Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sea Ray 230 Select Fission 2008 vs Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Sea Ray 230 Select Fission 2008 against a semi displacement Sea Ray 52 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 52 Sundancer 2008 measures 53,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 30,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 230 Select Fission 2008 at 23,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 230 Select Fission 2008 tips the scales at 4 244 lbs — 3 859 lbs more than the Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2008 at 385 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 2008 tops out at 765 hp. Engine specs for the Sea Ray 230 Select Fission 2008 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2008 carries 56 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Sea Ray 230 Select Fission 2008. 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 2008 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Sea Ray 230 Select Fission 2008 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 52 Sundancer 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray 52 Sundancer 2008 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 230 Select Fission 2008 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 Select Fission
Model52 Sundancer?
Model Year2008
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam15 ft. 3 in. (4.65 m)
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters4.65
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches183
Deadrise21℃
Deadrise19℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail23 in. (58.42 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.58
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches23
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail38 in. (96.52 cm)
Draft [max] - DetailInboards: 50 in. (127 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.97
Draft [max] - Meters1.27
Draft [max] - Inches38
Draft [max] - Inches5
Weight - Detail4,244 lbs. (1,925 kg)
Weight - Detail38,500 lbs. (17,463 kg)
Weight - kg1925.04
Weight - kg17463.29
Weight - lbs.4244
Weight - lbs.385
Length - Meters7
Length - Meters16.26
Length - Feet23
Length - Feet53
Length overall - Detail23 ft. (7 m)
Length overall - Detail53 ft. 4 in. (16.26 m)
Length overall - Meters7.01
Length overall - Meters16.26
Length overall - Inches276
Length overall - Inches64
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches4
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]54 ft. 9 in. (16.69 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeSemi Displacement
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standard350 Magnum MPI DTS Bravo? III - 300 hp (224 kW)
Engine/s standardT-VD-Cummins MerCruiser? QSM-11 - T-640 hp (477 kW)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189.3 l), Usable fuel: 45 gal. (170 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail560 gal. (2,119.6 l), Usable fuel: 504 gal. (1,908 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27
Fuel tank capacity - Liters2119.83
Fuel tank capacity - Gal5
Fuel tank capacity - Gal56
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeDiesel
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeV-drive
Engine maxnot available
Engine maxT-765 hp (570 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 capacity150 gal. (567.8 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