How to ID a Sea Ray model type?

[KRB64]

I'm sure this may have evolved over the years, but what characterizes each model SR? IE, what makes a Weekender a Weekender and what makes an Amberjack an Amberjack? :smt017

Is it based on the floor plan? Hull profile? Amenities offered? I know that each kind of had their niche: day cruising, runabout, fishing, overnighter... I can recognize a Sundancer and Weekender, etc but was curious if each had its own "specifications".

What makes it even more confusing are the boats offered for sale that are misnamed (anything with a v-berth is a Cuddy, WE & SD switched, etc, etc.) :smt101

Or is it based on nothing and just fluctuaded with the years? :huh:

 

[Cap10Pat]

Searay made this a little confusing to my thinking, but there are clear differences. Unfortunately the Sundancer, now the most popular, is more a longer term boat than a "Sun" boat. The Weekender has fewer weekend facilities than a Sundancer. I'll limit my discussion to these two. Both shared similar hulls over the years. The key difference is the aft cabin in the Sundancer, which is not included on the Weekender. Both have similar heads and galleys. Sundancer fans have ruled at boat shows because of the extra cabin (or "cave") which kids especially love. In practice this is a great storage facility! You can recognize the Sundander cockpit by the raised decking around the pilot station and the windows of the aft cabin in the cockpit.

For those of us who favor the Weekender, which used to go up to 30 feet, there are on-water benefits. The cockpit is larger, and more importantly LOWER. This lowers the center of gravity, hull windage, and the very high canvas canopies on Sundancers. Higher cockpit coamings feel more secure while being lower than Sundancer freeboard (on the outside). Also important, the Weekender cockpit if flat - without the step-up over the aft cabin. Fuel tanks are fore-and-aft on the centerline as opposed to sideways, which improves stability. And, Weekenders have fine cabins, berths, galleys and heads for weekend get-aways.

In addition to AmberJacks (or AJs) there were also ECs, which were Express Cruisers I believe. In the used boat market these are rarely properly identified.

 

[QT1]

I must agree cap10pat in reference to the weekender over the Sundancer. I compared both when searching for a boat to own and favored the layout on the WE.

 

[NotHerDecision]

In regards to the express cruiser versus the Sundancer. The sundancer will have a rear cabin and the ec will not. This is due to the ec having straight drives and the sundancer having v drives. You typically lose a head and the 2nd cabin moves just off the v berth in the front. For good comparison look at a 410 sundancer versus a 410 express cruiser.