Both the Sea Ray 230 Sundancer 2009 and the Sea Ray 250 Select EX 2010 are modified-V designs, both built in fibreglass, so the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Sea Ray 230 Sundancer 2009 at 24,5 ft versus Sea Ray 250 Select EX 2010 at 26,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 230 Sundancer 2009 tips the scales at 5 593 lbs - 201 lbs more than the Sea Ray 250 Select EX 2010 at 5 392 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 250 Select EX 2010 has a 75-hp advantage over the Sea Ray 230 Sundancer 2009's 300-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 75 gal and 75 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sea Ray 250 Select EX 2010 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Sea Ray 230 Sundancer 2009 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 250 Select EX 2010 could be the deciding factor.