In 2018, Sea Ray halted production of its yachts longer than 40 feet to concentrate on smaller sportboats and cruisers. So when I was invited to test the company’s first fully new cruiser design since that decision—the 2021 Sundancer 370—I was eager to go.
The sea trial took place in Sarasota on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a preview prior to the model’s official launch months later. This introduction matters to Sea Ray: company President Steve Langlais greeted me on the dock and emphasized the 370’s significance.
“We currently have a Sundancer 350 that will be discontinued, but this is much more than a replacement,” Langlais said. “It embodies the future of the brand. It’s a totally different boat.”
He pointed to the 370’s exterior profile, which features sharper lines than the 350 and uses two hull windows per side instead of one. “It has the Sea Ray Sundancer DNA—the long sheer, the crease and the emblem,” he said. “The ‘jawline’ under the crease gives the bow a strong presence and a sense of motion.” Langlais noted that the jawline has appeared at times across Sundancer generations and will be part of upcoming designs.
The 370 integrates a custom diamond pattern throughout its deck design—carved into the cockpit sole, stitched into the upholstery, and prominently silhouetted on the glass skylight of the hardtop—giving the boat a cohesive, refined look.
The new Sundancer’s 12-foot beam is 8 inches wider than the 350’s, which creates room for a more generous exterior layout. The most notable change is the forward bow cockpit, accessed via a glass door on the port side that doubles as an extension of the windshield when closed and folds open on gas-assisted shocks when needed.
“This layout was introduced on the Sundancer 320 and has been very popular,” Langlais said as he led me forward. The bow features a three-person settee with armrests that converts into a large sunpad. “My kids call this the best seat in the house,” he added. The upgraded Fusion stereo package includes a separate remote for the bow compartment, and the cockpit offers numerous USB ports and drink holders for convenience.
Unlike the Sundancer 350’s traditional companionway door, the 370’s cabin is entered from the port walkaround. Adding the bow cockpit did not compromise interior volume thanks to the boat’s wider beam and walk-through deck layout. “It makes a huge difference to the interior,” Langlais said.
The cabin is built for more than day trips. It supports weekend cruises or longer outings for two couples or a family of four. The galley includes a sink, refrigerator and microwave. There is a dedicated head with a separate shower and a mid-cabin area that converts from a seating lounge into a double berth. A clever new feature is the forward berth, integrated into the salon settee: pushing a button folds the settee flat, extending the forward sleeping area to create a larger berth.
In the cockpit aft, the transom seating converts into an aft-facing lounge—ideal for watching children swim while at anchor. The seat base and backrest are separate, with a lighting strip and a water-runoff channel between them. “A lot of times, if your seat back comes all the way down to the seat, water gets trapped,” explained Jeff Etapa, program director at Sea Ray Boats, who joined the sea trial.
Historically, Sundancers were sterndrive-powered, but Sea Ray has expanded its offerings to include outboard versions. The Sundancer 370 is designed exclusively for triple Mercury Verado outboards. “It’s the right power for this boat,” Etapa said, noting that the outboards are mounted low to preserve the boat’s sleek profile.
Etapa works at the Brunswick Boat Group Technology Center in Edgewater, Florida, which serves as the R&D facility for Brunswick brands including Sea Ray and Boston Whaler. The 370 benefits from cross-brand design expertise and features integrated technology from Mercury Marine, such as Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS), Joystick Piloting for Outboards and a Sport Exhaust mode that changes the 300 Verados’ sound from near-silent to a throaty V-8 note.
At the helm, two 16-inch Simrad multifunction displays are mounted in the dash. One screen showed the boat’s CZone digital switching system, part of Brunswick’s Power Products suite. “I can control everything from the helm,” Etapa said, tapping the touchscreen to operate bilge pumps, lights and view alarms and fuel levels. A Simrad remote in the helm armrest lets the driver change on-screen displays without reaching the dash, and a CZone key fob offers added convenience.
On Sarasota Bay, the triple outboards proved capable. The 370 came onto plane with minimal bow rise between 4,000 and 5,000 rpm as the DTS system automatically trimmed the engines for efficiency. The Verados delivered strong acceleration and reached a top speed of 44.6 knots during the trial, while the boat’s 12-foot beam provided yacht-like stability and a smooth ride both on straight courses and in tight turns. Typical cruise speeds are between 26 and 30 knots.
The coupe-style hardtop with a large glass windshield and full side windows protects the helm and cockpit, while electric vents in each side window allow fresh air when desired. Visibility and sightlines from the helm were excellent throughout the trial, contributing to a comfortable driving experience.
At a time when many new boats in this size range are designed primarily as day boats, the Sundancer 370 stays true to the model’s 45-year legacy: it’s capable of taking owners on extended cruises away from their home port, offering the comfort and systems needed for multi-day trips.
Specifications
LOA: 37’2”
Beam: 12’0”
Draft: 3’7”
Displacement: 21,400 lbs.
Fuel: 250 gals.
Water: 46 gals.
Power: (3) 330-hp Mercurys
Base Price: $679,000
This article was originally published in the April 2021 issue.