what other boats compete with the <= 220 sundeck

LakeMartinVoice

New Member
Jan 3, 2010
19
Lake Martin, AL
Boat Info
240 Sundeck 2002
Engines
5.0 Bravo III
I am considering buying a sundeck, 20 to 22 feet long. It will be for a large freshwater lake in Alabama (Lake Martin). I am thinking it will need to be an older used boat ('00 or '01) to fit in my budget.

I really like that the sundeck has a lot of seating room yet is fast enough to pull slalom skiers. I have a young family and it would be nice to have another family in the boat as we pull the kids in tubes and boards. Its setup looks perfect for us.

But my problem is, what other manufacturers make boats with a similar layout? I have found an 07 Regal Deck Runabout 2210 on ebay that seems to have similar seating, a head, ladder in the front, etc.

I've grown up on the lake so I am really familiar with pure ski boats (nautique et al) and pontoons and what they can do. But I have never researched this category of runabouts and would like to at least compare the sundeck to other boat makers. Thanks!
 
This being a Sea Ray forum I think most of the comments are going to be a little bit bias towards Sea Ray (Grin) Check out boat test dot com that did a feature on the sun deck line not to long ago. Keep in mind that Sea Rays sundecks are more like a Bow rider on steroids than most other makes do to it's deep "V". Just my 2 cents worth.
 
@chuck1, thanks. Yeah, I don't mind bias. I have done a lot of lurking and reading here and see that there is a lot of good advice. I haven't really found anything like the sundeck, but I hate to go into a big purchase with tunnel vision. I have seen some other deck style runabouts on the water but like you say they are all pretty flat hulled. I like the deep V of the SR. I am thinking it will help navigate the waves here at Lake Martin. I know a lot of SR owners here and they are really pleased.
 
You're welcome. Yes I was surprised by the Sea Ray Sundecks too. I had ridden in other and was not that impressed with the flat hull either. When I started looking for a new boat and the salesman was shooting all his stuff about the ride I did not believe it until I want for a ride on Lake Lanier in one. Boy did it change my mind. We have had our in some big water since then and it has always come through with flying colors.
 
Also on the Sundeck 220 topic - anyone have an idea of how useful the head really is on this boat? I'm 6'2" so I know I won't be able to use it, but will a normal height female really be able to utilize it? I like the idea of extending the boating season into the late fall by having a functional head on board.
 
MT,

I am the same height as you and I can use it. There will not be a ton of extra space, but you should be able to fit. I believe the 220 SD was introduced in '02.
 
I am considering buying a sundeck, 20 to 22 feet long. It will be for a large freshwater lake in Alabama (Lake Martin). I am thinking it will need to be an older used boat ('00 or '01) to fit in my budget.

I really like that the sundeck has a lot of seating room yet is fast enough to pull slalom skiers. I have a young family and it would be nice to have another family in the boat as we pull the kids in tubes and boards. Its setup looks perfect for us.

But my problem is, what other manufacturers make boats with a similar layout? I have found an 07 Regal Deck Runabout 2210 on ebay that seems to have similar seating, a head, ladder in the front, etc.

I've grown up on the lake so I am really familiar with pure ski boats (nautique et al) and pontoons and what they can do. But I have never researched this category of runabouts and would like to at least compare the sundeck to other boat makers. Thanks!

I know Steph and I looked at a lot of deck boats and had about the same motivation as you mentioned here. I did a good bit of price shopping and wanted to have a nice blend of cruisability and sport for the kids. We actually went to go buy another brand ( I think it was a Regal) and there was our Searay 220 a few boats down on the lot they had just taken in on trade. It only took us a few minutes to see (even with my less educated eye than yours) that there was a higher standard of quality and a better layout in the Searay. It was a little more, but it only took 1 ride and we loved it.

So few things I have bought that I can actually say I have had no regrets about. We love ours.

BTW, Chuck and the guys on here will always shoot you straight on the pros and cons of the Searays. Just good people!

I hope we can welcome you to the club soon!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Don't waste your time looking at the other brands. No one makes deck boats as well as Sea Ray.

I have had two of them and yes I am biased. Also keep in mind that for several years the 240 Sun Deck was Sea Ray's largest selling boat in their entire lineup. SEA RAY KNOWS HOW TO MAKE DECK BOATS.........the rest of the boating industry is still trying to catch up and judging from Sea Rays newest deckboat models they still have a long ways to go.

Dave
 
thanks everyone. this has been helpful. Like I said I was totally blown away that there exists a whole line of boats that achieved our goals, that is, runabout power and (almost) pontoon like #s of passengers. Plus when I saw that it had ladders in front for beaching or floating, and in the back, I felt like this would really go well with what we do. Up until now we have been bumming the family's old pontoon for cruising, and the family's even older small bayliner runabout for skiing. I'm tired of borrowing and was hoping to get it all in one boat.

I kicked tires at Kowaliga Marina the other day (by the way, site of the 2009 Aqualpalooza SR Signature event) and they had a used 220 that seemed about right. They had another huge sundeck, felt like 260 at least. It seemed a little big for us, would be hard for me to trailer and would scare my wife to drive. So 220 feels like the biggest I will go. I will take the advice of the forum here and test drive several so when I find a good used one I will be sure.

Now to that pesky issue of earning the $$ to pay for it.....

Thanks all!! I hope to be joining the "owner" ranks soon.
 
The one piece of advice I'll give is in regards to the engine. Because of the way the deck boat is built, you tend to have more weight further aft in the boat, than you would have on a typical bowrider. Of course, the opposite is also true - you could have more weight further forward.

If one of your main goals for this boat is to do watersports - especially with a decent amount of people on the boat - do not purchase a boat with the 5.0L ALPHA drive - the Bravo III is fine - just not the Alpha.
 
We had a 2003 220 Sundeck with the 260hp Mercruiser, up until the end of Summer 08, when we upgraded to the 270 Select EX. We could not have been happier with the Sundeck, in all aspects. Great performance, great reliability, great fuel economy, great fun. I recommend this boat to anyone/everyone that is interested in a boat in this size range. The deep V of this boat rides so nicely, and that comes from someone that boats in the ocean (oftentimes ending up in very rough conditions). This boat kept everyone onboard dry 99% of the time, which is very unusual, in my opinion, for an open bow boat in this size range. This proves the durability and great design/layout of this boat.

The only thing that I have noticed about the Select EX that suits us better than the Sundeck, is that there is more room BEHIND the windshield, so if that is something that appeals to you (having more seating in a more protected, quiet area of the boat, look into a Select).

Anyway, good luck with your search, and coming from previous 220 Sundeck owners, you can't go wrong.
 
I have a 200 Sundeck on the Great Lakes. Use it for fishing and water sports. Great boat.
 
@Lazy Daze / Dennis- thanks for the comment about the motor. I know nothing about engines so I really appreciate the help there. By the way, I really appreciate your Peters Marine videos on Youtube. They are super informative not only about the boat models you sell, but about boating in general. I think you are really creative in using this medium to serve your customers. I wish more were like you. If you weren't way up there in Pennsylvania, I would buy from you!

@bushway - thanks, good to know everyone will ride dry. That is one big selling point for a pontoon, I guess. But vs. the select it looks like the sundeck may be more my style $$ wise. Maybe a select down the road! The more I research and think about it, the more solid my decision for a SR becomes.
 
Well from my stand point I have enjoyed my ownership of the 220SD. For a general purpose sport boat it fits our bill pretty well. The head is a little tight but at least I can fit in it if I have to and there is more than enough room all around for 4 to 6 adults to ride in comfort. If you can find a newer model like a 04 and up you will get the smart craft instrumentation that I like. (not everyone does, it did have some bugs to be worked out) You should be able to find a pretty clean one from 20-30k.

Best of luck.
 
I just looked at the Crowneline site and their 220 EX Deck Boat looks stubby compared to the sundeck 220. Of course, I don't know how long Crowneline has been making those, they might not have made them in '00 or '01 so for my purposes it may be moot.

Judging from the videos it also looks like - I don't know quite how to verbalize this - when you are cruising in the CL the angle of the boat is still pointing up. As if you weren't on plane or something. They mention "angle of bow" as 39 degrees. Does this affect the ride? If just looked to me like as a driver you would always have to be standing up or at least sitting really high in the seat to see in front of you.
 
I nearly always stand/lean on the bolster when steering the boat. We have some pretty heavy traffic in the grand lagoon at times and when entering St Andrews bay at deep water point. :grin: In fact if you look closely at my signature picture I am leaned up against the bolster there.
 
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@Lazy Daze / Dennis- thanks for the comment about the motor. I know nothing about engines so I really appreciate the help there. By the way, I really appreciate your Peters Marine videos on Youtube. They are super informative not only about the boat models you sell, but about boating in general. I think you are really creative in using this medium to serve your customers. I wish more were like you. If you weren't way up there in Pennsylvania, I would buy from you!

@bushway - thanks, good to know everyone will ride dry. That is one big selling point for a pontoon, I guess. But vs. the select it looks like the sundeck may be more my style $$ wise. Maybe a select down the road! The more I research and think about it, the more solid my decision for a SR becomes.

Thanks for the kind words! Personally, I enjoy doing the videos. From a business standpoint, you're right - especially in this day and age.
 
How many builders are still around in this segment? Thinking long term a larger company might be better than some of the smaller ones.
 

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