Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 boat specs
Sea Ray
Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005
2005
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VS
Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 boat specs
Sea Ray
Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996
1996
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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

Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 vs Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 or the Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996?
The Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 is the longer of the two at 26,2 feet overall. The Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 2,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 or the Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996?
For trailering, the Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 has the edge at 477 lbs dry weight versus 5 300 lbs for the Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996. 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 Sundancer 250 1996 has a documented max rating of 260 hp. Engine specifications for the Sea Ray 225 Weekender 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 225 Weekender 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 is certified for 7. 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.
Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?
Both the Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 and Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 share an 8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 or the Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996?
The Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 has the bigger tank at 75 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005. That 70-gallon difference translates to roughly 210–350 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 and Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Sea Ray 225 Weekender 2005 and the Sea Ray Sundancer 250 1996 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.