Sea Ray 220 Sundeck Specs and Review [Video]

Sea Ray manufactured its versatile Sundeck 220 from 2002 through 2016. Powered by MerCruiser gasoline engines, this boat was a special blend of a deep-V bowrider hull with a spacious deck boat layout.

Over these years the model went through three different generations (’02-’08, ’10-’14, ’14-’16) before it was phased out by the SDX 220.

Its closest relatives, the best-selling Sundeck 240 and Sundeck 210 were also widely popular.

However, in this comprehensive review, we’ll only take a close look at the three generations of the 220 SD.

First Generation (2002-2008)

Hull and Deck (’02 – ‘08)

Encouraged by the success of the 240, Sea Ray released the smaller 220 Sundeck (a.k.a. 220 SD) for the 2002 season.

Even though her design had deck boat origins, this new model successfully blurred the features of a deck boat and a deep-V bowrider to achieve the best of both worlds.

As the name suggests, the boat was built on a 22-foot fiberglass hull.

Its 21-degree deep-V hull architecture was inspired by bowriders, while its spacious deck offered the comfort and free space of a deck boat.

It’s safe to say that this hybrid design is what made the Sundeck family so successful.

With dimensions of 23.5 feet in length, 8.5 feet in width, and a maximum draft of 36 inches, the boat could carry 10 people and a lot of gear up to its weight limit of 1,800 pounds.

The advertised dry weight was 4,200 pounds with the standard engine, which increased to 4,700-4,800 pounds with liquids and some essential gear.

Figuring in the weight of a matching tandem-axle boat trailer, the trailering weight of the 220 SD was in the ballpark of 5,800-6,000 pounds.

At first glance, the 220 SD looked like its 24-footer brother, just in a smaller size of course.

Besides the design, the deck also inherited most of its amenities from larger Sea Ray models.

Inviting and spacious, the forward lounge featured cushioned seatings with underneath storage and a comfortable boarding platform.

The latter was designed with a retractable bow ladder, which could be hidden in a combined ladder/anchor locker.

Other features included stainless steel grab handles, molded-in cup holders, snap-in carpet, and the mount for a dinette table.

Built from tinted and tempered glass, the three-piece windshield featured a nice curved design.

Behind it, you could find a cozy cockpit, which housed two swivel bucket seats and a traditional L-shaped wraparound seat.

The portside swivel seat could be turned towards the aft to expand this seating area.

The tiny wet bar with a tiny sink and storage units was positioned on the starboard side, right behind the helm.

Even though it was relatively small, the 220 SD featured a head that housed a storage shelf and a porta potty.

Hidden in the starboard console there was another smaller storage locker with a dedicated cooler storage unit. The fiberglass door of this locker doubled as the walk-through door.

Other cockpit amenities included a table mount, snap-in carpets, beverage holders, grab rails, and an abundance of storage units.

The aft was designed with a walk-thru transom and an extended swim platform with a reboarding ladder.

https://youtu.be/6bpauHPwJYg

Engines and Performance (’02 – ’08)

In the year of its introduction, the Sundeck 220 came standard with a MerCruiser 5.0L MPI Alpha I MCM sterndrive engine.

This fuel-injected, 4-stroke, V6 powerhouse delivered 260hp out of the box.

Optional propulsion packages included the same 5.0L MPI engine with a Bravo III MCM sterndrive and the more powerful MerCruiser MX 6.2L Bravo III sterndrive engine.

The latter was a 6.2-liter V8 powerhouse rated at 320hp.

Mechanics appreciated the large, electrically-driven engine hatch that offered easy access to the engine bay.

In terms of performance, the boat handled surprisingly well on the chop thanks to its true deep-V hull design.

Fitted with the MX 6.2L engine, the planning time was 4.5-5 seconds and top speed was roughly 50-53 mph.

Cruising at 33-35 mph, the fuel economy was around 3 mpg giving an estimated fuel range of 130-140 miles.

With the standard 5.0L 220hp engine, the 220 SD was fairly underpowered. Due to its poor hole-shot acceleration, this configuration was not recommended for watersports.

Besides its inadequate standard propulsion, another problem of the early 220 SD was its not-too-durable microprocessor switch, called EIM.

This unit was intended to control electronic gadgets like the bilge blower, bilge pump, and lights. Unfortunately, this microprocessor was easily prone to breaking, causing electrical issues.

For the 2005 season, Sea Ray replaced it with standard toggle switches.

It’s also good to know that SmartCraft gauges became standard on these boats in 2004.

After the 2007 season, the 220 SD was upgraded again with Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS), which made docking and launching much easier.

Unfortunately, DTS was only available as an option.

Specifications (’02-’08)

The factory specifications of the 2002-2008 Sundeck 220 were as follows:

Overall Length

23’ 6”

Maximum Beam

8’ 6”

Height – Keel to Top of Windscreen

6’ 1”

Draft (stern drive down)

36”

Draft (stern drive up)

20”

Dead Rise

21°

Dry Weight

4,200 lb.

Est. Trailering Weight*

5,800-6,000 lb.

Fuel Capacity

50 gal.

Water Capacity

10 gal.

People Capacity

10 persons or 1,600 lb.

Total Weight Capacity

1,800 lb. persons, gear

*(w/ std. engine, liquids, basic gear, and trailer)

Second Generation (2010-2013)

Hull and Deck (’10 – ‘13)

After a one-year hiatus, Sea Ray re-introduced its 220 Sundeck for the 2010 model year.

Also known as the “second-generation 220 SD” this new model was redesigned for a more modern look and greater comfort.

To expand the interior space of the deep forward lounge, the bow was designed with wider, more angular lines.

Even though the seatings seemed very spacious, the new model was significantly shorter and slightly narrower than its forerunner.

(This was no surprise, since after the 2008 season Sea Ray started to consider the swim platform in the length of the boat. From that year, the 200 became the 220, the 220 became the 240, and so on.)

Because of this marketing gimmick, the overall length of the 220 SD was decreased by 14 inches while the beam was narrowed by 1 inch.

Unfortunately, the capacities were also dramatically decreased.

In a nutshell, the key changes were as follows:

  • Passenger capacity went from 10 to 8 people
  • Fuel capacity went from 50 to 45 gallons
  • Overall weight capacity went from 1,800 to 1,400 pounds

In return, the cockpit was upgraded with a sun pad and revamped seatings.

Folding down the backrests of the rear bench seat doubled the surface of the sun pad.

The wet bar on the starboard side was replaced with a much narrower entertainment center with dedicated cooler storage.

To make the head more spacious, the port-side console was also redesigned with a square door design.

On the starboard side, the door of the sizeable console storage doubled as a bow block-off door below the walk-thru windshield.

To the greatest regret of many buyers, the dry weight of the 220 SD dramatically increased for the 2010 season from 4,200 to 4,835 pounds.

This caused her trailering weight to rise to 6,400-6,700 pounds with the standard engine and around 7,000 pounds with high-end engine options.

In summary, the key changes and improvements of the second-generation 220 SD compared to the previous model were as follows:

  • Shorter and narrower hull
  • Squared, more spacious bow
  • Fewer capacities
  • Greater weight
  • Redesigned seatings
  • Forward lounge with integral armrests
  • An all-new expandable sun pad
  • No wet bar
  • Revamped dashboard

Engines and Performance (’10 – ‘13)

The standard MerCruiser 5.0L MPI 260 hp sterndrive engine was carried over and was available with Alpha I and Bravo III MCM propulsion systems.

Its optional alternative was the MerCruiser 350 Magnum MPI with Alpha I MCM sterndrive engine. This 5.7L V8 power mill was rated at 300 hp.

Both of these power sources were V8 gasoline marine engines featuring a multi-port fuel injection system.

It’s also good to know that catalytic converters appeared on MerCruiser marine engines in 2010.

The top speed of this second-generation 220 SD was about 47-48 mph with the standard 5.0L MPI engine. The boat accelerated from 0 to 30 mph in 7-8 seconds while its planing time averaged around 4 seconds with a light load.

Cruising at the economical speed of 24-26 mph at 3000 RPM, the 5.0 MPI burned just 7 gph while getting 3.5-4 mpg.

Specifications (’10-’13)

The key specifications of the second generation (2010-2013) Sundeck 220 were as follows:

Overall Length w/ Swim Platform

22’ 4”

Maximum Beam

8’ 5”

Height – Keel to Top of Nav Light

9’ 2 ¾”

Height – Waterline to Top of Windshield

4’ 4 ½”

eight – Waterline to Top of Nav Light

7’ 7 ¾”

Draft (stern drive down)

38 ¾”

Draft (stern drive up)

23 ½”

Dead Rise

21°

Dry Weight

4,835 lb.

Est. Trailering Weight*

6,300-6,500 lb.

Fuel Capacity

45 gal.

Usable Fuel Capacity

40 gal.

Fresh Water Capacity

5 gal.

People Capacity

8 persons or 1,100 lb.

Total Weight Capacity

1,400 lb., persons, gear

*(w/ std. engine, liquids, basic gear, and trailer)

Third Generation (2014-2016)

Hull and Top Deck (’14 – ’16)

Sea Ray redesigned its entire Sundeck series for 2014, and the 220 SD was no exception.

To the greatest delight of many fans, the third generation of this popular deck boat returned with much greater capacities.

Despite this the dimensions of the boat remained almost unchanged, her passenger capacity increased from 8 to 12 people while the overall weight capacity went from 1,400 to 1,800 pounds.

Even though the numbers looked good in the marketing brochures, the 220 SD was extremely overcrowded with 12 people onboard.

Let’s face it, this 22-footer deck boat was convenient for up to 5-6 people.

