Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sea Ray 255 Sundancer 2012 vs Sea Ray 520 Sedan Bridge 2010 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Sea Ray 255 Sundancer 2012 against a semi displacement Sea Ray 520 Sedan Bridge 2010 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 520 Sedan Bridge 2010 measures 57,1 feet overall (2010), giving it roughly 29,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 255 Sundancer 2012 at 27,4 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 520 Sedan Bridge 2010 tips the scales at 40 267 lbs — 39 712 lbs less than the Sea Ray 255 Sundancer 2012 at 555 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 765 hp, the Sea Ray 520 Sedan Bridge 2010 has a 465-hp advantage over the Sea Ray 255 Sundancer 2012's 300-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 255 Sundancer 2012 carries 69 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Sea Ray 520 Sedan Bridge 2010. 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 520 Sedan Bridge 2010 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Sea Ray 255 Sundancer 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 520 Sedan Bridge 2010 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray 520 Sedan Bridge 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 57,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray 255 Sundancer 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
Model255 Sundancer?
Model520 Sedan Bridge
Model Year2012
Model Year201
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
Deadrise19℃
Deadrise15℃
Draft [drive up] - Detail25 in. (61 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.64
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches25
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail40 in. (102 cm)
Draft [max] - DetailInboards: 51 in. (130 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters1.02
Draft [max] - Meters1.3
Draft [max] - Inches4
Draft [max] - Inches51
Weight - Detail5,550 lbs. (2,520 kg)
Weight - Detail40,267 lbs. (18,265 kg)
Weight - kg2517.44
Weight - kg18264.79
Weight - lbs.555
Weight - lbs.40267
Length - Feet27.42
Length - Feet57.08
Length overall - Detail27 ft. 5 in. (8.39 m)
Length overall - Detail57 ft. 1 in. (17.4 m)
Length overall - Meters8.36
Length overall - Meters17.4
Length overall - Inches329
Length overall - Inches685
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeSemi Displacement
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMerCruiser®
Engine makenot available
Engine/s standard5.0L MPI ECT Bravo? III MCM stern drive
Engine/s standardT-Cummins MerCruiser? QSM-11 with ETS
Fuel tank capacity - Detail69 gal. (261 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail500 gal. (1,892 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters261.19
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1892.71
Fuel tank capacity - Gal69
Fuel tank capacity - Gal5
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Fuel typeDiesel
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeInboard - Twin
Horsepower260 hp (194 kW)
HorsepowerTwin 765 hp (570 kW)
Engine max300 hp (224 kW)
Engine maxnot available
Operational Info
Water capacity20 gal. (76 l)
Water capacity140 gal. (530 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