When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Sea Ray 47 Sedan Bridge 2011 and the Sea Ray 470 Sundancer® 2010 are semi displacement designs with fiberglass construction — 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Sea Ray 47 Sedan Bridge 2011 measures 50,7 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 3,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray 470 Sundancer® 2010 at 47,3 feet (2010). At 375 lbs and 285 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 574 hp, the Sea Ray 47 Sedan Bridge 2011 has a 100-hp advantage over the Sea Ray 470 Sundancer® 2010's 474-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 47 Sedan Bridge 2011 carries 53 gallons versus 35 gallons in the Sea Ray 470 Sundancer® 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 47 Sedan Bridge 2011 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Sea Ray 470 Sundancer® 2010 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea Ray 47 Sedan Bridge 2011 could be the deciding factor.