Sea Ray 500 Sundancer Review (1994 Edition) by NautiStyles

On Deck

This is a 1994 Sea Ray 500 Sundancer, but you'd honestly never guess it standing here. Everything topside has been completely redone. All the cushions, enclosure panels, the helm upholstery, even the trim work around the seats and fixtures has been replaced or refreshed. The cockpit feels super inviting now. The upholstery detailing is really well done with beautiful piping and bold but tasteful color choices. And check out this cute little foldable table. So good. There's even repeater screens back here so you can display your electronics or a forward-facing camera for guests who are prone to seasickness. Such a smart touch.

At the helm, it's the same story. Total overhaul. All the switches, the chart plotters, VHF radio, even the dashboard panels were swapped out. And it looks brand new. You'd never believe this is a 90s boat looking at this helm. Super clean. Everything laid out logically. There’s a wet bar with a little sink on the port side, some deep storage areas nearby, and extra pad seating with little storage nooks around the edges. The owners clearly knew what they were doing and weren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves. Some of the work was done hands-on, and it shows in the details.

Walking forward, the bow is something else. It’s huge. Like full-on runway huge. They used the original railings and just added this giant custom cushion area on top. It’s around 16ft (4.87m) long and looks like the perfect place to sprawl out with friends and music. And yep, they’ve got speakers up here too. Rico's favourite kind, Fusion. There's a proper windlass up at the forepeak and the entire bow feels unusually long for a 50-footer. The proportions work really well and the whole thing feels much more modern than you'd expect.

One of the smartest additions is the custom davit system they installed on the swim platform. They designed it themselves and it gives them loads of flexibility. It frees up space, lets them add a barbecue setup, and still leaves a wide open back deck for lounging.  

Heading inside, the transformation hits you right away. It’s honestly hard to believe it is still a 1994 Sea Ray. The entire interior has been thoughtfully redone and it feels stylish, warm and surprisingly fresh. The stairs into the salon are now full-width and super comfortable to use. Originally they were tighter because there was a compartment down here for a washer and dryer, but the owners ripped that out and extended the entry to open up the whole space. They refinished all the trim too. It was originally a much lighter tone but they went dark, which looks way more contemporary.  

The salon floor feels really nice underfoot. They added modern ceiling fans and you instantly notice how tall the ceilings are. The height gives the whole space an airy vibe. At 5'7", there's still plenty of headroom overhead, and if you're taller, you’re probably still going to be just fine down here. There are new screens everywhere and they even mounted a big TV showing a forward-facing camera. So even while underway down below, you can keep your eyes on the horizon. Smart detail.

There's a repeater display next to the galley too where you can pull up charts or other nav info. All the original Sea Ray switches are still mounted in place, just cleaned up. And there's a cute original light fitting left intact as a nod to the boat’s past. The owners wanted to keep one little piece of its 90s identity, which is a sweet touch.

In the galley, the upgrades continue. They kept the original layout but went for darker finishes which make the whole area feel way more up to date. There's a stylish bar counter, loads of little drawers and cupboards, a microwave, and a super cute little wine cooler tucked into one corner. It fits six bottles, which is about right for a boat like this. It still has a nostalgic look to it, but definitely leans modern now.  

Owner's Cabin

Forward, the master cabin is such a surprise. The bed is massive at its widest point and has that comfy, slightly tucked-in vibe that makes you want to just flop down and stay. It feels close to king-size and is framed by a really inviting, warm layout. There’s a little getting-ready chair too.

There’s a good-sized hanging closet to starboard and another full-depth closet on the other side. Both are really deep and built-in nicely. Storage is clearly something they thought about throughout the refit. That includes what looks like a custom cabinetry wall with a mounted TV and neatly fitted blinds. The setup makes the space feel organized and modern, without overdesigning it.

There’s also a hatch overhead and portholes on both sides, so the light in here is actually really nice. It doesn’t feel dark or buried at all. You’ve got a couple of medicine cabinets tucked away too. It’s a proper stateroom, and while it’s clearly cozy, it somehow still feels roomy and totally livable. Honestly, if someone told you this was a 2003, you’d probably believe them.

Then there’s the ensuite head, which carries through the same updated feel. You step down slightly into the shower, which is actually really tall and super usable. It’s nicely done and has a porthole for natural light and airflow. Storage is tucked in everywhere, including a couple of drawers and cubbies, and there’s a nice big mirror. It’s not trying too hard, just practical and cute with a little extra charm.

The owners don’t live aboard, but it’s really easy to picture someone doing it. This layout would totally support that. They mainly use the boat to hang out and run trips to the islands, but if someone wanted a compact but comfortable full-time cruiser, this would be a solid setup. It’s a warm, private, usable space that honestly feels like a small apartment tucked into the bow.

Guest Cabin

The guest cabin is just as much of a win. It’s tucked to starboard and has a great-size bed that could work as a generous single or a compact double. There’s way more space around it than you’d expect and the height in here is kind of ridiculous in a good way. If you're 6'6" or even taller, you’re still going to be comfortable standing in this room. It’s super tall. 

The mirrors help the space feel even bigger, and the curved cabin shape is a smart original Sea Ray design that gives you better movement around the bed. Storage has all been refreshed too. Handles and hardware were changed, so everything feels updated but still holds that older Sea Ray charm.

There’s an ensuite here that also works as the day head. It’s got a combined shower and head, well-sized and clean, with a simple decorative mirror and the same cozy, comfortable style that runs throughout the whole boat.

The engine room access is surprisingly generous for a boat this age and size. You can stand up comfortably in here, which makes all the difference when it comes to doing your own servicing. Overhead clearance might get a little tight in places, but overall it’s workable and nicely laid out. This boat runs on a pair of Detroit 6V92s, 550HP each, and they’ve still got a lot of life in them. As long as they’re maintained properly, these engines are built to go the distance. This 50-footer tops out at 28 knots, cruises happily around 22 knots, and has a range of about 300 nautical miles. Not bad at all for a mid-90s express cruiser. It’s not a showy engine room, but it’s functional, easy to get around in, and clearly well taken care of, even though they were mid-project on the generator. Everything’s neat and purposeful, which kind of sums up the whole refit. Clean workhorse power with a modern eye on layout.

On the Sea Ray 500, there are reliable engines with plenty of service history behind them. You’ll burn somewhere around 1.0–1.2 mpg at cruising speed, so with a 2,082‑litre (550 gallon) fuel tank full this boat can do around 300 nautical miles at a steady 22 knots before needing fuel. That means a single full tank might cost roughly $1,500-3,000 depending on local diesel prices. Annual maintenance costs on a mid‑90s express cruiser of this size often run around 10% of the boat’s value, which translates to roughly $10,000-15,000 per year when you include engine servicing, boatyard time, insurance and incidentals.

In terms of competitors, two boats that stand out in the same era and class are the Sunseeker Predator 58 and the Princess V50. The Predator 58 is slightly larger at 17.65m and sleeps six in three cabins versus the Sea Ray’s two‑cabin four‑guest layout. The beam is nearly identical (around 4.6m), so dockage costs are comparable. The very first version of the Princess V50 came a bit later in 1998 and is still in production.

This refitted 1994 Sea Ray 500 Sundancer is such a cool example of what can happen when a bit of imagination and a lot of love gets poured into a boat that everyone else had written off. Urban Design Specialists took something neglected and gave it a whole new life, and you can feel that as soon as you step on board.