Both the Sea Ray 36 Sedan Bridge 2009 and the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2012 are semi-displacement 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 36 Sedan Bridge 2009 at 38,3 ft versus Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2012 at 39,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2012 tips the scales at 24 600 lbs - 2 600 lbs less than the Sea Ray 36 Sedan Bridge 2009 at 22 000 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 425 hp, the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2012 has a 55-hp advantage over the Sea Ray 36 Sedan Bridge 2009's 370-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 36 Sedan Bridge 2009 carries 300 gallons versus 250 gallons in the Sea Ray 390 Sundancer 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 11 passengers - a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.