The registry
Sea Ray Registry: Models, Builds & Photos
Sea Ray is an American builder of fiberglass pleasure boats, founded in 1959 by C.N. Ray in Detroit, Michigan. The company grew into one of the largest boat manufacturers in the world, was sold to Brunswick Corporation in 1986 for $350 million, and built everything from small bowriders to yachts over 60 feet before Brunswick ended the yacht and sport-yacht lines in 2018. The Sundancer, an express cruiser with a mid-cabin under the cockpit sole, has been the backbone of the lineup since 1975 and is the model most owners on this side of the hobby end up wrenching on.
Pick your model
Founding and growth
C.N. Ray bought the assets of Carr-Craft, a struggling Detroit fiberglass shop, in October 1959 and started building small fiberglass runabouts under the Ray Industries name at a time when most of the industry was still transitioning away from wood. Within months production moved to Oxford, Michigan, and over the following decades the company moved south, with major plants in Knoxville, Tennessee (which became headquarters), Merritt Island and Palm Coast in Florida, and Vonore, Tennessee for the bulk of production. By the late 1980s Sea Ray had more than 50 models in the catalog and had opened its first overseas plant, in Ireland.
The Brunswick era
Brunswick Corporation bought Sea Ray in December 1986 for $350 million, in the same buying spree that brought in Bayliner, and put both under the same roof as Mercury Marine. Boston Whaler joined the group in 1996. That tie explains why the vast majority of sterndrive Sea Rays you will open up carry MerCruiser power, with Mercury raw parts support that is still decent today. Brunswick actually put Sea Ray up for sale in 2017, then pulled it off the market in June 2018 when the offers came in low. At the same time it announced it would stop building Sea Ray sport yachts and yachts and refocus the brand on sport boats and cruisers up to 40 feet, winding down big-hull production at the Sykes Creek and Palm Coast plants in Florida. That is where the lineup sits now.
The Sundancer line
The Sundancer name arrived in 1975 on the SRV 240 Sundancer and defined the express-cruiser layout Sea Ray is known for: a mid-cabin tucked under the cockpit and helm, which pulls sleeping berths out of the bow and frees up cabin volume without adding length. The 268 Sundancer, built from 1986 to 1989, is a common example of the formula: a single MerCruiser sterndrive, around 26 feet, with a galley, enclosed head, and berths for six, unusual sleeping capacity for the length. It ran alongside the separate 270 Sundancer, which started back in 1982, and the mid-size slot carried forward through 260, 270, and 280 Sundancer models into the 2000s with the same basic package. Known maintenance items on these hulls are the usual sterndrive list: bellows, gimbal bearings, manifolds and risers (especially on raw-water-cooled boats), plus checking cockpit sole coring for moisture.
Other lines worth knowing
- Sundancer cruisers (1975 to present): the core of the brand, 24 to 60+ feet over the years.
- Amberjack (roughly 1984-2009): the fishing-oriented variant built on the express-cruiser platform, with cockpit fish boxes, rod holders, and livewell options.
- SPX and SLX sport boats: the bowrider lines that remain in production under Brunswick, built at Vonore alongside the SDX deck boats.
- Pachanga: a name first used on 1969-1971 runabouts, revived from 1986 to 1991 as Sea Ray's performance line in 19, 22, 27, and 32 foot lengths with big-block MerCruiser power.
Asked all the time
When was Sea Ray founded and who owns it now?
Sea Ray was founded in 1959 by C.N. Ray in Detroit, built on the assets of the Carr-Craft fiberglass shop. Brunswick Corporation bought Sea Ray in 1986 for $350 million and still owns the brand, which is why nearly all sterndrive Sea Rays run MerCruiser power.
Is Sea Ray still in business?
Yes. Sea Ray still builds sport boats and cruisers, but in 2018 Brunswick shut down the Sea Ray yacht and sport-yacht lines and refocused the brand on boats up to 40 feet, so the largest hulls are no longer in production.
What is a Sea Ray Sundancer and what makes the layout different?
The Sundancer is Sea Ray's express-cruiser line, introduced in 1975 on the SRV 240 Sundancer. Its signature feature is a mid-cabin berth tucked under the cockpit and helm, which adds sleeping space without adding length. The 268 Sundancer, built 1986-1989, is a common example of the layout.
What should I check when buying a used Sea Ray Sundancer?
On sterndrive Sundancers, budget for the standard MerCruiser wear items: bellows, gimbal bearing, and exhaust manifolds and risers, especially on raw-water-cooled engines. Also check cored deck and cockpit sole areas for moisture. Parts support through Mercury Marine remains reasonable even for older Sea Rays.
Are parts still available for older Sea Rays?
Drivetrain parts are the easy part, since most Sea Rays use MerCruiser engines and drives that Mercury still supports. Sea Ray-specific trim, upholstery, and hardware for older boats is harder; owners typically source those through salvage yards, canvas and upholstery shops, and owner forums.
The wall
The most-documented Sea Ray vehicles in the registry, every photo by the owner.
