2003-2008 Sea Ray Sundancer 340 Specs and Review [Video]

There’s no question that the third-generation Sundancer 340 was the most successful Sea Ray ever made. This mid-cabin cruiser was built on a 34-foot platform and could be ordered with either twin 6.2L or twin 8.1L MerCruiser engine packages.

Its predecessor, the second-generation (1999-2002) Sundancer 340 was also very popular in its time.

But in this post, we’ll only review the third-generation model, which was in production between 2003 and 2008.

2003-2008 Sea Ray Sundancer 340 Review

Hull and Top Deck

The history of Sea Ray’s legendary 340 cruiser series goes back to 1983 when Sea Ray introduced the all-new 340 Sedan Bridge.

A year later, this model line was expanded with two new models, namely the 340 Express Cruiser and the 340 Sundancer.

Thanks to its popular mid-cabin layout, the latter became the bestselling cruiser in Sea Ray’s fleet and had a long lifetime spanning from 1984 to 2008.

During that time, the model went through three generations, which were as follows:

• 1^st Gen: 1984-1989
• 2^nd Gen: 1999-2002
• 3^rd Gen: 2003-2008

Each was widely popular in its time, but the 3^rd generation far surpassed its predecessors.

Introduced in 2008, the revamped 340 was built on a 34-foot deep-V fiberglass hull.

Its dimensions were really impressive; its overall length with the bolt-on swim platform was 37.5 feet while its fairly wide beam was 12 feet.

The draft was 32 inches with an inboard V-drive and 37 inches with a sterndrive propulsion system.

(Compared to the 2^nd generation, this new model was more than a foot longer, a half foot wider, and 2,000 pounds heavier. Also, its transom deadrise changed from 17 to 21 degrees.)

According to the operator’s manual, the dry weight of the ’03-’08 Sundancer 340 was 15,000 pounds.

By adding the weight of 225 gallons of fuel, 45 gallons of fresh water, and 28 gallons of black water, its weight increased by around 2,000 pounds.

Consequently, you could expect its gross weight with a 3000-pound, triple-axle trailer to be in the neighborhood of 20,000 pounds.

Its single-level top deck offered plenty of space and featured sleek, modern lines while its loading capacity was 12 passengers or 3000 pounds.

The newly designed cockpit was outfitted with adjustable twin helm seats, a port-side companion seat, and a U-shaped wrap-around aft seat.

This seating area featured a deck table and a cockpit entertainment center, housing a wet bar, a sink, and an optional fridge.

Families appreciated the large swim platform, which came standard with a retractable ladder. With a proper davit system, it could even be fitted with a small dinghy.

Cabin

The spacious cabin was well lit with overhead hatches and plenty of ports. It was designed with a cozy mid-cabin layout, which made the Sundancer 340 so popular.

It was also designed with high-quality finishes including cherrywood cabinets, earth tone fabrics, and posh Ultraleather upholstery.

Berths included a pedestal V-berth in the front and convertible sofas in the large mid-cabin as well as the salon.

Each room was separated from the salon with privacy curtains, while the galley was fitted with plenty of counter space and quality hardware.

The boat also could be optioned with a 4/5 kW Kohler gas or Onan diesel power generator. This power source shined especially bright when the boat spent days away from the marina.

It was not only a “must have” accessory of a boat of this size, but its absence was also reflected in the resale value.

Engines

In the States, the 2003-2008 Sundancer 340 could be ordered with three different V8 MerCruiser gasoline engine packages, including the twin 6.2 MPI MerCruiser (T-320hp) inboard, the twin 8.1 S Horizon MerCruiser (T-370hp) inboard, and the twin 496 Magnum (T-375hp) with Bravo III propulsion.

(Interestingly, the 340 was marketed with Yanmar 6LP-STP and Volvo KAD 300 EDC/DP engines on the European market.)

The standard engine of the boat was the 6.1 MPI MerCruiser. It displaced 6.1 liters or 378 cubic inches and delivered 320hp out of the box.

It’s a lesser-known fact that this engine was actually a stroked 5.7 MerCruiser, so its torque and power lagged behind their big block brothers.

As the name suggests, the 8.1S was displaced at 8.1 liters or 496 cubic inches. This engine was paired with an inboard V-drive propulsion system.

