Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 vs Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 vs Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 at 24,0 ft versus Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 at 26,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 tips the scales at 5 300 lbs — 4 823 lbs less than the Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 at 477 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 Sundancer 250 1996 tops out at 260 hp. Engine specs for the Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 carries 75 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Sea Ray 225 Weekender 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 225 Weekender 2005 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 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 225 Weekender 2005 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 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
Makenot available
Model225 Weekender?
Modelnot available
Model Year2005
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam8.50 ft
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches102
Deadrise19℃
Deadrisenot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail20 in. (50.8 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.51
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches2
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail37 in. (94.0 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail3.20 ft
Draft [max] - Meters0.94
Draft [max] - Meters0.98
Draft [max] - Inches37
Draft [max] - Inches38
Weight - Detail4,770 lbs. (2,163.6 kg)
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg2163.63
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.477
Weight - lbs.not available
Length - Meters7.32
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet24
Length - Feet26.2
Length overall - Detail24 ft. 0 in. (7.32 m)
Length overall - Detail26.20 ft
Length overall - Meters7.32
Length overall - Meters7.99
Length overall - Inches288
Length overall - Inches314
Displacementnot available
Displacement5300.00 lbs
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standard5.0L MPI Alpha I MCM Stern Drive (260 hp - 194 kw)
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189.3 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27
Fuel tank capacity - Liters283.91
Fuel tank capacity - Gal5
Fuel tank capacity - Gal75
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeinboard
Engine makenot available
Engine makeMercruiser
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower260 hp
Fuel typenot available
Fuel typeGas
Operational Info
Water capacity8 gal. (30.3 l)
Water capacity2
Maximum capacity1,800 lbs. (816.5 kg)
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people8
Maximum peoplenot available
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal2
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters75.71
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower