Sea Ray 480 Sedan Bridge Specs, Engines and Used Buying Guide

Sea Ray 480 Sedan Bridge, Sundancer or Motor Yacht, sorting the 480s

Sea Ray used the 480 number on three quite different boats around the turn of the century, and buyers searching for a sea ray 480 often land on the wrong one. The 480 Sedan Bridge, built from 1998 to 2004 and often listed as the 480 DB, is a flybridge sedan with the galley and saloon on the main deck and three staterooms below. The 480 Sundancer is an express cruiser with an open cockpit, a single helm and the accommodation tucked under the foredeck. The 480 Motor Yacht, sold from 2002 to 2005, is a flush-deck design with the main helm on the same level as the aft deck, a 50-foot 5-inch length and a weight of about 38,500 pounds.

This page covers the Sedan Bridge. It is the one to buy if you want a traditional flybridge with a big saloon and a sociable upper deck, and it remains one of the best-looking sedans of its era. The PowerBoat Guide summed it up simply: Sea Ray got it right.

Proportions that still look right

Overall length with the integral platform is 51 feet 2 inches on a 15-foot 3-inch beam, with a draft of just 3 feet 9 inches. Dry weight is about 40,400 pounds, making it notably heavier than many contemporary 48-foot sedans, which helps in a chop.

Sea Ray built the hull fully cored and set the props in pockets to reduce shaft angles, which both lowers draft and improves efficiency. The bottom carries 15 degrees of deadrise at the transom, a middle-of-the-road figure that gives a stable ride at rest without making the boat wet in a head sea. A captain who delivered a similar Sea Ray of the period reported it ran well and stayed fairly dry in 5 to 7 foot seas.

Tankage is good for weekend and coastal cruising: 500 gallons of diesel, 140 gallons of water and a 68-gallon holding tank.

Saloon, galley and the flybridge

The main deck is classic late-1990s Sea Ray: a long saloon with an electrically convertible sofa, a dinette, deep-pile marine carpet, an entertainment center and a large galley with an island-style breakfast bar and faux granite countertops. Sea Ray advertised three entertainment centers aboard; today owners usually replace them with flat screens.

The flybridge is reached by molded steps from the cockpit and carries wraparound lounge seating forward of a well designed helm console, under a fiberglass hardtop. Many boats now have a full enclosure, which turns the bridge into a second saloon in spring and fall. Because all close-quarters handling happens from upstairs, a bow thruster is a near essential upgrade if the boat does not have one.

Three staterooms on a 48-foot hull

Below, the master stateroom is forward with a full-size pedestal berth, its own entertainment center, cedar-lined hanging lockers and an en suite head. Two guest cabins sit amidships: a portside stateroom with a full-size double berth and a starboard cabin with twin bunks and a washer/dryer combo. The second head serves both guest cabins and doubles as the day head.

It is a family layout first. Three couples can travel, but the bunk room is best for kids or grandchildren. For couples who cruise with another couple, the port double is a genuinely comfortable guest cabin.

Detroit, Caterpillar or Cummins, choosing your diesel

The engine history is the most important thing to understand about the 480 Sedan Bridge, because the boat was built through a period of rapid change in marine diesels. The PowerBoat Guide reports that early boats with 535 hp Detroit Diesel 6V-92s cruise in the low 20s and top out around 27 to 28 knots, while the optional 660 hp Caterpillars cruise in the high 20s and reach a little over 30 knots.

Through the middle of the run, Caterpillar 3196 diesels were common. Early 3196s earned a reputation for problems, and some forum advice still says to be wary of them, but a mechanic who maintains several of these boats reported that the engines had been updated and fixed by 2000 to 2001 and that he had not seen failures on later boats. From around 2002, Sea Ray fitted 640 hp Cummins MerCruiser QSM-11 diesels, and many buyers consider them the most desirable package.

No independent sea trial numbers are published for the 480 Sedan Bridge. One owner of a 2002 boat with QSM-11s on Lake Michigan reported about 22 gph per engine at about 30 mph (roughly 26 knots), or about 44 gph combined. At that rate, 500 gallons gives a practical range in the mid 200s of nautical miles with a sensible reserve.

Our recommendation: pay more for a QSM-11 boat or a late 3196 boat with documented updates. A 6V-92 boat can be a bargain if the engines have been rebuilt, but parts and specialist labor for two-stroke Detroits are getting harder to find.

• 1998 era: Detroit Diesel 6V-92 standard, 660 hp Caterpillar optional
• About 2000 to 2001: Caterpillar 3196 with factory updates
• About 2002 to 2004: 640 hp Cummins MerCruiser QSM-11, the most sought-after package

What it costs to keep a 480 running

For a 51-foot slip, insurance, two diesel services, generator service, bottom paint, canvas and routine repairs, expect $40,000 to $75,000 a year before fuel. Freshwater boats from the Great Lakes, where many of these were sold, often show less corrosion and lower hours than Florida boats.

Fuel is the variable that surprises new owners. At the roughly 44 gph one QSM-11 owner reported at a fast cruise, a 100-hour season burns well over 4,000 gallons. Slowing to 9 or 10 knots in displacement mode cuts consumption dramatically, but these boats were designed to plane, and most owners run them fast.

Refit potential and what the market pays

Prices for the 480 Sedan Bridge have flattened. YachtBuyer's data shows listings from about $232,000 to $349,000, averaging around $277,000, with boats spending close to a year on the market and an average price cut of about 3 percent. Extensively refurbished boats with modern electronics and soft goods ask more, which shows how much a proper refit can add.

The best value often lies in a well maintained boat with solid engines that needs cosmetic work. New upholstery, LED lighting, a flat screen, a modern multifunction display and a bow thruster are all straightforward projects. Structural issues and tired engines are not, which is why the survey and engine inspection should drive your offer.