Key Features

Extending the social space. The Sundancer 460 is all about entertaining and cruising, and the swim platform supports both activities. The platform comes standard with a fiberglass no-slip surface, concealed reboarding ladder, and is extended for added functionality.

The swim platform can be upgraded, as in the cockpit with teak. It can also be outfitted to lift in and out of the water on hydraulics with integrated steps. Most notably, however, is the transom galley option, which installs a grill, counter space, faucet, and sink all hidden under a lid on the transom.

All this makes for a patio-like atmosphere, which extends into the cockpit area as well. Access to the cockpit comes to port through an acrylic door with a stainless steel frame, just near the molded-in steps leading to the side decks.

The Cockpit

Sliding cockpit seating space. The cockpit area is purely a gathering space. It has an L-shaped seating bank on the starboard side with a smaller two-person seat on portside facing aft.

The aft seat portion of the L-shape is actuated and can slide back to increase the deck space by as much as 16” (40.6 cm). An electric retractable sun shade that covers the entire cockpit is an option.

Separating the cockpit and the cabin is a tinted sliding glass door that is lockable and has a flush threshold to avoid toe-stubbing. The door can be operated as a normal sliding glass door would be, or it can accordion two sections of glass to open up the entire entry-space. A curtain can be drawn in lieu of closing the doors to maintain an ambience yet still block an intense sun.

Sunroom

The aft galley. The Sundancer 460’s galley is the first thing you see when entering the cabin.

The galley is comprehensive and split between port and starboard. The bulk of the galley is to port with the solid-surface countertop, stainless steel sink and single lever faucet, microwave, upper and lower stove with two burners, storage, cutlery drawer, and trash receptacle.

On the starboard side is the double-wide refrigerator and freezer, both under more counter space that lifts up to provide further storage. An optional wine cooler can be installed to the right of the refrigerator under the counter space as well.

Salon seating and storage. Moving further forward into the cabin, there is seating to port and starboard. On the starboard side is a small two-person settee that lifts up to reveal storage, while to port is a larger L-shaped settee that can pull out and convert to a two-person berth.

The view from inside the is 360-degrees with windows wrapping back from the helm windshield all the way around to the aft sliding glass doors. Another option for more natural light is the remote controlled electric retractable sunroof, which takes up nearly half the sunroom’s overhead and can change the dynamic and atmosphere in the sunroom with the flip of a switch. An HD TV with Blu-ray player comes standard and sits just above the counter space over the refrigerator and freezer to starboard.

Air conditioning comes standard on the Sundancer 460 with 30,000 BTU in the main deck cabin.

Finally, the salon and galley come standard with a high-quality wood decking that is both stain and moisture resistant. A teak option is offered.

The Helm

Helm seating. The sunroom’s wood decking continues through to the helm. The helm seat on the 460 is double-wide and can fit two, with adjustable armrests, flip-up bolsters, and high-quality upholstery.

The dashboard. The dash is simple and direct, with a large footprint of instruments making everything easy to find, reach, and operate. A Raymarine eS12 widescreen color GPS/chartplotter comes standard and it is integrated with HD closed-dome radar.

Also standard are bilge and cabin high-water alarms, a compass, digital remote control for the boat’s audio system, and power-assisted tilt steering via stainless steel wheel with leather grips.

Digital Throttle & Shift, Joystick. The Digital Throttle & Shift system comes standard, as does the joystick control system -- both ideal for navigational precision, particularly when docking or other tight scenarios. This can materially improve the life of your boat and ease any concerns a buyer new to sport yacht navigation may have.

The SmartCraft Vessel View display comes standard as well and is a comprehensive readout all in one place -- active alarms/details, alarm history/details, GPS interface, depth and water temperature, depth alerts, trip log information, fuel-to-waypoint data, navigational data, propulsion engine hour meters, engine status, performance and fuel readouts, peak performance data, troll and cruise control, and tank status -- with all of this information networked to Raymarine display.

The Lower Staterooms

Guest accommodations. Just between the helm and the port side convertible settee are the stairs down to the lower cabin. The entire lower cabin is carpeted in a high-grade, moisture and stain resistant carpeting.

The forward cabin, which is actually not the master stateroom is instead the “VIP” stateroom. Here, we find twin beds that separate easily from the foot of the bed and just as easily swing back together to form a queen bed, depending on guest needs. The beds pivot at the head, making the conversion simple, easy, and quick. A hatch is situated above the bed, and there is ample storage -- under the berth, via cabinets, and in the form of two hanging lockers.

The forward stateroom has private access to the guest head. Another door off the landing at the foot of the stairs creates dayhead access. The guest head has a tile deck with a separate shower stall and shower door. The head is a VacuFlush, and there is a mirror, medicine cabinet, vanity with countertop, sink, and single lever faucet with storage via cabinets above and below. The head has a portlight near the vanity as well, and there is a storage closet just off the guest head space.

