August 20, 2026
Sea Ray SDX 290 Outboard: What the SDX Line Is Actually For
The SDX 290 Outboard is 31'2" on a 9'0" beam, runs twin Mercury 200 FourStroke outboards as standard, and carries 131 gallons behind a stand…
Read the articleSea Ray SDX 290 Outboard
Expert Review, Technical Specifications & Market Analysis
The Essentials
| Feature | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 31'2" |
| Beam | 9'0" |
| Draft | 33" trim down / 25" trim up |
| Displacement | 7,677 lbs |
| Engines | Twin Mercury 200 FourStroke Outboards (2 x 200 HP) |
| Fuel Capacity | 131 gal |
| Water Capacity | 20 gal |
| Cabins / Heads | 0 Cabins / 1 Head |
| Max Speed | 54-55 mph (Sea Ray published wide-open throttle) |
| Cruise Speed | 28-29 mph (Sea Ray published cruising speed) |
Source: Spec & Photos courtesy of Sea Ray. Specs verified by Tony Smith, USCG 100 Ton Master, on August 20, 2026.
Part of the Sea Ray SDX series — see how owners step up through the lineup.
Quick Verdict
- Sea Ray publishes a 271-mile cruising range on 131 gallons — 91 miles further than the same builder publishes for the SLX 280 Outboard, and it is Sea Ray's own figure rather than arithmetic
- 54-55 mph wide open on the standard twin Mercury 200 FourStrokes, which is faster than Sea Ray publishes for its own SLX 280 Outboard on twin 250s. Sea Ray does not explain why; run both before you decide what that means
- Joystick Piloting is NOT standard here. It arrives with the optional twin 250 Verado package, so if joystick docking is on your list, price the upgrade rather than assuming it
- SDX is the open, capacity-first layout in Sea Ray's range: a standard wet bar with sink and faucet, convertible aft-facing transom loungers or an optional sunpad, and a head compartment with a portable head, a vanity with sink and Sea Ray's stated ample headroom
- 7,677 lb dry on a 9'0" beam and 21° deadrise — light and narrow for 31 feet, which is where the range figure comes from and also why it needs trim discipline in a following sea
- Five-year SURPA5S+ bow-to-stern cover plus a Limited Lifetime Structural Hull/Deck Warranty to the original owner
Our Take
People ask me what the difference between SDX and SLX really is, and the honest answer is priorities, not quality. SLX spends its budget on finish and on standard equipment you can see and touch. SDX spends it on space and on range. The SDX 290 Outboard is the clearest example I can point at: 31'2" long, 7,677 pounds dry, a standard wet bar with a sink in it, a head compartment with a vanity and sink, and 271 miles of cruising range on 131 gallons — which is Sea Ray's own number, and it is a long way further than most 31-footers will claim.
Then there is the figure that made me go back and check the pages twice. Sea Ray publishes 54 to 55 mph wide open for this boat on standard twin 200s, and 50 to 52 mph for the SLX 280 Outboard on standard twin 250s. Less power, more speed, more range. I am not going to invent a reason for it, because Sea Ray does not give one. What I will tell you is that they are three hundred pounds and a few inches apart, they sit in the same part of the range, and you should run them on the same water on the same afternoon before you form an opinion.
The one thing I would flag on the order sheet is the helm. Joystick Piloting is standard on the SLX 280 Outboard and it is not standard here — on the SDX 290 Outboard it arrives with the optional twin 250 Verado package. If you dock stern-to in a cross-wind every weekend, that changes the boat you should be pricing. If you spend your days running out and anchoring, the standard 200s and that 271-mile range are the smarter buy, and you keep the difference.
Official Sea Ray Premiere: Inside the Sea Ray SDX 290 Outboard
Video courtesy of Sea Ray.
Sea Ray SDX 290 Outboard Photo Gallery
Photos courtesy of Sea Ray.
Sea Ray SDX 290 Outboard Articles & Guides
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Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is the Sea Ray SDX 290 Outboard?
54 to 55 mph wide open and 28 to 29 mph cruising, both published by Sea Ray, on the standard twin Mercury 200 FourStroke outboards. That is a higher published top end than Sea Ray gives its own SLX 280 Outboard on twin 250s, which is unusual enough to say out loud rather than explain away.
Optional propulsion is twin Mercury 250 Verados, with or without Joystick Piloting, and Sea Ray publishes no separate performance figures for that upgrade. Deadrise is 21 degrees, dry weight 7,677 pounds, and beam 9'0".
How far will the Sea Ray SDX 290 Outboard go on a tank?
Sea Ray publishes 271 miles at its 28 to 29 mph cruising speed and 165 miles at wide-open throttle, from 131 gallons. Those are the builder's own figures rather than a calculation, and 271 miles is 91 miles further than Sea Ray publishes for its own SLX 280 Outboard — a boat with four more gallons aboard and a hundred more horsepower.
The lighter hull is the obvious suspect at 7,677 pounds dry against 8,053. Sea Ray does not explain the gap and publishes no gallons-per-hour figure at any rpm for either boat, so treat both range numbers as planning figures and verify on the water.
Is Joystick Piloting standard on the Sea Ray SDX 290 Outboard?
No. Standard propulsion is twin Mercury 200 FourStroke outboards, and Joystick Piloting arrives only with the optional twin Mercury 250 Verado package — Sea Ray lists that package in black or white, with or without the joystick.
This is the reverse of the SLX 280 Outboard, where the joystick comes as part of the standard propulsion. If joystick docking is on your list, price the upgrade rather than assuming it is aboard.
Does the Sea Ray SDX 290 Outboard have a head?
Yes — a head compartment with a portable head, a vanity with a sink, storage, non-slip flooring and what Sea Ray describes as standing headroom. A "Head - Interior Upgrade" appears on the option list.
Water capacity is 20 gallons and the holding tank is 10 gallons, which Sea Ray prints with an "(optional)" note beside it. Sea Ray publishes no berth count and no cabin count for this model, so read it as a day boat with proper facilities rather than an overnighter.