Matching a modified vee Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 against a semi displacement Sea Ray 55 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 230 Select 2009 measures 23,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 17,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 at 6,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 tips the scales at 4 244 lbs — 3 709 lbs more than the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 at 535 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 861 hp, the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 has a 541-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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 carries 825 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Sea Ray 230 Select 2009. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

The Sea Ray 230 Select 2009 is rated for up to 10 people. Passenger data for the Sea Ray 55 Sundancer 2008 wasn't available.