Sea Ray 260 Sundancer

While the soft market and grey imports haven’t helped resale values and, thus, trade ups, we’re expecting the pocket weekender to stage a return in this improving market. By rights, these kinds of boats make very good dollars and sense. You get everything a family of four needs to stage an on-water adventure: comfortable beds, a separate dignified head, decent decks and living space, plus enough herbs to create sporty handling and pull the tykes on tubes.

Of course, with a boat like this you also get marina fees, annual antifouling charges and suchlike. But because boats have got bigger and bigger, berths for something like this 260 Sundancer aren’t hard to find these days. Or find a dry stack and save on that bottom paint and long-term sterndrive maintenance. That’s our choice, although this 3500kg boat is towable (subject to state laws).

Meanwhile, another Brunswick boat brand, Bayliner has announced it’s going to stop making Cruisers due to flat demand. This means Sea Ray will hold even greater appeal. But with strong competition in this market from other American brands like, say, Chaparral and Regal, the big American yard isn’t resting on its laurels.

Our test boat was the product of some clever behind-the-scenes thinking and big-boat application that you will find in Sea Rays up to the flagship 610 Sundancer. There’s no skimping on quality in this third-smallest Sundancer.

The optional windlass is a must-have for helm anchoring. Other factory-fitted options included all-black hull, gelcoated dash, wood cabin flooring, electric/alcohol single-burner stove, Vacuflush head with holding tank, fibreglass sport spoiler with overhead lights, cockpit cover, snap-in carpet cockpit, premium cockpit sound system (amp, subwoofer and transom remote), and spotlight so you can find your mooring at night.

The optional wet bar is another enhancement on deck. The moulded module behind the helm seat includes a small stainless steel sink and faucet, Corian trim, twin drink holders, grab rail, garbage bin and storage space. Yet there’s a fair bit as standard, such as two-year limited engine warranty, SmartCraft instrumentation, full function helm with designated mounting space for Raymarine C70 GPS/chartplotter, 12V AM/FM single CD Sony stereo, shore power for battery charger, microwave and dual-voltage galley refrigerator.

Without a generator (optional) or inverter (we’d fit one here), you can only use the microwave oven on shore power. So you might want to include a gas or hot-rock (Magma) barbecue on your swim platform. With care, the modest 75 litres of freshwater, Vacuflush head and 68-litre holding tank should last a weekend.

The integrated swim platform is deep enough to stretch a towel or sit and do lunch, with a ‘boot’ for storage of mooring lines and fenders, recessed cleats and a concealed swim ladder. There are transom drink holders, but no deck shower option on the 260 Sundancer.

The self-draining cockpit with moulded liner has been designed for entertaining with a designated conversation area, says Sea Ray. We interpret that to be the clever convertible seating including L-Shaped lounge and double helm seat on a rotating base so everyone faces each other.

The L-shaped lounge also has a flip-up backrest to create an aft-facing sunpad. Locate the backrest more vertically and remove a section of the lounge base (dedicated storage aboard) and you have face-to-face seating for two people in the port corner. A portable carry-on cooler parks under the lounge, too.

There is no separate co-pilot seat -- the twin helm bench with flip-up bolster and leaning post function fulfils that role -- permitting a companionway on the portside into the cabin. Meantime, moulded steps in the dash lead forward through the opening windscreen.

The bow will serve as a seating or lounging area in calm anchorages. We noted plenty of Sea Ray’s signature stainless-steel deck fittings for saltwater use, and a handy bow rail and non-skid for safety. The boat also has neat stainless-steel engine vents and top upholstery stitching. A glove box with 12V outlet for charging the mobile phone is back at the helm.

The cabin layout is open plan, with a convertible vee-shaped dining area in the bow that uses drop in aluminium supports, which along with the dinette have dedicated storage areas, and stowed cushions to create a V-berth. We managed to do the conversion in about five minutes.

The aft or mid cabin is one big double mattress that cuts back under the helm deck. There’s not a lot of headroom, but kiddies will sleep here just fine and if you want more space convert that dinette in the bow.

The simple master battery control and breaker panels are near the companionway, where there’s also a separate moulded and handy head. You get a handheld hot/cold shower, the upgraded Vacuflush loo is upmarket, plus there’s a nicely moulded vanity in the easy-clean space. It’s a top WC. All cabins and the head have a useful number of skylights and/or opening portlights and hatches for ventilation and light.

But the galley is what takes centre stage and it’s a pretty decent unit for a boat in the class, boasting dual-voltage fridge tray, single-burner alcohol/electric cooktop, microwave oven, concealed sink and some storage. In its intended weekender guise, and with the cockpit cooler loaded with ice, you should be quite comfortable. Otherwise, hit waterfront eateries for dinner.

Engine access is via a gas-assisted section of the cockpit floor. Although there is no electric actuator, the hatch lifted easily enough and the single 350 MAG had good access around all sides, plus to the bilge, black and fresh water tanks, fresh-water pump, polypropylene fuel tank, steering fluid reservoir, and house and engine-crank batteries.

Clear of the marina, we cruised what’s generally regarded as the roughest part of Sydney Harbour -- that bit right under the bridge where the ferry wake rebounds off the sandstone seawalls and creates tsunamis. The flip-up riser on the helm seat when elevated meant we could stand for optimum vision and the 260 easily held plane under the 15-knot speed limit.

Once we exited the transit zone and let the 300 horses have their head, the 260 Sundancer showed its colours. A stiff wind was blowing, the harbour was choppy, yet the sharp hull sliced its way through without thumping. Spray didn’t lash us at all and the ride was just pure sportscruiser.

The most significant observation, however, was that the 260 Sundancer is quite trim sensitive and leans into the wind not unlike a lot of ‘bubble boats’ and single-screw craft. Thankfully, the boat comes with trim tabs, so it was just a matter of adding a touch of tab to keep it on an even keel. This added to the driving experience during what was a fairly erratic voyage, arcing this way and that and crossing all directions of the wind and chop. So we were kept busy at the helm, which is part of the skill of sports cruising.

Top speed with the upgraded 300hp MAG was about 37 knots or more than 40mph on the dial, with cruise clocked at 24-26 knots for a range in excess of 170 miles or almost 300km. That said, a boat like this is a fast getaway destined to head to a nearby anchorage for the day and perhaps a night. In this role, the 280-litre fuel supply will suffice. Keep an eye on the 68-litre holding tank, though.

A deck shower would be nice and we’d add a barbecue, otherwise there’s not a lot missing. Given the high degree of utility, we reckon it’s about time the pocket sportscruiser came back in vogue. Low maintenance, realistic fuel bills, an easy clean… and you’re family will be happy with a 260 Sundancer.