Matching a modified vee Sea Ray 175 Sport 2011 against a semi displacement Sea Ray 580 Sundancer 2013 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Sea Ray 175 Sport 2011 measures 17,5 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 11,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 580 Sundancer 2013 at 6,0 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 580 Sundancer 2013 tips the scales at 535 lbs — 514 lbs less than the Sea Ray 175 Sport 2011 at 21 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 861 hp, the Sea Ray 580 Sundancer 2013 has a 726-hp advantage over the Sea Ray 175 Sport 2011's 135-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sea Ray 580 Sundancer 2013 carries 825 gallons versus 21 gallons in the Sea Ray 175 Sport 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

The Sea Ray 175 Sport 2011 is rated for up to 7 people. Passenger data for the Sea Ray 580 Sundancer 2013 wasn't available.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Sea Ray 175 Sport 2011 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 1 lbs per hp for the Sea Ray 580 Sundancer 2013. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.