The Sea Ray Fly L550 2018 vs Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Sea Ray Fly L550 2018 at 54,1 ft versus Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 at 56,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray Fly L550 2018 tips the scales at 57 800 lbs — 12 100 lbs more than the Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 at 45 700 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 850 hp, the Sea Ray Fly L550 2018 has a 50-hp advantage over the Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996's 800-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 8 gal and 7 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Sea Ray Fly L550 2018 caps at 16. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 56,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray Fly L550 2018 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 16 that costs less to run day-to-day.