The Sea Ray Express Cruiser 215 1998 vs Sea Ray Sundancer 340 1986 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 Sundancer 340 1986 measures 36,0 feet overall (1986), giving it roughly 14,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray Express Cruiser 215 1998 at 21,6 feet (1998). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray Sundancer 340 1986 tips the scales at 14 600 lbs - 10 901 lbs less than the Sea Ray Express Cruiser 215 1998 at 3 699 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 320 hp, the Sea Ray Sundancer 340 1986 has a 100-hp advantage over the Sea Ray Express Cruiser 215 1998's 220-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 Sundancer 340 1986 carries 225 gallons versus 50 gallons in the Sea Ray Express Cruiser 215 1998. 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 Sundancer 340 1986 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Sea Ray Express Cruiser 215 1998 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea Ray Sundancer 340 1986 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray Sundancer 340 1986 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 10 passengers and at 36,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray Express Cruiser 215 1998 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.