Sea Ray SLX 350: Review

Do triple 300hp six-cylinder Verado outboards outperform twin 300hp 6.2L V8  sterndives? We had to fly to Florida to find the answer. Here’s our take on Sea Ray’s impressive new SLX 350, a maxi dayboat and bowrider with more of everything including a standard-issue triple rack of 300hp outboards with Joystick Piloting!

OVERVIEW
- A new generation outboard-powered maxi dayboat
Bowriders are nothing new. Wait a minute! This 35-footer from Sea Ray is pioneering. With a triple rack of 300hp supercharged Verado outboards, this bowrider is out of the box and, well, pretty American. Y’know, if it’s good just turn it up or triple it.

Of course, American production boatbuilders have been stepping up their bowrider game for some time, with bigger, more functional and fittingly luxurious entertaining stages.

All the global feedback says today’s boaters are going for a just-add-water dayboat experience. This boat is rated for 18 people, so it’s a boat for everyone and everyone’s in the same boat.

With this triple outboards, Sea Ray hopes production will jump to 100 boats annually from 40 for the last four years with this model and V8 inboards. The saltwater coastal market is hot for outboards right now.

Sea Ray says its research from 850 customers revealed 85 per cent were not overnighting. Its new flagship, the SLX 400 pushes the bowrider envelope even further. Back in the 35ft class, this SLX 350 is also a huge entertainer.

We drove the SLX 350 two-up with a Sea Ray designer and had a great experience in some testing Gulf conditions at the Sea Ray Yacht Expo. You can catch
all the latest Sea Ray and Boston Whaler releases here.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Premium for triple 300hp outboards
Traditionally, the 350 SLX comes with twin 300hp 6.2L V8 MerCruisers, engine options up to big-block 380hp 8.2Ls, or twin 365hp 4.2L TDI diesel inboards. This new outboard or OB variant has triple 300hp six-cylinder supercharged Mercury Verado outboards with Joystick Piloting as standard and as the only outboard engine option.

So there’s 900hp in outboards over the 600hp in inboard, with 7.2L collective outboard displacement versus 12.4L displacement for the inboards. Yep, there’s a bit to weigh up.

The 350 SLX Outboard (OB) we tested had a fair bit of fruit. Options included Active Trim that automates the running angles from idle to full throttle, Raymarine 12in MFD, filler cushions, flagpole with Stars and Stripes banner, wet bar with grill, inverter and shorepower, Vacuflush head, cockpit tables, and more.

But even before you add your options, Sea Ray tends to spec its boats and price them in the premium end of the market these days. With the triple 300hp Verados and standard Joystick Piloting you do pay a premium.

Queensland Marine Centre, the big local Sea Ray dealer, quoted a SLX 350 OB from about $480k for the base boat. They kindly priced one up in Aussie spec loaded with options and it came out around $541,584 for a beautiful maxi bowrider with the works.

LAYOUT AND ACCOMMODATION
- Loaded dayboat with a big head and sleeper
We left the dock with Seth Carswell, an Industrial Designer with Sea Ray, who helped shape the top deck, update the upholstery with a quilted three-tone palette, using stitching accents, and added other details like leather-bound grab rails to lift the boat’s finish.

As a bowrider with 18-person capacity, you expect plenty of seats and you get them. The bow seats have swabs that are hinged with armrests. There is table storage too. The cockpit has an L-shape lounger with an opposing settee. There are also concealed aft facing loungers in the transom.

At the helm, there are dual bucket helm seats with flip-up thigh-rise bolsters and footrests. There is also dual bucket companion seat that swivels to join the social cockpit seating.

With the drop-in tables, you get two distinct fore and aft entertaining areas. With the cockpit amenities centre with grill and fridge, you can cook lunch aboard, too. The moulded hardtop has a manual sunroof, but the factory optional bow and aft extending sunshade options are worth considering for added summer comfort when anchored in our opinion.

The portside passenger console contains a full-sized step down bathroom, while the helm console hides a sleeping space with TV for the kids if not mum or dad on a lazy Sunday. It also doubles a huge dry storage hold, in addition to the lazarette or garage in the transom. Storage is a strongpoint on this boat.

The concealed windlass in the bow creates a walkthrough design and you can add a bow ladder for beach access. With the triple outboards on the transom, Sea Ray has created a clever side swim step. It’s also increased the size of the swim platform. You don’t get the open and direct flowing access off the back like the inboard boat, but you do get some decent aft real estate.

While the maxi bowrider is designed to pack a crowd, abundant seating and storage ensure this boat remains orderly, with cold drinks and lunch amenities at hand, shade for the taking, and a private toilet. It’s all very inviting and ticks the boxes of the day-boating set.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Built to high standards in keeping with Sea Ray’s premium tag
Sea Ray has really stepped up its production values and we couldn’t fault the mouldings, finish, fitout or engineering. After all, it’s a market leader in the cruiser market, while at the same time its parent company Brunswick owns Mercury. This SLX 350 teams its own personality with a decent deep-V 21 degree deadrise hull and the latest Mercury power.

