Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 vs Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 or the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008?

The Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 is the longer of the two at 19,7 feet overall. The Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 comes in at 6,0 feet, making it roughly 13,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 or the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008?

For trailering, the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 has the edge at 26 lbs dry weight versus 535 lbs for the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008. 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.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 is rated to a maximum of 861 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 tops out at 220 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many passengers can the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 carry?

The Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 has an official capacity rating of 8 people. Capacity data wasn't available for the other model in this comparison — verify directly with the dealer.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 measures 191" wide, compared to 87" for the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011. 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.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 or the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008?

The Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 has the bigger tank at 825 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011. That 799-gallon difference translates to roughly 2397–3995 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 and Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 and the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 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.

Boat Comparison

Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 vs Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008

Sea Ray

Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011

2011

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Sea Ray

Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008

2008

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 vs Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 against a semi displacement Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 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 185 Sport 2011 measures 19,7 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 13,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 at 6,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 tips the scales at 535 lbs — 509 lbs less than the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 at 26 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 55 Sundancer 2008 has a 641-hp advantage over the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011's 220-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 55 Sundancer 2008 carries 825 gallons versus 26 gallons in the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

The Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 is rated for up to 8 people. Passenger data for the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 wasn't available.

Bottom line: The Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 at 19,7 ft is the right call if deck space, comfort, and entertaining are top of your list. The Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 at 6,0 ft wins on trailering ease, likely lower purchase price, and simpler docking — a solid choice for a buyer who wants more boat for less money.

General Boat Info

MakeSea Ray

Model185 Sport

Model55 Sundancer?

Model Year2011

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam7 ft. 3 in. (2.21 m)

Beam15 ft. 11 in. (4.85 m)

Beam - Meters2.21

Beam - Meters4.85

Beam - Inches87

Beam - Inches191

Deadrise19℃

Deadrise17℃

Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in. (43 cm)

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches17

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (86 cm)

Draft [max] - DetailInboards: 54 in. (137 cm)

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Meters1.37

Draft [max] - Inches34

Draft [max] - Inches54

Weight - Detail2,600 lbs. (1,179 kg)

Weight - Detail53,500 lbs. (24,267 kg)

Weight - kg1179.34

Weight - kg24267.17

Weight - lbs.26

Weight - lbs.535

Length - Feet19.67

Length - Feet6

Length overall - Detail19 ft. 8 in. (5.99 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters5.99

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches236

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters18.29

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]60 ft. (18.29 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeSemi Displacement

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMerCruiser®

Engine makenot available

Engine/s standard3.0L MPI ECT Alpha® I Sterndrive

Engine/s standardT-MAN 800 CR Diesel Inboards - 765 hp (570 kW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal. (98 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail825 gal. (3,122.6 l), Usable fuel: 743 gal. (2,813 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Liters3122.96

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Fuel tank capacity - Gal825

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typeDiesel

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeInboard - Twin

Horsepower135 hp (101 kW)

Horsepowernot available

Engine max220 hp (164 kW)

Engine max861 hp (642 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,200 lbs. (544 kg)

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people8 / 1,100 lbs. (499 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity200 gal. (757.1 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail70 gal. (264.9 l)

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters264.98

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal7

Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 vs Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 or the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008?

The Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 is the longer of the two at 19,7 feet overall. The Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 comes in at 6,0 feet, making it roughly 13,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 or the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008?

For trailering, the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 has the edge at 26 lbs dry weight versus 535 lbs for the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008. 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.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 is rated to a maximum of 861 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 tops out at 220 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many passengers can the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 carry?

The Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 has an official capacity rating of 8 people. Capacity data wasn't available for the other model in this comparison — verify directly with the dealer.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 measures 191" wide, compared to 87" for the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011. 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 185 Sport 2011 or the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008?

The Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 has the bigger tank at 825 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011. That 799-gallon difference translates to roughly 2397–3995 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 and Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 and the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 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.

← Sea Ray 185 Sport 2011 full specs ← Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 full specs