Sea Ray 340 Sundancer 1999 to 2008 Specs, Engines and Used Prices

Sea Ray 340 Sundancer: which 34-foot Sundancer are you looking at?

The Sea Ray 340 Sundancer is one of the most searched used cruisers in the country, and one of the most confusing. J.D. Power lists the name in two blocks: 1984 to 1989 and 1999 to 2008. Within the second block Sea Ray built two different boats. The 1999 to 2002 version was billed as completely redesigned for 1999; the 2003 to 2008 version was introduced as the all-new flagship of Sea Ray's Sport Cruiser line.

The difference is not cosmetic. The later boat is about 15 inches longer overall, 7 inches wider, heavier and sits on a hull with 21 degrees of transom deadrise instead of 17. If you are shopping for a 2006 or 2008 Sea Ray 340 Sundancer, you are shopping for the second boat. If the listing says 2000, it is the first. The 1980s boats are a separate, much older design and rarely come up outside regional markets.

1999 to 2002: the redesigned 340 on a 17-degree hull

Sea Ray's 1999 specification sheet gives an overall length of 33 feet 6 inches (36 feet 3 inches with the swim platform by 2002), an 11-foot-5-inch beam, a dry weight of 13,000 pounds, 225 gallons of fuel, 40 of water and a 28-gallon holding tank. Deadrise is a moderate 17 degrees, which makes the boat stable at rest and efficient at speed but less forgiving in a steep chop than the later hull.

Standard power in 1999 was twin 5.7L MerCruiser V-drives at 260 hp each, with options for 300 and 310 hp gas V-drives, 380 hp 7.4L MPI Horizon V-drives, 310 hp 7.4L sterndrives and MerCruiser D4.2L diesel sterndrives. Sea Ray's 2000 overview mentions twin 7.4L MPI V-drives, and by 2002 the standard engines were twin 320 hp MX6.2 MPI V-drives, with 8.1S Horizon, MerCruiser D4.2L and Volvo KAD 44P diesels on the option list.

Below, buyers chose between a convertible dinette (Plan A) or a couch and table (Plan B). There is a full-size V-berth forward (island style on the 2002 sheet), a mid-stateroom conversation pit that converts to a double, a galley with refrigerator, microwave and two-burner electric stove, and a fiberglass stand-up head with shower and VacuFlush toilet. The cockpit has an electrically operated engine hatch, a helm seat with flip-up bolster and an aft-facing seat with a cooler, a portside entertainment center and an icemaker.

2003 to 2008: the biggest 34-footer on the market

BoatTest summed up the 2003 redesign in one line: the 340 may be the biggest 34-foot express cruiser on the market. Sea Ray's figures back that up. Overall length with the integral extended swim platform is 37 feet 6 inches, beam is 12 feet, dry weight is 14,600 pounds in 2003 and 15,500 pounds by 2007, and fuel stays at 225 gallons with water up to 45. Deadrise rose to 21 degrees, and draft is 32 inches with inboards or 37 inches with sterndrives down.

Sea Ray launched it with twin MX6.2 MPI V-drives at 320 hp each. By 2007 and 2008 the standard engines were twin 8.1S Horizon V-drives at 370 hp each with a four-year Mercury limited warranty, and the option list offered twin 496 Magnum Bravo III sterndrives at 375 hp or twin Yanmar 6LP-STP diesel V-drives at 306 hp.

The cockpit is laid out around three bucket seats: dual helm buckets with flip-up bolsters and a portside bucket, all with a U-shaped lounge aft over enormous storage bases. The electrically actuated engine hatch lifts the entire aft seating area, and the wet bar came with an icemaker or an optional refrigerator. Below, a 15-inch flatscreen TV with DVD was standard, along with a single-level galley counter, a water manifold for isolating plumbing circuits and storage throughout.

Big-block gas, sterndrives or Yanmar diesels

Most 2003 to 2008 boats on the market have gas V-drives, and the 8.1S Horizon is the engine to look for. It is a big-block with closed cooling, plenty of torque for a 15,500-pound boat and broad parts support, but it is thirsty and its exhaust manifolds, risers and elbows remain wear items. Early 2003 to 2005 boats with the smaller MX6.2 engines are cheaper and fine for lakes and bays, less so for loaded coastal cruising.

The 496 Magnum sterndrive option is worth considering if you need shallow draft or trailer the boat to a lift, but sterndrives on a boat this heavy work hard. The Yanmar 6LP diesels are rare, efficient and long-lived when maintained; they also cost more to service and repair. Speed claims in 340 listings vary widely and none we found came from an instrumented test, so rely on your own sea trial and confirm the engines reach rated wide-open-throttle rpm with your expected load.

2006 versus 2008: are later years worth more?

Within the 2003 to 2008 run the hull and layout did not change in any fundamental way, so year-to-year price differences mostly reflect age, engines and condition. J.D. Power's average retail values climb steadily from about $54,000 to $61,000 for a 2003 to roughly $70,000 to $81,000 for a 2006 and $84,000 to $86,000 for a 2008. The 2007 and 2008 boats standardized the 8.1S Horizon engines and 15-inch TV, which helps.

A low-hour 2006 with recent canvas, a serviced generator and fresh manifolds is a better buy than a tired 2008. Use the model year as a starting point and let the survey decide.

What a 340 Sundancer costs in 2026

Original sticker prices put this boat firmly in the upper middle of the market: J.D. Power lists about $173,000 to $195,000 for a 1999 and $290,000 to $291,000 for a 2008. In today's market we expect asking prices from the mid-$30,000s for older 1999 to 2002 boats to around $115,000 for exceptional 2008 boats.

Running costs are those of a twin big-block 37-footer: roughly $12,000 to $20,000 a year before fuel for a slip, insurance, haul-out and bottom paint, engine and generator service, canvas and upholstery. Fuel is the variable that can blow the budget. Two gas big-blocks pushing 15,500 pounds burn far more per hour than a modern pod or outboard boat of similar size, so plan cruising speeds accordingly.

What the 340 grew into

J.D. Power lists both the 340 and the new 350 Sundancer in 2008, after which the 350 took over the 35-foot slot. Sea Ray also sold a 340 Amberjack fishing variant from 2001 to 2003, which shares the era but not the cruising focus. If you like the 340's size but want joystick docking and a more modern interior, the 350 Sundancer with Axius is the natural step up; we cover it on a separate page.