Dayboats are increasingly popular as busy families and active boaters realize they can enjoy a full day of cruising, watersports and social time without committing to an overnight trip. A capable dayboat concentrates comfort, practical storage and performance into a single, easy-to-manage craft. While dayboats come in many sizes and price points, three new open designs from mainstream production builders—each near 30 feet—stand out for their versatility, comfort and smart features.
SEA RAY 280 SLX OUTBOARD
The Sea Ray 280 SLX Outboard presents a modern take on the traditional bowrider: a social, comfortable layout combined with contemporary performance and technology. Designed in Tennessee, this 31-foot craft is built for owners who like to entertain on the water without sacrificing capability for towing toys or storage.
Comfort is a priority throughout the cockpit. Well-proportioned seating with quality foam and upholstery makes every position comfortable for extended outings, and the driver and companion seats rotate 180 degrees to create face-to-face conversation with passengers lounging aft. Sea Ray calls this a living-space approach designed to support social boating.
The 280 adopts Sea Ray’s new design language, with a refined sheerline and an elongated bow that improves both proportion and usable forward space. The windshield integrates cleanly with the deck and is topped by a Power Tower—a canvas sunshade on aluminum supports that lowers for low bridges, boathouse clearance or dry-stack storage.
Sea Ray offers the 280 exclusively with twin 250-hp Mercury Verado outboards. That propulsion package delivers a top speed in the mid-40-knot range and a cruising speed around 25–27 knots. With a 135-gallon fuel tank, the boat has an estimated range of about 195 miles at cruise. The Verados also include Mercury’s Joystick Piloting for Outboards, which combines steering, throttle and shift into a single fingertip control and features Skyhook GPS station-keeping to hold the boat’s position and heading during approach or anchoring.
The 280 is equipped with modern conveniences such as inductive phone charging and Sea Ray’s Digital Dash, featuring twin 12-inch screens that aggregate chartplotter, transducer, engine data and CZone digital switching. Options and standard gear can include a private head, refrigerators, cocktail tables and a windlass package—making it a dayboat that supports anything from watersports to relaxed sunset cruises.
LOA: 31’5”, Beam: 9’0”, Draft (motors up): 1’10”, Displ.: 8,053 lbs., Power: (2) 250-hp OB
ARKSEN 28 ADVENTURE
The Arksen 28 Adventure expands what a dayboat can do by blending rugged, go-anywhere capability with comfortable, refined interiors. Built by a British company known for explorer yachts, the 28 is constructed from military-grade aluminum on a deep-V hull, designed to handle rougher weather and longer coastal passages while keeping the crew safe and comfortable.
Arksen markets the 28 as an exploration-focused dayboat that’s equally suited to active outings and extended day trips. The layout includes three social zones: a protected cockpit behind the pilothouse, a bow conversation pit for relaxed mornings, and an enclosed cabin for shelter and overnight-style comfort if needed. The pilothouse provides wind-protected seating and convertible arrangements so the cockpit can shift from a social lounge to a fishing platform quickly.
Inside, the cabin combines practical warmth and refined finishes. Features include a leather-wrapped wheel, Alcantara-like seat upholsteries, abundant glazing for panoramic views, a sunroof and a sliding aft door to keep owners connected to the environment. The 28 emphasizes “tough outside, luxurious inside” design, balancing durability with everyday comfort.
Arksen outfits the 28 with many standard systems: USB ports throughout, a bow thruster, windlass, heated helm seat, diesel cabin heater, head compartment and refrigerator. A roof rack and powerful LED floodlight on the hardtop add utility for extended trips or night returns. A single 450-hp outboard is the factory power choice, giving the 28 a top end north of 40 knots at WOT and a comfortable cruise near 25 knots, with an estimated range of about 150 nautical miles. Built-in hull bumpers reduce the need for fenders and help protect the boat when squeezing into tight berths.
LOA: 28’1”, Beam: 8’8”, Draft (motor down): 2’11”, Displ.: 7,055 lbs., Power: (1) 450-hp OB
BENETEAU FLYER 8 SPACEDECK
Beneteau’s Flyer series targets buyers who want sporty performance and a flexible, activity-focused deck plan. The Flyer 8 Spacedeck, the open-bow variant of the new Flyer 8, is aimed at active boaters who want a boat that easily converts between fishing, watersports and social cruising.
Beneteau’s patented AirStep hull is designed to deliver quick acceleration, agile handling and lift through chop—qualities that appeal to skiers and wakeboarders as well as captains seeking a dynamic ride. The Spacedeck layout makes the most of its cockpit: benches fold to create an open deck for fishing, rod holders and a livewell support angling, and a tow pole accommodates water sports. The transom gate and swim platforms make water access simple, while bow lounges convert into a large sunpad for relaxation.
Inside the cockpit, rotating helm seats allow the skipper and companion to join the social set aft around a removable table for meals or drinks. The Flyer 8 is engineered for spirited performance with a single outboard up to 350 hp, enabling top speeds up to around 40 knots depending on conditions.
Beneteau includes modern connectivity through its Seanapps system, which lets owners monitor systems—battery status, fuel level and maintenance reminders—and plan routes directly from their phone. That connectivity, along with the Flyer 8’s sporty hull and flexible deck, makes the Spacedeck a compelling option for coastal dayboating and active families.
LOA: 26’10”, Beam: 8’4”, Draft (motor up): 1’5”, Displ.: 4,687 lbs., Power: (1) 350-hp OB
This article was originally published in the June 2023 issue.