The other design flaw of the new deck was the fixed backrest of the L-shaped seating, which could no longer extend the swim platform.

In return, the new model brought many improvements over its predecessor, including:

  • Much greater capacities
  • Significantly lower weight
  • Larger cockpit floorplan
  • Armrests for the helm and companion seat
  • Removed entertainment center
  • Bow filler cushion (opt.)
  • Submersible swim step in the swim platform (opt.)
  • Redesigned seatings with increased capacity
  • Standalone walk-through door
  • Cup holders and storage in the swim platform
  • 6.5-gallon transom shower (opt.)
  • Flush-mounted Raymarine Chartplotter (opt.)
  • And more

https://youtu.be/8plvqW4A-Ag

Engines and Performance (’14-’16)

The propulsion options of the previous model were carried over to the 2014-2016 220 Sundeck.

Rated at 260 hp, the standard power source was still the MerCruiser 5.0L MPI ECT Alpha I sterndrive engine.

This came standard with a stainless-steel propeller and could be opted with the more advanced Bravo III sterndrive propulsion.

The high-end power source during that era was the MerCruiser 350 MAG ECT Alpha I Sterndrive engine rated at 300 hp.

(From 2014 through 2016, the manufacturer marketed the 220 SD in an outboard configuration fitted with Mercury Verado engines.)

 

Specifications (’14-’16)

For your convenience, we’ve listed the factory specifications of the third-generation (2014-2016) 220 SD in this chart.

 

Overall Length w/ Swim Platform

22’ 6”

Maximum Beam

8’ 4 7/8”

Overall Height from Waterline

9’ 5 ¾”

Height – Keel to Top of Windshield

5’ 7 1/8”

Overall Height from Stern Drive

12’ 5”

Overall Height from Waterline w/ Tower

8’ 7 1/8”

Draft (stern drive down)

37”

Draft (stern drive up)

20”

Dead Rise

21°

Dry Weight

4,350 lb.

Est. Trailering Weight*

5,800 – 6,200 lb.

Fuel Capacity

45 gal.

People Capacity

12 persons or 1,725 lb.

Total Weight Capacity

1,800 lb., persons, gear

*(w/ std. engine, liquids, basic gear, and trailer)

Sea Ray 220 Sundeck Comparison Chart

For a better comparison, we’ve listed key specs of the generations head-to-head:

Gen.

1st

2nd

3rd

Model Year

‘02-’08

‘10-’13

‘14-’16

People Capacity

10

8

12

Weigh Capacity (lb.)

1800

1400

1825

LOA

23’6″

22’4″

22’6″

Beam

8’6″

8’5″

8′ 4 7/8”

Dry Weight

4200

4835

4350

Fuel Capacity (gal)

50

45

45

Dead Rise

21

21

21

Sun Pad

No

Yes

Yes

Draft (stern drive down)

36″

38 ¾”

37″

Draft (stern drive up)

20″

23 ½”

20″

Takeaways

The 220 Sundeck was the second most popular Sea Ray deck boat ever built behind its best-selling 24-footer version.

These boats owed their popularity to their unique “mixed” design, which combined the performance of a deep-V bowrider with the floor plan of a deck boat.

Hence, the Sundeck series was difficult to categorize as they offered the best of both worlds.

Because of this, these boats dominated their categories for decades, and many of them still appear on the used market.

If you are considering buying a Sea Ray Sundeck, you may want to take a look at the 240 SD, which offers more space and capacities than the 220 for almost the same purchase price and running cost.

But if you still want the 22-footer variant for some reason, be sure to consider the following before purchasing.

First and foremost, make sure to avoid the standard 5.0L engine and invest in a boat with a 6.2L or an MPI 350 MAG power source.

This is true for all generations, regardless of year of manufacture.

With the 260hp engine, the 220 SD is very underpowered, this is why these versions have much lower resale values.

Let’s talk about the pros and cons of the different generations.

Although it’s fairly old, the first generation (2002-2008) has the largest hull, which measures 22 feet plus the swim platform. Its spacious top deck enjoys a tiny wet bar but lacks a sun pad.

If you don’t mind buying such an old boat, make sure to buy a 2005 or newer, which features toggle switches and SmartCraft gauges (or even an optional DTS if you are lucky).

These boats are typically offered for $15,000-$20,000 on the used market.

The second generation (2010-2013) is not only the heaviest 220 SD, but it also has the smallest deck space and very limited capacities.

In return, its aft deck was designed with an extendable sun pad.

Be prepared to pay $30,000-$40,000 for one of these used Sea Ray 220.

The best pick is arguably the latest model which was manufactured from 2014 through 2016.

Compared to the predecessor it’s not only lighter and more spacious but has greater capacities and more bells and whistles.

Drawbacks?

In addition to limited availability, mainly the asking prices that range from $40,000 up to a whopping $65,000.

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


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