According to the Sea Ray stats, the dry rig weights are 5347kg for the SLX 350 6.2L inboard with sterndrives versus 5470kg for the SLX 350 outboard rig. There’s not much in it there. However, fuel capacity with the triple outboards is 844lt versus 605lt. You will get more range with the triple 2.7L 300hp Verados.

As for draft, the outboard up position sees the hull draw just 71cm versus 74cm for the sterndrives, which isn’t as much as you might expect. But the big deal is when and if you leave the boat in the water. With the outboards trimmed clear of the briny, you reduce maintenance. Do tick the box for the triple flushing adaptor so you don't have to flush out each motor separately. That would be a drag.

As touched on, Joystick Piloting comes standard with the triple outboards, while the stainless steel drink holders, grab rails and sturdy deck fittings all add to the serious saltwater intent. Now for the drive…

ON THE WATER
- The big advantage of outboards
From ignition point, I noticed beautiful low idling noise levels. These Verados are just so quiet. Without hesitation, the Joystick Piloting was put to good use as we crabbed off the dock at Captiva Island and headed for the Gulf of Mexico and into a decent 15 knot onshore wind.

We deferred to the Active Trim, but overrode the system later. Spinning 21in four-blade Revolution 4 Merc props, which are designed for shifting big loads, the boat fairly whooshed up to planing speed in 4.5 seconds. Hole shot was good, but in keeping with four-stroke outboards rather than the instant effect of twin V8s.

You have a stack of power once up and running, where it’s super smooth and quiet. The 300hp Verados sing like the three tenors in concert at the economical setting of 3500rpm. I jotted down 32mph or 27 knots. This is a fast but comfy cruise speed where the boat handles the chop and 15 knots of wind rather nicely.

On the way back to Redfish Pass from the South Banks, where the tide and chop were spilling, we confronted challenging condition. I’ve endured these same seas on the forward-quarter on many a punch home from long-range fishing trips in centre consoles. It’s always a wet angle to run.

The auto Active Trim mode and the Dynamic Running Surface under this 350 Sea Ray hull had us travelling a tad too flat. So I overrode the system, pulled the revs back, went with a slightly higher bow attitude at a slower speed so we didn’t slam, and made the run a lot drier without labouring.

While I managed 52mph top speed somewhere on the bumpy bay, the official figures from Sea Ray say you’ll hit around 60mph or 52 knots on flat water. By any measure, this is a fast and sporty 35ft bowrider that, two up, didn’t need any more horsepower.

At the helm, a Raymarine MFD display, Mercury 6in screen with engine data, Active Trim, Lenco tabs, joystick and intuitive digital switching all added to the auto-like driving experience. Back at cruise, it was just so agreeable touring Florida waterways. Without the loud induction noise of inboard engines it’s easy to maintain a conversation. About all you’re missing out on is V8 punch off the mark.

VERDICT
- Outboards all the way
So the outboards give you reduced draft, less maintenance, greater reliability, lower running noise, better cruise numbers, more storage, and on trend looks and X Factor. The V8s are there if you prefer traditional inboards and want that raw power down low, but triple outboards are more refined and sophisticated albeit deliberate.

At the launch of the new SLX 350 Outboard (OB) in Florida, we were told outboards are becoming more popular on coastal waterways. Thinking locally we reckon this would be a very cool big-city family and entertaining dayboat for Moreton Bay and the Gold Coast, Sydney Harbour and Pittwater, Melbourne and Perth.

Of course, Sea Ray still produces sportscruisers from 35-40ft with full accommodation. We also tested the new Sea Ray Sundancer 350 Coupe, which utilises a bigger hull and more standard power, and were stoked with that weekender, too.

But never before have we seen such a combination of bowrider space and seating and outboard functionality. You could call the SLX 350 a wowrider.

LIKES
>> Luxury driving experience
>> Smooth, quiet and efficient cruise
>> 18-person capacity and seating
>> Abundant and voluminous storage
>> Full bathroom with Vacuflush head
>> Triple outboards for low maintenance

NOT SO MUCH
>> Big price ticket for a bowrider
>> Triple outboard servicing costs
>> Hasn’t the acceleration of V8s

Specifications: Sea Ray SLX 350 OB
Price as Tested: Queensland Marine Centre priced up a SLX 350 OB in Aussie spec loaded with options and it came out around $541,584.
Priced From: About $480k for the base boat with triple 300hp Mercury Verado outboard.
Overall Length: 10.50m w/ Std. Swim Platform
Overall Length with Outboards: 11.25m
Beam: 3.20m
Dry Weight: 5470kg
Fuel Capacity: 844lt
Water Capacity: 113lt
Holding Tank: 102lt
Deadrise: 21 degree
People: 18
Engine Rating: Triple 300 Mercury Verado outboards
Props: 21in Rev4

Supplied by
We tested this 2017-model Sea Ray Sundancer 350 Coupe through Sea Ray at the 2017 Yacht Expo in Florida.
More on Sea Ray in Queensland from Queensland Marine Centre.
More on Sea Ray in Sydney from Chapman Marine Group.