the curves and quality of this Sundancer 320 it is clear this US builder is still one of the finest exponents of sports boat design out there.
Reasons to Buy
- Lots of cooling space
- Flexible hardtop design
- Lux cockpit finish
Things to Consider
- Not a full Sundancer cruiser
Looking to own a Sea Ray Sundancer 320? Use YachtBuyer’s Market Watch to compare all new and used Sea Ray Sundancer 320 Boats for sale worldwide. You can also order a new Sea Ray Sundancer 320, customized to your exact specifications, with options for engine choice and layout configuration. Alternatively, explore our global listings of new and used boats for sale and find your perfect boat today!
Rivals to Consider
Sports boats are growing in size and popularity, but at the same time the grip the US builders had on the market has loosened. We have lost so many great American names and the shift to Scandinavian-style boats has increased.
The sportsfisher centre console boat is another story that the US can rightly claim near total dominance over, but we will focus on contemporary sports boat designs here.
We have recently reviewed one of the Sundancer 320’s closest rivals, the Cruisers Yachts 34 GLS. Also available with inboards or outboards, this larger boat offers a very similar level of performance, deck space and cabin comfort. The South Beach Edition of the Cruisers adds a fantastic hit of sports cool.
The Formula 350 Crossover Bowrider is another great sports boat with a similar four-berth cabin and social deck layout. A massive range of inboard sterndrive power pushing the Formula to over 50 knots.
With its new hardtop option, the Fairline F-Line 33 is a closed bow design of real calibre and style. The latest boats come with an improved cockpit layout with a clear walk-through forward into the cabin and its double berth tucked aft. Power comes from twin V8 430hp Volvo Penta petrols with close to 50 knots on tap. There’s also a useful 33-knot twin-diesel option.
Considering a new boat? Explore Sea Ray's entire current range to find the model that best suits your needs, and compare it with alternatives from competitors to ensure you make the perfect choice.
Specifications
- Builder Sea Ray
- Range Sundancer
- Model Sundancer 320
- Length Overall 32' 3"
- Beam 10' 7"
- Draft 3' 5"
- Hull Fibreglass
- Cabins 1
- Berths 3
- Yacht Type (Primary) Express Cruiser
- Use Type (Primary) Dayboating
- Cruising Speed
- Max Speed
- Fuel Capacity 170 Gallons
- Fresh Water Capacity 32 Gallons
- Engine Model 2x Mercury MerCruiser 4.5L 250HP
Sea Ray Sundancer 320 Layout
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Main Deck
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![Main Deck Sea Ray Sundancer 320]()
Bow to stern seating and loaded with options including an aft sunpad and various screen options
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Lower Deck
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![Lower Deck Sea Ray Sundancer 320]()
Surprisingly deep and spacious with sleeping for four, a dinette and toilet compartment
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