Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 boat specs
Sea Ray
Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008
2008
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VS
Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 boat specs
Sea Ray
Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013
2013
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Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 vs Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 against a semi displacement Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 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 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 measures 58,6 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 19,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 at 39,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 tips the scales at 515 lbs — 321 lbs less than the Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 at 194 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 861 hp, the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 has a 441-hp advantage over the Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008's 420-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 38 Sundancer 2008 carries 25 gallons versus 7 gallons in the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013. 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 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 58,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeSea Ray
MakeSea Ray
Model38 Sundancer?
Model580 Sedan Bridge
Model Year2008
Model Year2013
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam12 ft. 6 in. (3.81 m)
Beam16 ft. (4.88 m)
Beam - Meters3.81
Beam - Meters4.88
Beam - Inches15
Beam - Inches192
Deadrise21℃
Deadrise17℃
Draft [max] - DetailInboards: 37 in. (94 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail51 in. (130 cm)
Draft [max] - Meters0.94
Draft [max] - Meters1.3
Draft [max] - Inches37
Draft [max] - Inches51
Weight - Detail19,400 lbs. (8,800 kg)
Weight - Detail51,500 lbs. (23,360 kg)
Weight - kg8799.68
Weight - kg23359.99
Weight - lbs.194
Weight - lbs.515
Length - Meters11.89
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet39
Length - Feet58.58
Length overall - Detail39 ft. (11.89 m)
Length overall - Detail58 ft. 7 in. (17.88 m)
Length overall - Meters11.89
Length overall - Meters17.86
Length overall - Inches468
Length overall - Inches703
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]61 ft. 4 in. (18.69 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeSemi Displacement
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardT-VD-8.1 S Horizon MerCruiser? - T-370 hp (276 kW)
Engine/s standardTwin MAN® 900 CRM V8 with ETS
Fuel tank capacity - Detail250 gal. (946.2 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail700 gal. (2,649 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters946.35
Fuel tank capacity - Liters2649.79
Fuel tank capacity - Gal25
Fuel tank capacity - Gal7
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Fuel typeDiesel
Drive typeV-drive
Drive typeInboard - Twin
Engine maxT-420 hp (313 kW)
Engine maxnot available
Horsepowernot available
HorsepowerTwin 861 php (642 kW)
Operational Info
Water capacity55 gal. (208.2 l)
Water capacity150 gal. (568 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail35 gal. (132.5 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail68 gal. (257 l)
Holding tank capacity - Liters132.49
Holding tank capacity - Liters257.41
Holding tank capacity - Gal35
Holding tank capacity - Gal68

Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 vs Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 or the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013?
The Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 is the longer of the two at 58,6 feet overall. The Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 comes in at 39,0 feet, making it roughly 19,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 or the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013?
For trailering, the Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 has the edge at 194 lbs dry weight versus 515 lbs for the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 is rated to a maximum of 861 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 tops out at 420 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 is certified for 17. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 measures 192" wide, compared to 15" for the Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 or the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013?
The Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 has the bigger tank at 25 gallons, versus 7 gallons on the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013. That 18-gallon difference translates to roughly 54–90 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 and Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Sea Ray 38 Sundancer 2008 and the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge 2013 are built by Sea Ray. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.