All The Space You're Looking For And More



When it came time to replace the popular 310 Sundancer, Sea Ray opted for an all new design rather than updating the 310. The 2002 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer is the result of that effort. Perhaps the most significant change in the new hull is a wider beam to create more space for accommodations. If space was the goal, the 320 Sundancer scored!

On deck there is comfortable seating across from the helm to keep the captain involved in the fun. The captain’s seat is on a raised platform, offering excellent visibility even when guests abound. The large crescent shaped settee aft has an easily removable table to convert from an outdoor dining area to a lounge. A filler cushion is also provided to make a huge sun pad. Aft on the port side, a refrigerator and wet bar keep refreshments at arm’s reach.

Below decks, the boat’s biggest feature is: it’s big! There are no bulkheads separating the forward or aft berths from the salon. This wide-open layout, combined with ample overhead and effective balance between light colors and warm wood tones give the impression of a boat that is much larger than 35 feet. Natural light provided by two round overhead “skylights” further accentuates the sense of space. The curved settee across form the galley has a removable table that stores under the forward queen-sized bed.

In the aft part of the salon, directly under the helm, the U-shaped settee quickly converts to a double bed. Personally, I found this a tiny bit short for my six-foot-two LOA, but it would be a comfortable bed for normal-statured people. Curtains separate the sleeping areas for nighttime privacy.

The boat performed well and rode quite comfortably on a rather blustery day. Our test boat had optional 300 horsepower inboards with conventional running gear. Reportedly, the starboard prop was dinged which kept that engine from reaching full RPM. Even so, the boat topped out at 35.4 miles per hour at 4950 RPM. The most economical cruising speed was at 3500 RPM, making 24.8 miles per hour at just under one mile per gallon of gasoline. This gave us a total range of 170 miles.

In addition to plenty of elbowroom, the new 320 offers lots of storage above and below decks. While the new boat was designed to maximize comfort and space, she was also given sleek lines and modern styling. The 320 Sundancer is a great looking boat from on-board or on the dock.

For further information on this model visit www.searay.com.

By Capt. Vince Daniello

Test Captain

• Top speed for the Sea Ray 320 Sundancer (2002) is 35.4 mph (57 kph), burning 41.4 gallons per hour (gph) or 156.7 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Sea Ray 320 Sundancer (2002) is 24.8 mph (39.9 kph), and the boat gets 0.95 miles per gallon (mpg) or 0.4 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 170 miles (273.59 kilometers).


• Tested power is 2 x 300-hp MerCruiser 350 MAG MPI.