The Sundancer 370: Sea Ray’s Midsize Cruiser Built for Real Weekends

Photo Credit: Sea Ray

The sun is just clearing the horizon when you fire up the twin 430-horsepower MerCruisers. Your crew is still below, coffee brewing in the galley, but you're already thinking about the cove 40 miles north where you'll anchor for lunch. The Sundancer 370 settles into a 36-knot cruise, bow slicing cleanly through the morning chop, and you realize this is exactly what a 37-footer should do: get you there comfortably, then let you stay awhile.

Sea Ray introduced the Sundancer 370 in 2021 as the flagship of its reimagined cruiser line. After discontinuing yachts over 40 feet in 2018, the builder focused its resources on perfecting the sweet spot between dayboat versatility and genuine cruising capability. The 370 is the result—a sport cruiser that refuses to compromise on either front.

Who It's For

The Sundancer 370 targets experienced boaters who have outgrown trailerable runabouts but aren't ready for the crew, slip fees, and maintenance budgets that come with 50-footers. These are owner-operators who want to run their own boat, entertain a crowd on Saturday, then disappear for a long weekend with their partner on Sunday.

At 37'8" with a 12-foot beam, the 370 fits comfortably in most marina slips while delivering the interior volume and deck space of boats a size class larger. The sterndrive configuration keeps draft to 42 inches with drives down, 31 inches up—shallow enough for Bahamas exploration or Great Lakes gunkholes. With accommodations for four adults, a full galley, and a separate shower in the head, this is a boat built for couples who cruise together or families with teenagers who actually want to come along.

What sets the 370 apart in the crowded 35-to-40-foot segment is its refusal to be just a dayboat with a cabin. Sea Ray engineered this as a true weekender, then added the entertaining space as a bonus.

Design & Layout

The 370's exterior profile carries the Sundancer DNA—the long sheer line, the signature crease below the gunwale, the emblem—but with sharper, more contemporary angles than its predecessor, the Sundancer 350. Two hull windows replace the 350's single portlight, flooding the cabin with natural light. A custom diamond pattern ties the design together, carved into the cockpit sole, stitched into upholstery, and silhouetted on the hardtop's skylight.

The bow cockpit is the 370's most distinctive feature. A glass door to port folds open on gas-assisted shocks, transforming the foredeck into a genuine social space. The three-person settee converts to a large sunpad, and an optional teak table turns it into an alfresco dining area. A separate Fusion stereo remote controls the bow speakers independently. It's the kind of space where guests migrate naturally, especially underway when the hardtop provides full protection aft.

Below, the cabin layout maximizes the 12-foot beam. The mid-cabin converts from L-shaped seating with a 32-inch smart TV to a double berth. The forward V-berth extends via a power-folding salon settee—push a button and the settee folds flat, creating a queen-size sleeping area. The galley includes a microwave, dual-voltage refrigerator, sink, and solid-surface countertop. The head features a separate shower stall with spa-like finishes, not the typical wet-head arrangement.

The aft cockpit seats five adults comfortably around a U-shaped settee with a teak table to port. The wet bar includes a sink, with optional electric Kenyon grill and refrigerator. The transom seat performs a clever trick: its base and backrest separate, allowing the backrest to flip forward and create a rear-facing lounge seat—perfect for watching swimmers or monitoring water toys at anchor. A lighting strip and drainage channel between the sections prevent water from pooling.

The swim platform is generous, with an optional automated undermount submersible step that deploys at the touch of a button. It's the kind of detail that matters when you're making multiple water entries throughout the day.

Performance & Handling

The Sundancer 370 comes standard with twin Mercury MerCruiser 8.2L MAG HO ECT engines producing 430 horsepower each, paired with Bravo Three X SeaCore drives and Mercury's Joystick Piloting system. Total output: 860 horses pushing 20,800 pounds of dry weight.

Power & Motoryacht's sea trial recorded a top speed of 44.6 knots (just over 51 mph) at wide-open throttle. But the more relevant number is cruise: 36 to 38 mph at 4,000 to 5,000 rpm, where the Digital Throttle and Shift system automatically trims the drives for optimal efficiency. At that speed, the 370 planes with minimal bow rise and delivers the smooth, stable ride you'd expect from a 12-foot beam and 20-degree deadrise.

The 250-gallon fuel capacity translates to a realistic cruising range of 180 to 200 nautical miles at 30 knots, assuming a 10 percent reserve. That's Fort Lauderdale to Bimini and back with fuel to spare, or a full day exploring the San Juan Islands without range anxiety.

The coupe-style hardtop with full glass windshield and side windows creates a yacht-like driving experience. Electric vents in each side window let you dial in airflow without sacrificing protection. The helm features dual 16-inch Simrad NSO evo3 touchscreens with Mercury VesselView Mobile integration, CZone digital switching, and a premium Fusion Apollo RA770 audio system. A Simrad remote in the helm seat armrest lets you change displays without reaching for the dash—a small convenience that becomes essential after your first long run.

The joystick docking system removes the last barrier to confident boat handling. Spin the boat 360 degrees in its own length, walk it sideways into a tight slip, or hold position against wind and current while your crew secures lines. It's the technology that makes owner-operation genuinely stress-free.

The Ownership Conversation

Base pricing for the Sundancer 370 starts around $680,000, with as-tested configurations typically landing between $850,000 and $950,000 depending on options. That positions it squarely against competitors like the Cruisers Yachts 38 GLS, Regal 38 SAV, and Formula 380 SSC.

Annual operating costs for a boat in this class typically run $60,000 to $80,000, including slip fees ($15,000 to $25,000 depending on location), insurance ($8,000 to $12,000), routine maintenance ($10,000 to $15,000), and fuel. The sterndrive configuration means lower maintenance costs than outboards—no annual lower unit services on three engines—but plan for bellows replacement every five years and drive service every 100 hours.

The 370 is an owner-operator boat. You don't need crew, you don't need a captain's license, and you don't need a commercial slip. What you do need is the discipline to stay on top of maintenance and the willingness to learn your systems. Sea Ray's three-year bow-to-stern SENTIN3L warranty and 10-year structural warranty provide peace of mind during the critical early ownership years.

The smart ownership play is buying a two-to-three-year-old example with low hours. Let the first owner absorb the depreciation, verify that all systems work as designed, then step into a proven boat at 25 to 30 percent off new pricing. The Sundancer line holds value well within the Sea Ray family, and the 370's status as the flagship model should support resale strength.

For buyers considering new, focus on the options that enhance cruising capability: the cabin upgrade package, gray water system, inverter for 120V power at anchor, and the automated swim step. Skip the RGB lighting package unless you genuinely care about color-changing accent lights. Invest in the Simrad HALO24 radar and 1st Mate safety system—they're the electronics that matter when weather turns or you're navigating unfamiliar waters at night.

Where to Start

The Sea Ray Sundancer 370 delivers what midsize cruiser buyers actually want: a boat you can run yourself, entertain a crowd, and disappear for long weekends without compromise. It's the flagship for good reason.

Explore full specifications at www.YachtSpecsDirect.com.

Browse available Sea Ray inventory at www.mintedyachts.com/searay.

The best boats are the ones that get used, and the Sundancer 370 is built to say yes when the forecast is perfect.