Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Sea Ray 48 Sundancer 2008 vs Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard 2023: Same Brand, Different Boat
The Sea Ray 48 Sundancer 2008 vs Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard 2023 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story: intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Sea Ray 48 Sundancer 2008 measures 51,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 23,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard 2023 at 27,6 feet (2023). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray 48 Sundancer 2008 tips the scales at 34 250 lbs - 28 693 lbs more than the Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard 2023 at 5 557 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 517 hp, the Sea Ray 48 Sundancer 2008 has a 317-hp advantage over the Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard 2023's 200-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sea Ray 48 Sundancer 2008 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard 2023 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 48 Sundancer 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray 48 Sundancer 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 15 passengers and at 51,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray SDX 250 Outboard 2023 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
MakeSea Ray
Makenot available
Model48 Sundancer?
Modelnot available
Model Year2008
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam14 ft. 8 in. (4.47 m)
Beam8.60 ft
Beam - Meters4.47
Beam - Meters2.62
Beam - Inches176
Beam - Inches103
Deadrise19℃
Deadrisenot available
Draft [max] - DetailInboards: 48 in. (121.9 cm)
Draft [max] - Detail3.60 ft
Draft [max] - Meters1.22
Draft [max] - Meters1.1
Draft [max] - Inches48
Draft [max] - Inches43
Weight - Detail34,250 lbs. (15,536 kg)
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg15535.53
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.34250
Weight - lbs.not available
Length - Meters15.5
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet51
Length - Feet27.6
Length overall - Detail51 ft. (15.5 m)
Length overall - Detail27.60 ft
Length overall - Meters15.54
Length overall - Meters8.41
Length overall - Inches612
Length overall - Inches331
Draft Minnot available
Draft Min2.20 ft
Displacementnot available
Displacement5557.00 lbs
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Hull typeSemi Displacement
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardT-VD-Cummins MerCruiser? QSC 8.3-540 - T-517 hp (405 kW)
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail400 gal. (1,514.1 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1514.16
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal400
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel typenot available
Drive typeV-drive
Drive typeoutboard
Engine maxT-517 hp (405 kW)
Engine maxnot available
Engine makenot available
Engine makeMercury
Engine modelnot available
Engine modelFourStroke
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower200 hp
Operational Info
Water capacity110 gal. (416.4 l)
Water capacitynot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail60 gal. (227 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters227.12
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal60
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower