Sea Ray 310 Sundancer

I have just returned from driving 37 Australian-made boats, ranging from a pint-sized dinghy to a glorious gin-palace, in sunshine and showers, calm seas and calamitous conditions, over four days in Sydney and on the Gold Coast. And I am going to have my two dollars' worth. Hushed silence, drum-roll, here goes...

First and foremost, more work needs to be put into the driving position on powerboats. The hub of pleasure or displeasure, the helm is everything to the owner. It is the first place you plonk your posterior, the position from which your destiny is determined and, ultimately, where good boats fail and others shine.

Over the four days of intensive boating, I found myself craning my neck to look over or under windscreens, staring at the frame of windscreens, lunging for the throttle, or missing out on back support due to poorly designed helmseats.

Good boats became ordinary ones, and in the worst case, it was as enjoyable as driving a car with a foggy windscreen in driving rain.

Which brings me to the all-American Sea Ray 310 Sundancer. An imported 30-footer, competing against a lot of better-priced local sportscruisers, the Sea Ray has what may well be the perfect helm. The ergonomics, comfort and vision come not by chance, mind you, but via years of production boat building.

In the 310 Sundancer, vision is perfect whether seated or standing. Not only do you get a clear view through clear (not tinted) safety glass, but there are wipers and an electric centre-opening windscreen vent, plus keyless ignition and a modern automotive-like dash in a matt beige colour, so there is no reflection in the windscreen. And a tilt sports wheel, too.

Teamed with an adjustable swivelling helmseat, with flip-up bolster and ergonomically positioned controls, the Sea Ray 310 Sundancer was a joy to drive. In fact, it was just what the captain ordered for traversing Port Hacking south of Sydney, where sandspits and shallow channels demand skilful navigating and a good helmposition.

Unusually for an American sportscruiser, this 310 Sundancer was fitted with twin petrol inboards with shaftdrives. To maintain internal volume, the freshwater-cooled MerCruiser Horizon 350 Mag MPI motors were fitted with V-drives. Patented underwater exhausts worked a treat, reducing noise and fumes, while hydraulic steering made for fingertip turns.

COCKPIT COMFORTS
The Sea Ray 310 Sundancer reflects the current trend to bigger and bigger boarding platforms. Handy for carrying a tender, the big-footed duckboard also provides somewhere to kick back and dangle your toes or a line.

The platform is part of the deck moulding, with a concealed central swim ladder, handrail to help you back aboard and an aft fender locker with shore-power connection, phone/TV input, hot/cold handheld shower and dockside water filler.

A small transom door leads aboard. The first thing you notice is the smooth mouldings - no hard edges anywhere.

Rather than having a two-tiered cockpit or deck like many sportscruisers, the 310 Sundancer has a single-level layout.

Seating exists for at least six people in the cockpit, with standing room for as many under the canopy trailing off the targa arch. The wide decks feature a subtle but effective non-skid tread pattern and carry fuel and water fillers, and horn cleats.

For entertaining and day cruising, there are plenty of amenities and seating. The big U-shaped cockpit lounge, half in the shade, will accommodate six people around a table.

The aft return of the lounge is removable for extra floor space should you want it. Add the infill and the lounge converts to a daybed. Add the full camper covers and it might be possible to sleep out in summer.

Vinyl upholstery is nice and dense, the floor topped with clip-in carpet, and most cockpit lockers feature stainless piano hinges and full carpet liners.

Battery isolators, engine shut-offs and circuit breakers can be found in a hatch not too far from the helm. Deck gear is through-bolted and I noted Sikaflex wipes on the nuts to stop them coming loose. Indirect cockpit lighting will set the mood when cruising after sunset.

The self-draining cockpit floor lifts via a button to grant access to the engines, Kohler generator, water heater and so on. There isn't a surfeit of room around the motors and a large fibreglass panel needs to be lifted clear to get to the V-drives. There is a slot to stow the cockpit table inside the engineroom.

Cockpit steps, toerails, handrails and a nice high bowrail provide safe passage to the foredeck. Like the big boarding platform, the foredeck can serve as a lounging area. The 310 had the optional sunpad up front, along with chrome nav lights, a remote dash-operated Guest spotlight, windlass with dash control, deep chain locker and anchor in the bowsprit.

