Sea Ray 215 Weekender Review and Specs [Video]

The 2004-2008 Sea Ray 215 Weekender was a 22-foot cruiser with a tiny cabin and a cozy single-level cockpit. She could be ordered with either a Volvo diesel or MerCruiser gasoline sterndrive engine.

In this post, we’ll review this popular Sea Ray pocket cruiser and her factory specifications.

Sea Ray 215 Weekender Review

Hull and Top Deck

Sea Ray manufactured the 215 Weekender (215 WE) from 2004 through 2008 as the successor of the no less popular 215 Express Cruiser.

As the name suggests, this nice little pocket cruiser was designed with weekend adventures in mind.

Shared with the very similar 225 Weekender, her modified V fiberglass hull had a 19-degree transom deadrise.

The overall length of the boat was only 22 feet and with a beam of 8.5 feet.

Despite her relatively small dimensions, she provided plenty of space with ample capacities.

Even though the claimed capacity was 8 persons or 1,400 pounds, this model was only comfortable for 3-5 people.

Inviting and spacious, the single-level cockpit was offered with two seating plans, which only differed in the design of the port companion seat.

The standard seating layout had a double-wide companion seat while the optional plan featured a back-to-back lounger.

Both layouts shared the same double-wide helm seat and two aft jump seats that formed a sizeable bench seat with a filler cushion on top of the motorbox.

The latter was completely removable ensuring easy access to the engine compartment. Since it wasn’t buried deep in the bilge, working on the engine was a breeze.

For easy access to the swim platform, the aft jump seats were removable and the transom had a walk-thru door.

Standard cockpit features included cup holders, grab handles, an audio system, a removable dinette table, a cockpit drain system, indirect cockpit lighting, and a transom shower.

It’s safe to say that one of the main drawbacks of the 215 Weekender was its very limited cockpit storage space.

Besides side panel storage and a floor storage unit, you could only store your gear in the fiberglass storage base of the helm and companion seats.

A sliding fiberglass cabin door doubled as steps to provide access to the foredeck. Due to its flat design, this area could also be used as a sundeck.

One disadvantage of this architecture was that if the door was open, people couldn’t return to the cockpit.

In return, it was fitted with safety features like stainless steel handrails, and a non-slip deck surface.

At the helm, you had full instrumentation with a wood-accent dashboard, a double helm seat with a flip-up bolster, a custom-padded tilt steering wheel with a power steering system, a stereo remote, and a cup holder.

Other standard features of the boat included navigation lights, mooring cleats, eyelets, a ski tow eye, and an anchor storage unit with a fiberglass hatch.

The list of individual options included a dual battery system, a bow anchor roller, a canvas package with Bimini top, a clip-in cockpit carpet, a depth finder, a fire suppression system, a tan steering wheel with a wood accent, a potable head with pump-out system, hydraulic trim tabs, a windshield wiper, and a either galvanized or painted factory trailer.

With a claimed dry weight of 4,770 pounds, the 215 Weekender was considered a trailerable cabin cruiser.

Adding the weight of a matching trailer, 50 gallons of gas, and some gear, the gross trailering weight of the 215 Weekender averaged around 7,000 pounds.

Interior

The interior of the 215 Weekender was tiny but well-designed to get the most out of the limited space.

Lighted with an overhead escape hatch and two fixed portlights, the cabin was designed with a V-berth containing storage below.

High-quality upholstery, filler cushions, a dinette table, marine-grade carpets, 12V lighting, a carbon monoxide monitor, side shelves, and an audio system also came standard.

To make the interior look more spacious, a large mirror was placed at the front of the forward section.

The tiny galley featured cabinets with a laminated cabinet top, a built-in insulated ice chest, and a garbage bin below the bottom step.

Unfortunately, the galley lacked a sink and the head was also enclosed with a privacy curtain instead of a fiberglass door.

