Sea Ray 410 Sundancer

Sea Ray 410 Sundancer

Catching its profile from the dock, I thought Sea Ray’s 410 Sundancer looked European, with its curving sheer line, raked windshield and sleek hardtop. Upon closer inspection, I discovered the 410 embodies something quintessentially American: freedom of choice.

The 410 expands on the old 390 model and offers all kinds of options based on how you want to boat. Sea Ray calls it “flexible architecture.” Start with the stylish enclosed hardtop on our test boat. Sea Ray also offers an open hardtop, for which the windshield does not mate with the top, and a standard arch configuration with an open cockpit.

Our enclosed version would be great for moderate to cooler climes, since it’s enclosed on three sides and can be fully protected with canvas. That doesn’t mean you couldn’t boat anywhere. The manually retractable canvas sunroof above opens to bathe the cockpit in sunlight. The windshield has electronic vents that open to either side of the center mullion, and the side windows open too. Various heat and air-conditioning options provide climate control.

No matter what overhead configuration you choose, the cockpit is made to entertain. To port resides an L-shape wet bar with a solid surface countertop, a stainless-steel sink, a slide-out cooler and a standard ice maker. Swap out that for a refrigerator and add a grill if you like. The plush settee to starboard wraps in a “U” behind the helm and around the transom, which consists of gated doors that swing open to the aft sun pad. These “sun gate” doors can be opened to create opposing backrests, or open just one, or leave them closed for a traditional tanning bed. The sun pad lifts on stainless-steel gas struts to reveal cavernous stowage, including dedicated spots for the cockpit table and the canvas.

The lounge opposite the helm works either as a couch facing the skipper or as a rear-facing recliner. The helm is another place of options, and not just in the layout. Sure, the truly double-wide helm seating (some competitors claim double-wide helms that in reality fit 1½ people) has flip-up bolsters for standing operation. And the seats adjust with levers on the side, a mechanism that’s incredibly intuitive for anyone who’s ever owned a car. The dash has dual Raymarine E210 widescreen displays, as well as the SmartCraft diagnostics and Vessel View display.