THOUGHTFUL DESIGN
An unobtrusive moulded amenities centre to port has a stainless grabrail trailing around the sink, with pull-out sprayer or cold shower, icebox with overboard drain, and two drinkholders where you want them.

Piece it all together and you have a boat that mollycoddles the crew. A two-person benchseat for the co-pilot(s) is fixed beside the adjustable, pedestal-mounted helmseat. Both feel firm and offer back support, plus armrests, when driving.

The lift-up bolster on the helmseat creates legroom when standing at the helm. Nice touches include a dash dimmer, emergency engine-start system and a full spread of custom Sea Ray instruments with low-glare blue back-lighting, plus illuminated weatherproof rocker switches.

There are drinkholders around the helm, a storage recess for personals beside the skipper and a big locker for, say, wet weather jackets beneath the passenger's seat. Protection comes from clear curtains and a bimini top trailing off the targa arch that has separate fore and aft sections.

Fresh air, should it be needed, is on tap thanks to that electric opening centre section of windscreen. Other nice touches include a Clarion stereo remote, windlass button, spotlight control, trim tabs, rudder indicator, auto fire system and the aforementioned keyless ignition.

Despite this, the dash doesn't look overcrowded or glitzy. While the boat needs a GPS chartplotter, it comes with a simple Lowrance digital depthsounder (which was handy about Port Hacking) and a Raymarine VHF radio.

WEEKENDER AWAY
Accommodation is down three steps and through a nice wide companionway with a sliding acrylic door. The open-plan interior has an upmarket feel, derived from high-gloss cherrywood veneers, gold anodised trim, cream-coloured liners and vinyl, and sand-coloured moulded benchtops, with a Corian dinette. The interior is air-conditioned, yet warm and inviting.

Rather than compromise space by offering a separate aft cabin, the Sea Ray 310 Sundancer has an aft lounge area that, with the curtain drawn, creates a second cabin in the event that you need it. The layout reveals an offset double in the bow, galley and separate moulded head to port and a dinette that converts to a second impromptu bed to starboard.

Cherrywood lockers line the saloon, drawers hide under the companionway steps, with the AC/DC switch panel and Clarion six-stacker CD player on the starboard wall. An entertainment system with a Sharp TV/VCR on a pull-out swivel bracket can be positioned to face either the double berth or dinette. There is just enough room for four dinner settings.

Bench space is generous in the galley. Full marks for an opening hatch and an extractor fan. Storage exists in three drawers, three overhead lockers and a big pot locker. Amenities include a 12V fridge with tiny freezer, microwave, two-burner electric hob and a moulded sink big enough to stack the dirty plates.

The head is a big moulded insert with Vacuflush loo, handheld hot/cold shower and a clasp for the rose so you can wash your hair hands-free. An extractor fan and frosted porthole point to thoughtful design. As it is near the companionway, the head is handy for day guests.

Side-steps provide extra access to the offset double berth in the bow, which is surrounded by a hanging locker and mirror, with two drawers below and - I'm not quite sure about this one - a pull-out garbage bin. A blue-and-gold quilted bedspread, scatter cushions and reading lights make for an inviting place to hunker down.

CRUISING BEAUTY
I lay on the bed, listening to the water playing on the chines, almost drifting off till our boating guide, a local who lives on Port Hacking and works for the dealer, announced it was time to go. We set off for South West Arm in Port Hacking in a boat that rates highly among sporty weekenders.

While the Sea Ray 310 Sundancer has dual controls - that is, a separate gear shift and throttle - it is an easy drive. I pulled away from the marina using the shifts, knocking the motors in and out of gear, alternating this way and that to keep the boat's bow where it should be. At the end of the day, it was just as simple to park.

With the trick exhausts, the Sundancer 310 is delightfully quiet. But advance the throttles and the twin 300hp petrol-powered 350 MAG MPIs generate plenty of get up and go. I guessed top speed to be around 31kt and cruising at 25kt.

The deep-vee 23° hull turns very well for a shaftdrive and it remains a sporty performer, with fingertip steering and light gearshifts and throttles. Without sterndrive legs to worry about, you can leave this boat for a few months and expect it to run just fine when you return.

Packed with all the goodies for cruising, splashed with style and fitted with a great helm, plus plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and the goods for weekends away, the Sea Ray 310 Sundancer is one of the company's best boats yet. It costs a bit more than some 30-footers, but you do get a lot of good design for your money.

HIGHS

LOWS