Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 boat specs
Sea Ray
Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005
2005
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VS
Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 boat specs
Sea Ray
Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007
2007
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Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 vs Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 vs Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 measures 53,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 36,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 at 17,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 tips the scales at 385 lbs — 364 lbs less than the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 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 Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 tops out at 765 hp. Engine specs for the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 carries 56 gallons versus 21 gallons in the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 53,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeSea Ray
MakeSea Ray
Model180 Sport
Model52 Sundancer?
Model Year2005
Model Year2007
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam70 in. (2.13 m)
Beam15 ft. 3 in. (4.65 m)
Beam - Meters1.78
Beam - Meters4.65
Beam - Inches7
Beam - Inches183
Deadrise19℃
Deadrise19℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail18 in. (45.7 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.46
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches18
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail35 in. (88.9 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail50 in. (127 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.89
Draft [max] - Meters1.27
Draft [max] - Inches35
Draft [max] - Inches5
Weight - Detail2,100 lbs. (953 kg)
Weight - Detail38,500 lbs. (17,463 kg)
Weight - kg952.54
Weight - kg17463.29
Weight - lbs.21
Weight - lbs.385
Length - Meters5.33
Length - Meters16.26
Length - Feet17
Length - Feet53
Length - Inches6
Length - Inches4
Length overall - Detail17 ft. 6 in. (5.33 m)
Length overall - Detail53 ft. 4 in. (16.26 m)
Length overall - Meters5.33
Length overall - Meters16.26
Length overall - Inches21
Length overall - Inches64
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]54 ft. 9 in. (16.69 m)
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standard3.0L Alpha I MCM Stern Drive (135 hp - 101 kw)
Engine/s standardT-VD-Cummins MerCruiser? QSM-11 T-660 hp (477 kW)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail21 gal. (79.5 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail560 gal. (2,119.6 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters79.49
Fuel tank capacity - Liters2119.83
Fuel tank capacity - Gal21
Fuel tank capacity - Gal56
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeV-drive
Fuel typenot available
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine maxnot available
Engine maxT-765 hp (570 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity980 lbs. (444.5 kg)
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people7
Maximum peoplenot available
Headnot available
Head2, VacuFlush?
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity150 gal. (567.8 l)
Water heater capacitynot available
Water heater capacity20 gal. (75.7 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail68 gal. (257.4 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters257.41
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal68
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialFiberglass

Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 vs Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 or the Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007?
The Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 is the longer of the two at 53,0 feet overall. The Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 36,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 or the Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007?
For trailering, the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 has the edge at 21 lbs dry weight versus 385 lbs for the Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?
The Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 has a documented max rating of 765 hp. Engine specifications for the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 is certified for 16. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 measures 183" wide, compared to 7" for the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 or the Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007?
The Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 has the bigger tank at 56 gallons, versus 21 gallons on the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005. That 35-gallon difference translates to roughly 105–175 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 and Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Sea Ray 180 Sport 2005 and the Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2007 are built by Sea Ray. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.