My wife and I are looking at either a 42/44 Sundancer or a 42/44 Sedan Bridge. Each have pros and cons.
Would love to hear some input from the members in case we are missing something.
FYI, we already have a go fast day cruiser that we intend to keep in case we want to go to cottages or northern lakes, we have 5 grandchildren, will use the boat for trips that include extended stays (7-10 days) and overnights here and there, local day trips with friends, we have a dedicated slip arranged in Toronto.
Thanks in advance.

I've had both. For extended stays, room, and travel comfort the Sedan Bridge is the answer.

 

Same here and agreed!

 

I'd get the Sedan. If we ever move up from the 410 it'll be into a bridge. I love the huge cockpit but the cave effect is real and having the salon to sit in would sure be nice sometimes.

 

From your description, you probably want the sedan bridge. Make sure it has thrusters because it's kind of a sailboat docking in windy conditions. But a Sundancer with a camper rear enclosure is functional. We never had an issue with the "cave". We had 4 express cruisers over the years. Most of the time it was dark out when we were using cabin area and liked the privacy it offers.

 

45' Dancer here.

Bridge restriction, so no other choice for me, however with the exception of the salon, the express style keeps all guests together in the cockpit while underway.

Sea Ray really got it right with the offset Sundancer cockpit layout, as evidenced by it's popularity.

When running, there's less windage and with the lower center of gravity, less "pendulum effect" at rest.

Finally, for old folks, there's far less steps involved.........

BEST !

RWS

 

When running, there's less windage and with the lower center of gravity, less "pendulum effect" at rest.

I don't find this to be the case at all. The DB's are very stable and predictable boats.

 

My two cents - If you're doing more day trips than extended stays, I'd get the Dancer. Dropping an anchor and letting the grand kids swim for an afternoon is an entirely different experience on those two boats. Not bashing the Sedan Bridge, but the cockpit is tiny.

When I get to the point of spending most of my time on my boat with just my wife, I'm definitely getting a bridge (or sport fish, ideally). But with kids swimming being a primary weekend activity, it doesn't make sense yet. The Dancers give so much more outside entertaining area than the Sedans.


That said, if I did have a 42/44 Sedan, removing the bench looks like a pretty slick idea. But that's still....tight...and with a chair in front of the door.

 

Sedan Bridge owner here. I agree, the Sundance offers a way better cockpit but the Sedan Bridge provides the nice salon. The Sedan Bridge also offers a higher point of view when entering / exiting various marinas or to see shoaling.
Heck either one is good, just depends on what is most important to you.

 

Just an opinion having owned a 44DB and a 420DA...sitting in the salon and looking out is so much better than the DA salon. Also, the view from the bridge is unsurpassed....true you do not have the cockpit space on the DB, but there are trade offs with both.

Bennett

 

Its all about personal preferences .

The cockpit area of a sundancer is way more sexy and roomy than on a sedan bridge . You can entertain guests and family on fresh air on all the same level with no need to climb the fly .

Out of the same footprint a sundander will be also less tippy , more seaworthy than a sedan bridge . Riding nasty swells on the fly is a huge pendulum .

Depending on the boating area bridge clearance is also better in a sundancer .

The sedan bridge of course offers the more roomy saloon and also less canvas handling.

I think its all personal taste and thats why both types are build .

 

My wife and I are looking at either a 42/44 Sundancer or a 42/44 Sedan Bridge. Each have pros and cons.
Would love to hear some input from the members in case we are missing something.
FYI, we already have a go fast day cruiser that we intend to keep in case we want to go to cottages or northern lakes, we have 5 grandchildren, will use the boat for trips that include extended stays (7-10 days) and overnights here and there, local day trips with friends, we have a dedicated slip arranged in Toronto.
Thanks in advance.

We owned a 390 Dancer before the 44 Sedan Bridge. Hands down, weekend boating, the Dancer is more "social" as everyone is basically in the same space. However, today, we use the boat as our lake cottage and the bridge boat is far more comfortable. The visibility from the bridge helm is much better and the bridge is much quieter at cruise. Less fatiguing for long trips. The hardtop dancer tends to concentrate engine noise around the aft deck area at cruise. Both designs are great boats.

 

As as been said, both are great boats! Here is another take on the pros / cons and different usages. We have a 44DB. The neighbor we share a finger with, great friends, have a 460 Sundancer. Huge beam, tons of space in the cockpit. On the other side of the 460 is another friend in a Jeanneau NC14, and beside them, more friends in a Meridian 490. All four boats offer something different.

When we are all rafted-up or at the dock in good weather, we typically all end up in the cockpit of the 460DA. If the weather is bad and there are just 3 or 4 couples, we tend to either be on our boat (together on the bridge, together in the salon, or spread out between the bridge, cockpit, and salon), in the indoor/outdoor open space of the NC14, or sometimes in the 490. If there are more than 8 people with visitors / kids, we can all fit in the large salon of the 490 and can all sit for dinner between the salon and the pilot house. During mosquito season at dusk, we all take cover in either our 44DB or the 490!

A 5th couple that is part of our group of friends had a Tiara C44 coupe, now sold. Another great boat and the way it was used was somewhere between the 460DA and the NC14. It had a great cockpit and a really cool countertop at the stern to hang out at.

My comparison for open water cruising is limited from experience. I can tell you there is no contest between the 44DB and the 300DA I had before, but not a fair comparison. I have been on pretty big water on Lake Ontario with the 44DB, and it is uneventful. It's also very comfortable and quiet.

My wife and I have lived and worked on the 44DB for weeks at a time and it is very easy to do. I don't think it would be as enjoyable in a Sundancer. I don't think I could go back to the canvas and eisenglass of a Sundancer (I would lean towards a coupe like the Tiara C44). That said, I envy the living space in the cockpit of a Sundancer and it is a better platform for a group to enjoy the water from.

Hopefully this is useful. Not trying to argue for or against either boat!

 

Great topic, and I agree with most on here. I am in the process of transitioning back to a 48 sundancer from the 47 Sedan Bridge. When we purchased the 47 Sedan Bridge we had hoped to be able to do more extended cruising. They way life has played out we spend every week on the lake/Cumberland river tied up and overnighting with friends and the occasional 3-5 day overnight trip.

We noticed we didn't use the bridge when on the hook and largely missed the open cockpit of the sundancer.

Both are great options and as everyone has said it will really depend on how you want to use the space.

For us the galley space in the 48 Sundancer is superior to the small aft galley of the 47 Sundancer as we frequently prep meals together.

 

450 Express Bridge might be a good compromise if you want a bigger cockpit during the day

 

Absolutely love the 42/44 Sedan Bridge and have wanted one for 5+ years now. Had a contract on one last fall and just couldn't do it. I'm now on my 4th SunDancer. It really all depends on how you plan to use the boat. We are still in raft up mode, tons of friends and kids and spend all of our time outside other than to sleep. As much as I love the interior of the Sedan Bridge of all sizes, I couldn't justify giving up all of the back yard that the DA offers. There are times I will look back from the helm and see 12-18 people hanging out on our Dancer and that confirms we made the right decision with another Dancer. At some point a 42/44 DB will be in our future but not quite yet.

 

Inquiring minds want to know....what did you end up with @SeaNile?

 

20 years with a Dancer...and now a SB. Don't miss the canvas on-and-off at all.

 

Wow, the response was overwhelming. Thank you to all for the time to give your opinions. Your opinions are the same ones that I struggle with which makes this decision so hard. I am looking at both styles still and feel that when I find that one that has been well maintained and cared for the decision will be made for me. I think my path will be similar to a few of the viewpoints here, Sundancer for a few years then move towards the Sedan Bridge. Thanks guys.
I'll let you know what I end up with, hopefully in the next month or so.

 

Good luck with your search.

 

Where are you located? I'm sure you could check out lots of different years, sizes and models of the members boats. You'll get real and honest feedback and very detailed tours of the various boats.

 

I also have made the switch to a sedan bridge. For me and the size of boat and the fact that I handle the boat by myself sea ray didn't have anything to offer unless I moved up bigger then I wanted to. The choice I made was a Silverton 351. 38' Loa. with pulpit and swim platform. It was the only boat in a 35' length I found that had a 13' beam. The steps up and down to the helm going up and over the salon makes it so much wider then a boat with walk ways going down both sides. The motors are under the cockpit which keeps the overall height lower.

 

I 've had both and lived on both styles for short periods of time. It all comes down to what everyone else has said, it's all about your lifestyle and how you want to boat. I currently have a 46 express and love it. I get the whole "cave" thing and to be honest first thing in the morning and at night is the only time I am spending time below deck. Having lived/owned both styles I think if I could afford it, I would get the 58 sedan bridge in the late 2000's. Probably an 08 or something. Except no Man engines.

If you want the best express sea Ray ever made, then take a look at an 08 48. Probably the best of both worlds in that there is a completely enclosed (three sides) hardtop in an express package.

 

Having lived/owned both styles I think if I could afford it, I would get the 58 sedan bridge in the late 2000's. Probably an 08 or something. Except no Man engines.

We land pretty firmly on the bridge boat side of the equation. As long as we can still do the stairs... although age is homing in on us as we speak.

Enclosed bridge gives us a whole 'nother room, and it's much easier to see crab pot floats when we're underway. Had a "rancher" (express boat) once, for a while, after our first bridge boat... didn't like the cave thing, or the crab pot thing. Came back to bridge boats, after that, with stairs instead of ladders.

We're having a like/dislike relationship with our 58DB. I like the MAN engines performance, except I don't like the lack of central space through the engine room because the engines are V-8s. (If the boat were built today, it could be done with the new MAN I6 engines and that'd probably be the sweet spot.) I like the layout, although some of the interior stairs are getting to be an age-related issue. I dislike the exterior styling; too swoopy, too Euro. Prefer the earlier 560 looks... although the 560 I think had fully cored hulls, instead of solid below the waterline that we have now. Wouldn't have chosen Vacu-Flush toilets, if given an option. Et cetera...

-Chris

 

I 've had both and lived on both styles for short periods of time. It all comes down to what everyone else has said, it's all about your lifestyle and how you want to boat. I currently have a 46 express and love it. I get the whole "cave" thing and to be honest first thing in the morning and at night is the only time I am spending time below deck. Having lived/owned both styles I think if I could afford it, I would get the 58 sedan bridge in the late 2000's. Probably an 08 or something. Except no Man engines.

If you want the best express sea Ray ever made, then take a look at an 08 48. Probably the best of both worlds in that there is a completely enclosed (three sides) hardtop in an express package.

Love the 48, but it's too big for my current slip (45')

Where are you located? I'm sure you could check out lots of different years, sizes and models of the members boats. You'll get real and honest feedback and very detailed tours of the various boats.

We are in Toronto.

 

@ttmott Yep, Tom, absolutely, all that!

!!!

Bridge stairs have been a big improvement over ladders, for us. But we're also beginning to feel the stairs more and more, though -- ditto in our home -- due to age and all that pesky knee/hip/mobility stuff. Still, I reckon to hang in there as long as wifey can.

-Chris

 

Tom, I don't see how a bridge boat or express boat is any easier then the other get out of the water from. I think that has to do with your swim platform setup. Hydraulic being the best, like yours is. Mine is fixed but setup with hand rails like getting out of a pool. I will say that when we raft up with friends (bridge boats), everyone is always on my boat. Something about the bar/BBQ being right there in the middle of things, people tend to gravitate too.

 

Orlando - I was implying getting on and off the boat from a dock or pier - we all require pretty much the same gymnastics without additional ramps or stairs or ladders. I don't have a hydraulic swim platform. The hydraulics I have are the dinghy lift system. In and out of the water is via the swim platform ladder - gymnastics on it's own with a moving boat.

 

More importantly, why do you want to slip the boat in Toronto? There is almost nowhere to go. And if you decide to head to the thousand islands or up the Trent Severn it’s a long haul. Put it on Georgian Bay and you will enjoy the best boating area by far. (And I vote for the DB. Nothing better than sitting up in the tiki bar and taking in the sunsets and after dark. ).

 

Following this....(a little late)...
Looking for feedback on the 42/44 DB handling - especially under rough conditions. I've heard some say they plow thru the waves, and others say it's like a bucking bronco. I'm on Lake Michigan, so we can go from calm, to 3'-5's real quick - especially as you round the points on the Michigan side! I have a 360 Sundancer, and am looking for the more open space in the salon the DB gives. I'm not willing to give up the solid ride of the DA, though.
First-hand feedback is appreciated!

 

Following this....(a little late)...
Looking for feedback on the 42/44 DB handling - especially under rough conditions. I've heard some say they plow thru the waves, and others say it's like a bucking bronco. I'm on Lake Michigan, so we can go from calm, to 3'-5's real quick - especially as you round the points on the Michigan side! I have a 360 Sundancer, and am looking for the more open space in the salon the DB gives. I'm not willing to give up the solid ride of the DA, though.
First-hand feedback is appreciated!

Have owned ours since 2018 and I can't say anything but great things about the DB. However haven't really been on a DA in rough seas. I'm not sure where the "bucking bronco" reference comes from but the DB is actually heavier than the DA so i would think it would further allow it to plow through in comparison. Went out this past memorial day weekend in 4-5 footers rear quartering seas and a friend in a 48 Ocean was getting pushed around to the point he had to tack his way across. We had no issue auto pilotheld our course and no one lost their breakfast. I would say the only thing the DA has over the DB is a 2-3 knot cruise. The DB however does run a respectable 20-22kt cruse when you need it to. The visibility and livability on this boat is why we love it. Also can't speak for the 44 with the newer motors but the 420 with mechanicals are very economical to run and maintain.

 

With our family, having more areas to use is great. Kids can be on the bridge playing a game while we watch TV in the salon.