The Sea Ray 290 Select EX 2008 is a modified-V design and the Sea Ray 500 Sundancer 2012 is a semi-displacement design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably 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 500 Sundancer 2012 measures 51,0 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 22,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 290 Select EX 2008 at 29,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 500 Sundancer 2012 tips the scales at 40 291 lbs - 32 591 lbs less than the Sea Ray 290 Select EX 2008 at 7 700 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 526 hp, the Sea Ray 500 Sundancer 2012 has a 151-hp advantage over the Sea Ray 290 Select EX 2008's 375-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 500 Sundancer 2012 carries 400 gallons versus 130 gallons in the Sea Ray 290 Select EX 2008. 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 500 Sundancer 2012 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Sea Ray 290 Select EX 2008 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea Ray 500 Sundancer 2012 could be the deciding factor.