Even though it was labeled a “496 Magnum,” this engine was almost identical to the 8.1S except for its extra 5hp and Bravo III sterndrive.

Due to their higher power ratings and more torque, the 8.1 Engie packages were far more popular, and boats with these had a better resale value as well.

The engines were hidden in a fairly compact engine compartment covered by an electric hatch.

Performance

Thanks to its well-designed hull and 21-degree transom deadrise, the boat offered great overall handling and remarkable top speeds.

Despite its lower HP ratings, even twin MerCruiser 6.2L 640hp engines could cruise the Sundancer 340 at 21-22 mph (18-19 knots) at 3800 RPM.

At the engine speed of 4500 RPM, you could expect 28-29 mph (24-24 knots), while at WOT, it topped out at 32-34 mph (29 knots).

Although it went on plane at lower speeds, the sensible cruising speed of the boat was in the ballpark of 23-25 mph (20-22 knots).

Sure, 6.1L engines ran well with a light load, but their twin 8.1S brothers ensured a much quicker and effortless hole-shot acceleration. The difference was mainly noticeable when the boat was heavily loaded with passengers and gear.

With the 8.1 engines, the 340 offered a smooth boating experience at 27-28 mpg (23-24 knots) at 3500 RPM, while its top speed varied around 30 knots (33-35 mph) under ideal conditions.

Cruising at 27-28 mph, 8.1 engines burned a combined 28-30 gph at 3300-3400 RPM.

Driving sensibly, the boat could achieve almost 1 mpg, so its 214-gallon useable fuel capacity ensures a range of close to 200 miles.

Not bad from a 34-foot cruiser!

Problems

It’s safe to say that the Sundancer 340 was the boat that every owner was happy with, regardless of the engine package or equipment level.

If we want to find something to criticize, we could mention the lack of a walk-through windshield and the narrow side deck.

Another design flaw of the 340 was its tight, overcrowded engine compartment, which its complexity and limited space made the engines very hard to work on.

It’s also good to know that the 340 was quite “rocky” on rough waters and was fairly non-responsive at idle speeds, especially in reverse. Therefore, you had to apply more throttle around docks, which took a little getting used to.

Specs Charts

For your convenience, we’ve listed the main factory specs of the 3^rd generation Sundancer 340 (2003-2008):

Dimensions

Overall Length w/std. swim platform	37’ 6”
Beam	12’
Draft (Inboards)	32”
Draft (Stern Drive Down)	37”
Draft (Stern Drive Up)	27”
Dead Rise	21°
Keel to top off spoiler	12’ 8”
Waterline to top off spoiler	10’ 4”
Spoiler to top off mastlight	14”

Weight and Capacities

Dry weight	15,000 lbs.
Fuel capacity	225 gal.
Usable fuel	214 gal.
Water capacity	45 gal.
Holding tank	28 gal.

Engine Specs

Engine Type	MerCruiser 6.2 MPI	MerCruiser 8.1S Horizon	MerCruiser 496 Magnum
No. of engines	2	2	2
HP	2 x 320	2 x 370	2 x 375
Displacement (L)	6.2L	8.1L	8.1L
Displacement CID	378	496	496
Cylinders	V8	V8	V8
Propulsion	Inboard, V-Drive	Inboard, V-Drive	Bravo III Sterndrive

These specifications are for informational purposes only. For further information, please refer to the operator’s manual.

Takeaways

The 3^rd generation 340 was one the most commercially successful Sea Ray ever built and with good reason.

It was built on a wide deep-V hull complemented with a modern top deck and an open-plan interior, housing the deservedly popular mid-cabin.

It is safe to say that every single owner loved it, and that’s not an exaggeration!

If you are considering buying one of these iconic boats, you can find plenty of Sundancer 340s for sale on Craigslist, eBay, or classified boat sites.

Asking prices vary massively based on year, condition, engine package, and features, but they typically start at $70,000 and go all the way up to $150,000.

When shopping around, you should pay attention to the power source of the boat.

As we’ve discussed, the 8.1L engine options are worth the investment, even if they indicate a higher price.

A generator is also nice to have, but it can also be added later.

References:

Rightboat.com

Denisonyachtsales.com