Master stateroom. The master stateroom comes standard with a full queen berth and innerspring mattress. The room is spacious with space to move on either side of the berth. A settee seating space is on the starboard side. The stateroom comes with 32” HD LED TV standard, and it has a Blu-ray player as well.

Storage comes via drawers below the berth, as well as cabinets, lockers with shelves, and two hanging lockers for formal attire.

The master stateroom also has private access to it’s head, without the “general” access the guest head has. The main stateroom head does not have anything the guest head doesn’t, but is simply larger -- more counter space around the glass-bowl sink, a bit more space to maneuver and dress. The shower is also a separate stall with a shower door, and like the guest head comes with a portlight that can be opened.

Power

The Sundancer 460 offers two options for engines:

• • T-VD-Cummins® QSB 6.7 - 550 Diesel V-Drive (standard)
• • T-Zeus-Cummins QSB 6.7 - 550 HO (upgrade)

Performance

With a pair of 550-hp Cummins QSB 6.7s driving Zeus pods, we reached a top speed of 32.7 knots at 3300 rpm. Best economic cruise came in at 2500 rpm and 22 knots. At that speed, the 34.3 gph fuel burn translated into a range of 216.2 nm while still holding back a 10% reserve of fuel.

Speed and Efficiency

We also noticed however, that the Sundancer 460 ran at 0.6 nmpg at all settings over planing speed, so this is a boat that can be set with more of an eye towards comfort in prevailing conditions rather than concern over economy. And speaking of prevailing conditions, we tested this boat on a windy day in 2’ to 3’ (.61 m to .91 m) chop, so that clearly is going to have an adverse effect on performance. In fact, our 32.7 knot top speed did differ from Sea Ray’s internal testing that showed a top speed of 34 knots.

Handling

She accelerates with practically no bowrise and quickly settles in to a 3-degree bow-high cruise attitude. She handled the chop well with minimal pounding only at top speed. Larger waves showed her plunging right through with good authority. Normally the reduced turning radius of pods when under way makes for a more lackadaisical handling boat, but this one was quite sporty. She rolls 11-degrees into hard performance turns which still remained comfortable.

Return

Bringing her back to the dock again showed how well she handles with the joystick doing all the heavy lifting. Even with the crosswind, we were able to bring her sideways nice and gently to the dock. But the real treat is how well we can see the whole side from the open side window. This is really where the precision comes from, and the joystick is responsive enough where anyone can make it look easy.

Options to Consider

Sea Ray has plenty of options to consider for their Sundancer 460 model. Let’s take a look at the choices likely to make the biggest impact.

• • Galley Station on Transom (grill & sink) ($8,167)
• • Stainless steel anchor (in lieu of galvanized) ($1,833)
• • SureShade Retractable Canvas Awning – Cockpit ($12,500)
• • Bow Thruster (V-drive only) ($12,500)
• • Bow & Stern Thruster (V-drive only) ($18,333)
• • Countertop Upgrade -- Silestone ($9,167)
• • Digital Satellite TV System ($15,417)
• • Decking, Teak -- Cockpit & Swim Platform ($9,167)
• • Extended Range Fuel Tanks (430 gal. total) ($1,667)
• • Hydraulic Swim Platform Upgrade with Integrated Steps ($46,667)
• • Raymarine Autopilot ($4,667)
• • Raymarine Radar Scanner ($5,667)
• • Raymarine Fish Finder ($2,333)

Warranty

The Sundancer 460 is covered by Sea Ray’s SENTIN3L program, a three-year bow-to-stern factory warranty on the boat and its components from defects in materials and workmanship. The diesel engines receive the warranty coverage defined by their manufacturer.

All Sea Ray sport yachts also have a ten-year Structural Hull Limited Warranty.

Price

Sea Ray lists a MSRP (base model, standard engine, and destination charges) of $1,039,973 for the Sundancer 460.

Observations

Sea Ray has packed a lot of living space into just 46’8” (14.22 m). Her two large and functional staterooms below are comfortable and private. Both her heads are remarkably large for this size of boat.

On deck, her sliding rear doors open up the space from the transom to the helm for entertaining. We like the V-drive power package and would add a bow thruster for those times when there’s a strong wind and current when docking.

Test Result Highlights

• Top speed for the Sea Ray Sundancer 460 (2017-) is 37.6 mph (60.5 kph), burning 57.4 gallons per hour (gph) or 217.26 liters per hour (lph).
• Best cruise for the Sea Ray Sundancer 460 (2017-) is 19.8 mph (31.9 kph), and the boat gets 0.7 miles per gallon (mpg) or 0.3 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 220 miles (354.06 kilometers).
• Tested power is 2 x 525-hp Cummins QSB 6.7 Zeus.

Warranty

Price

Pricing Range: $1,039,973.00