Despite the inviting design and high-quality features, the cabin of the 215 was much more suitable for daytime relaxation and storing gear than for weekend trips.

Let’s face it, the larger siblings of the Weekender line were much more suitable for overnight journeys.

Engines and Performance

The standard power source of the 215 Weekender was a carbureted gasoline MerCruiser 5.0L Alpha I MCM sterndrive engine rated at 220hp.

This package could be opted for fuel-injected engine configurations like a diesel 157hp Volvo KAD 32P/DP or a gasoline 260hp MerCruiser 5.0L MPI.

The latter utilized a multi-port fuel injection system and could be ordered with either Alpha I or Bravo III sterndrive legs.

Depending on the load, engine package, and weather conditions, the 215 Weekender cruised in the mid- to-high 30s and topped out at 45-50 mph.

In terms of fuel consumption, the 5.0L MerCruiser could burn anywhere from 2 to 20 gph depending on the speed and environmental conditions.

As an example, running at WOT the fuel usage was close to 20 gph while getting 2.2-2.3 mpg.

Cruising at 27-29 mph these figures changed to 9-10 gph and 3-3.2 mpg, respectively.

The 50-gallon fuel tank ensured a fuel range of roughly 4 hours or 100-120 miles, but 100 miles was a safe conservative estimate.

The 215 Weekender was also known for her excellent reliability and great overall performance.

She gave a nice ride on smooth waters but was prone to bouncing on anything more than a foot of chop.

Hence, this pocket cruiser was primarily recommended for inland water bodies.

Besides cruising and camping, she could be used for various activities like wakeboarding, tubing, or even fishing.

Specifications

The factory specifications of the Sea Ray 215 Weekender were as follows:

Dimensions and Capacities

Overall Length (LOA)	22’ 0”
Bow to Transom/Keel Intersection	20’ 9.5”
Beam	8’ 6”
Draft (Stern Drive Down)	37”
Draft (Stern Drive Up)	20”
Dead Rise	19°
Dry Weight	4,770 lb.
Max people capacity	8 or 1400 lb.
Max weight capacity (persons, gear)	1800 lb.
Fuel Capacity	50 gal.
Usable Fuel	47.5 gal.

Engine Packages

Engine	MerCruiser 5.0L	MerCruiser 5.0L MPI	Volvo KAD 32P
Drive	Alpha 1	Alpha 1 or Bravo III	DP
HP	220hp	260hp	157hp
Displacement	5.0L (305 cid.)	5.0L (305 cid.)	2.4L
Engine Type	V8	V8	I4
Carburetion	Carbureted	Fuel Injected	Fuel Injected
Fuel	Gasoline	Gasoline	Diesel

Disclaimer: Specifications are for informational purposes only. For further information, please refer to the operator’s manual.

Takeaways

Marketed in the 2000s, the Sea Ray 215 Weekender was a lightweight, trailerable cruiser that combined great performance with the comfort of an overnighter.

She only measured 22 feet in length with a beam of 8.5 feet and could be opted with either 220-260hp MerCruiser or 157hp Volvo Penta diesel sterndrive engines.

These well-matched power sources and the 19-degree hull fitted with hydraulic trim tabs offered a smooth and enjoyable ride.

Thanks to her remarkable performance, nice lines, and reasonable price tag, many of these were sold.

With a reputation for reliability and durability, they are still in demand on the used market.

If you are looking for a 215 Weekender for sale, you can find many of them on Craigslist, eBay, FB Marketplace, or boat classifieds.

Depending on the condition, engine package, and features, the asking prices of these used 22-foot cruisers range from $10,000 to $30,000.

They are not only surprisingly affordable but also hold their value surprisingly well.

If you are open to alternatives, you may want to look at the predecessor 215 Express Cruiser, or the more spacious Weekenders including the 235, and 245.

Besides their larger interior space, these models utilize a more spacious V-berth, a highly equipped galley, and a fully enclosed head.