Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 vs Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 or the Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013?

The Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 is the longer of the two at 54,8 feet overall. The Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 comes in at 23,0 feet, making it roughly 31,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 or the Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013?

For trailering, the Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 has the edge at 5 lbs dry weight versus 4 244 lbs for the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009. 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 540 Sundancer 2013 is rated to a maximum of 684 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 tops out at 320 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 230 Select 2009 carry?

The Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 has an official capacity rating of 10 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 540 Sundancer 2013 measures 183" wide, compared to 102" for the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009. 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: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 and Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 5 gallons and 6 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 and Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 and the Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 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 230 Select 2009 vs Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013

Sea Ray

Sea Ray 230 Select 2009

2009

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Sea Ray

Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013

2013

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 vs Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 against a semi displacement Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 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 540 Sundancer 2013 measures 54,8 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 31,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 at 23,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 tips the scales at 4 244 lbs — 4 239 lbs more than the Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 at 5 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 684 hp, the Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 has a 364-hp advantage over the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009's 320-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 5 gal and 6 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

The Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 is rated for up to 10 people. Passenger data for the Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 wasn't available.

Bottom line: The Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 at 54,8 ft is the right call if deck space, comfort, and entertaining are top of your list. The Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 at 23,0 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

Model230 Select

Model540 Sundancer?

Model Year2009

Model Year2013

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℃

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] - Detail50 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 - Detail50,000 lbs. (22,679 kg)

Weight - kg1925.04

Weight - kg22679.6

Weight - lbs.4244

Weight - lbs.5

Length - Feet23

Length - Feet54.75

Length [over all with swim platform]23 ft. 0 in. (7 m)

Length [over all with swim platform]54 ft. 9 in. (16.7 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeSemi Displacement

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makeMerCruiser®

Engine makeCummins®

Engine/s standard5.0L MPI Bravo III

Engine/s standardTwin QSM-11 715 T2 with DTS

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189.3 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail600 gal. (2,271 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Liters2271.25

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel tank capacity - Gal6

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typeDiesel

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeV-drive

Horsepower260 hp (194 kW)

HorsepowerTwin 684 php (510 kW)

Engine max320 hp (239 kW)

Engine maxnot available

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. (568 l)

Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available

Holding tank capacity - Detail68 gal. (257 l)

Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available

Holding tank capacity - Liters257.41

Holding tank capacity - Galnot available

Holding tank capacity - Gal68

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailTandem-axle, painted

Trailer - Detailnot available

Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 vs Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 or the Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013?

The Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 is the longer of the two at 54,8 feet overall. The Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 comes in at 23,0 feet, making it roughly 31,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 or the Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013?

For trailering, the Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 has the edge at 5 lbs dry weight versus 4 244 lbs for the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009. 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 540 Sundancer 2013 is rated to a maximum of 684 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 tops out at 320 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 230 Select 2009 carry?

The Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 has an official capacity rating of 10 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 540 Sundancer 2013 measures 183" wide, compared to 102" for the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009. 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.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 and Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 5 gallons and 6 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 and Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 and the Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 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 230 Select 2009 full specs ← Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 full specs