Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 vs Sea Ray 540 Sundancer 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 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 30,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 at 24,6 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 tips the scales at 477 lbs — 472 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 384-hp advantage over the Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012'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 — 5 gal and 6 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
The Sea Ray 235 Weekender 2012 is rated for up to 7 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 235 Weekender 2012 at 24,6 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
Model235 Weekender
Model540 Sundancer?
Model Year2012
Model Year2013
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 5 in. (2.55 m)
Beam15 ft. 3 in. (4.65 m)
Beam - Meters2.57
Beam - Meters4.65
Beam - Inches101
Beam - Inches183
Deadrise19℃
Deadrise21℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail20 in. (50 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.51
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches2
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail37 in. (95 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail50 in. (127 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.94
Draft [max] - Meters1.27
Draft [max] - Inches37
Draft [max] - Inches5
Weight - Detail4,770 lbs. (2,164 kg)
Weight - Detail50,000 lbs. (22,679 kg)
Weight - kg2163.63
Weight - kg22679.6
Weight - lbs.477
Weight - lbs.5
Length [at waterline]22 ft. 6 in. (6.86 m)
Length [at waterline]not available
Length - Feet24.58
Length - Feet54.75
Length overall - Detail24 ft. 7 in. (7.49 m)
Length overall - Detailnot available
Length overall - Meters7.49
Length overall - Metersnot available
Length overall - Inches295
Length overall - Inchesnot available
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]54 ft. 9 in. (16.7 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeSemi Displacement
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMerCruiser®
Engine makeCummins®
Engine/s standard4.3L MPI ECT Alpha® 1 stern drive
Engine/s standardTwin QSM-11 715 T2 with DTS
Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (190 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 or Diesel
Fuel typeDiesel
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeV-drive
Horsepower220 hp (164 kW)
HorsepowerTwin 684 php (510 kW)
Engine max300 hp (224 kW)
Engine maxnot available
Operational Info
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