Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009 vs Sea Ray 340 Sundancer 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009 against a deep vee Sea Ray 340 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 340 Sundancer 2008 measures 37,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 14,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009 at 23,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009 tips the scales at 4 244 lbs — 4 089 lbs more than the Sea Ray 340 Sundancer 2008 at 155 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 375 hp, the Sea Ray 340 Sundancer 2008 has a 75-hp advantage over the Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009's 300-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 340 Sundancer 2008 carries 225 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009. 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 340 Sundancer 2008 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea Ray 340 Sundancer 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray 340 Sundancer 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 37,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray 230 Fission 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 10 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
Model230 Fission
Model340 Sundancer?
Model Year2009
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam12 ft. (3.66 m)
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters3.66
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches144
Deadrise21℃
Deadrise21℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail23 in. (58.42 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detail27 in. (68.6 cm)
Draft [drive up] meters0.58
Draft [drive up] meters0.69
Draft [drive up] inches23
Draft [drive up] inches27
Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (96.52 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail32 in. (83 cm) Inboards: 34 in. (88 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.97
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Inches38
Draft [max] - Inches34
Weight - Detail4,244 lbs. (1,925 kg)
Weight - Detail15,500 lbs. (7,031 kg)
Weight - kg1925.04
Weight - kg7030.68
Weight - lbs.4244
Weight - lbs.155
Length - Feet23
Length - Feet37
Length overall - Detail23 ft. 0 in. (7 m)
Length overall - Detail37 ft. 6 in. (11.43 m)
Length overall - Meters7.01
Length overall - Meters11.43
Length overall - Inches276
Length overall - Inches45
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters11.43
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches6
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine modelMerCruiser®
Engine modelnot available
Engine/s standard350 Magnum? MPI Bravo? III DTS sterndrive (Digital Throttle & Shift replaces standard throttle and shift)
Engine/s standardT-VD-8.1 S Horizon MerCruiser? - T-370 hp (276 kW)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189.3 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail225 gal. (851.6 l), Usable fuel: 203 gal. (770 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27
Fuel tank capacity - Liters851.72
Fuel tank capacity - Gal5
Fuel tank capacity - Gal225
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeInboard
Horsepower300 hp (224 kW)
Horsepowernot available
Engine maxnot available
Engine maxT-375 hp (280 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,600 lbs. (726 kg)
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people10 @ 1,400 lbs. (635 kg)
Maximum peoplenot available
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity40 gal. (150 l), Gray water tank: 28 gal. (106 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail28 gal. (106 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters105.99
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal28