Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sea Ray 240 Sun Sport 2012 vs Sea Ray SLX 280 Outboard 2023: Same Brand, Different Boat
The Sea Ray 240 Sun Sport 2012 vs Sea Ray SLX 280 Outboard 2023 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story: intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Sea Ray SLX 280 Outboard 2023 measures 31,5 feet overall (2023), giving it roughly 6,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 240 Sun Sport 2012 at 24,6 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray SLX 280 Outboard 2023 tips the scales at 8 053 lbs - 3 865 lbs less than the Sea Ray 240 Sun Sport 2012 at 4 188 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 300 hp, the Sea Ray 240 Sun Sport 2012 has a 50-hp advantage over the Sea Ray SLX 280 Outboard 2023's 250-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 SLX 280 Outboard 2023 carries 135 gallons versus 57 gallons in the Sea Ray 240 Sun Sport 2012. 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 SLX 280 Outboard 2023 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Sea Ray 240 Sun Sport 2012 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea Ray SLX 280 Outboard 2023 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray SLX 280 Outboard 2023 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 9 passengers and at 31,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray 240 Sun Sport 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeSea Ray
Makenot available
Model240 Sun Sport?
Modelnot available
Model Year2012
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.55 m)
Beam9.00 ft
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters2.74
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches108
Deadrise21℃
Deadrisenot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail20 in. (51 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.51
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches20
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail37 in. (95 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail3.50 ft
Draft [max] - Meters0.94
Draft [max] - Meters1.07
Draft [max] - Inches37
Draft [max] - Inches42
Weight - Detail4,188 lbs. (1,900 kg)
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg1899.64
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.4188
Weight - lbs.not available
Length - Feet24.58
Length - Feet31.5
Length [over all with swim platform]25 ft. 5 in. (7.75 m)
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length overall - Detail24 ft. 7 in. (7.49 m)
Length overall - Detail31.50 ft
Length overall - Meters7.49
Length overall - Meters9.6
Length overall - Inches295
Length overall - Inches378
Draft Minnot available
Draft Min2.20 ft
Displacementnot available
Displacement8053.00 lbs
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMerCruiser®
Engine makeMercury
Engine/s standard5.0L MPI ECT Bravo? III MCM stern drive
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail57 gal. (216 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters215.77
Fuel tank capacity - Liters511.03
Fuel tank capacity - Gal57
Fuel tank capacity - Gal135
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typenot available
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeoutboard
Horsepower260 hp (194 kW)
Horsepower250 hp
Engine max300 hp (224 kW)
Engine maxnot available
Engine modelnot available
Engine model250 Verado
Engine 2 Engine Makenot available
Engine 2 Engine MakeMercury
Engine 2 Engine Modelnot available
Engine 2 Engine Model250 Verado
Engine 2 Horsepowernot available
Engine 2 Horsepower250 hp
Engine 2 Drive Typenot available
Engine 2 Drive Typeoutboard
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,800 lbs. (816.5 kg)
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people8 / 1,600 lbs. (725 kg)
Maximum peoplenot available
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity20
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower