Sea Ray 300 Sundancer (1994-97)
Built 1994–1997 by Sea Ray Boats
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About the Sea Ray 300 Sundancer (1994-97)
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1994–1997
- Builder
- Sea Ray Boats
- Length
- 33.08 ft
- Beam
- 10.5 ft
- Draft
- 2.92 ft
- Displacement
- 10,200 lb
- Hull / keel
- planing
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 200 gal
- Water
- 35 gal
- Holding
- 28 gal
- Water heater
- 6 gal · AC + engine · standard
- Generator
- factory option
- Bow thruster
- not fitted
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 200 gal
“Fuel Capacity (Gallons) 200 / (Liters) 757” — brochure (1995), rnr-marine.com · “200 US Gallons / 757 Litres” — spec database (1996), everythingsearay.comSea Ray's 1995 spec sheet (a scan posted by a dealer) confirms 200 gal. A 170-gal figure seen elsewhere comes from a later 300 Sundancer owner's manual and was not used.
-
Water 35 gal
“Water Capacity (Gallons) 35 / (Liters) 132.5” — brochure (1995), rnr-marine.com · “35 US Gallons / 132 Litres” — spec database (1996), everythingsearay.com
-
Holding 28 gal
“Holding Tank - Opt. (Gallons) 28 / (Liters) 106” — brochure (1995), rnr-marine.com · “Wastewater Capacity ~ 28 US Gallons / 106 Litres” — spec database (1996), everythingsearay.comThe builder lists the holding tank as optional in 1995.
-
Water heater 6 gal · AC + engine · standard
“Pressure Water System & 6 Gallon Water Heater w/Exchanger” — builder (1995), rnr-marine.comListed under Technical in the 1995 standard-equipment list. The sheet mentions an exchanger, which we take to be an engine heat exchanger alongside the 120V element, though it doesn't say 120V for this model year.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster not fitted
“Features and Standard Equipment ... Options/Accessories (full lists; no thruster listed)” — brochure (1995), rnr-marine.comThe 1995 builder spec sheet gives full standard and option lists with no bow thruster.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
“Features and Standard Equipment ... Options/Accessories (full lists; no thruster listed)” — brochure (1995), rnr-marine.comNo stern thruster in the 1995 standard or option lists.
-
Steering unknown
“Power Steering” — brochure (1995), rnr-marine.comBuilder spec lists power steering as standard (tilt steering appears among options) but not whether the helm is cable or hydraulic.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Third 300 Sundancer generation, on the 1992-93 deep-V (21 deg) hull with more fuel. Hull length 30.5 ft; LOA includes pulpit. Offered with twin V-drive inboards (most common) or twin sterndrives. Good engine access per HMY.
Engines fitted
-
MerCruiser 5.7L V8 V-drive inboard — 250 hp, gas, twin
standard
HMY: twin 250 hp MerCruiser V-drive inboards cruise 19-20 kn, about 30 kn top. A 1995 boat is listed with twin freshwater-cooled 5.7 MerCruisers on V-drives.Sources: hmy.com · argentinomarine.com
-
MerCruiser V8 sterndrive — 250 hp, gas, twin
factory option
HMY: less-popular sterndrive versions of the same engines cruise in the low 20s, top near 35 kn.Sources: hmy.com
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
factory option
“Generators - Remote Start w/Muffler, Fresh Water Cooling, Fuel Filter & Sea Water Strainer” — builder (1995), rnr-marine.com
Option list from the 1995 builder sheet; other model years not checked against a builder document.
-
Kohler — 4 kW, gas
factory option
US 120V/60 Hz; export 220V/50 Hz boats listed a 3.5 kW Kohler gas set.“120V/60 Cycle 4.0 kW Kohler Gas” — builder (1995), rnr-marine.com
-
Westerbeke — 5 kW, diesel
factory option
US 120V/60 Hz; export 220V/50 Hz boats listed a 4.0 kW Westerbeke diesel.“120V/60 Cycle 5.0 kW Westerbeke Diesel” — builder (1995), rnr-marine.com
Generators are often replaced or added — check the unit's own plate before ordering parts.
Manuals and brochures online
- Document Sea Ray Documents & Manuals library (spec sheets and owner's manuals searchable by model and year) — searay.com
Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.
Known problems for this model
No well-sourced problem reports found yet.
Engines & parts
MerCruiser 5.0 (305) / 5.7 (350) V8 gas parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “MerCruiser 5.7L V8 V-drive inboard”
GM small-block Chevrolet base engines, so internal parts are everywhere. Marine exhaust manifolds and risers for 1983–2002 small blocks are sold by many aftermarket makers (Sierra, Barr, Osco and others) through Power Boat Supply, Hardin Marine, Basic Power Industries and similar stores; Mercury sells genuine parts through dealers.
Parts sources: Power Boat Supply, Hardin Marine, Basic Power Industries
Common problems (2)
-
Manifold/riser failure and water in cylinders exhaust
Cast-iron manifolds and risers rust internally or their gaskets fail, letting water back into the cylinders; small amounts cause hard starting and rough running, large amounts hydrolock and wreck the engine. Service roughly every 7 years in fresh water and about 5 in salt.powerandmotoryacht.com · forums.iboats.com · justanswer.com
-
Overheating from scaled manifolds cooling
Rust and scale inside the manifolds restrict cooling flow and cause overheating under load.powerandmotoryacht.com
Maker’s service schedule (8)
| Engine oil & filter change | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “Most four-stroke outboards and sterndrive engines require an oil change either annually or every 100 hours of operation.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “The fuel filter on your engine should be inspected or replaced per the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual, usua” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Raw-water pump impeller | 300 hrs or 3 yrs | “How often should my seawater pump impeller be serviced? Every 300 hours or 3 years, whichever comes first.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Spark plugs inspect / replace | 300 hrs or 3 yrs | “How often should spark plugs be changed? Every 300 hours or 3 years, whichever comes first.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Coolant replacement & freeze-point test closed (freshwater) cooling only | 5 yrs | “How often should coolant be changed on engines with closed cooling? Every 5 years.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Transmission fluid change sterndrive gear lube | 1 yr | “Gearcase lubricant in outboard and sterndrive lower units should also be changed annually or at the service interval spe” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Lubricate steering linkage and check power-steering fluid sterndrive | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “Mercury Marine recommends lubricating the steering linkage and checking the power steering fluid level in ... MerCruiser” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Check power trim fluid level sterndrive | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “Power trim and tilt fluid level should be checked annually or every 100 hours.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
Service part numbers (6)
| Oil filter | Mercury Quicksilver 35-866340Q03 | “Part number: 866340Q03 ... for MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard engines except V6 engines with the oil filter mounted o” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com · “Includes: Oil Filter Oil Filter 866340Q03 Fuel Filter 802893Q01 ...” — dealer, midnightmarine.net |
| Fuel filter carbureted engines (Rochester 2-/4-barrel, MerCarb 2-barrel): filter inside carburetor fuel inlet |
Mercury 53336T | “For use on MerCruiser 3.0L, 4.3L, 5.0L , 5.7L and 7.4L engines with Rochester 2- and 4-barrel and MerCarb” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Fuel filter MPI engines with Gen III cool fuel module (filter page: 2004 and newer; kit page: 2002 and newer) |
Mercury Quicksilver 35-8M0093688 | “Fits 2004 and newer Mercury/MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard engines with Gen III (3) fuel cooler” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller Bravo sterndrive and inboard engines with engine-mounted sea water pump (2-piece plastic pump per Mercury) |
Mercury Quicksilver 47-59362Q01 Also: Sierra 18-3087 |
“For MerCruiser engines with engine mounted, 2-piece, plastic sea water pumps.” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com · “Water Pump Impeller 59362Q01” — dealer, midnightmarine.net |
| Thermostat standard cooling, 160 F |
Mercury Quicksilver 807252Q5 | “Thermostat 807252Q5 is for V6 and V8 MerCruiser engines ... made by General Motors (model year 1987-2016)” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
| 100-hour maintenance kit (oil filter, fuel filter, drive seals) MPI engines with Gen III cool fuel module (2002 and newer) |
Mercury 8M0147053 | “Mercury 8M0147053 MerCruiser 5.0L, 5.7L, 6.2L, 8.1L and 8.2L V8 MPI ... 100 Hour Maintenance Kit” — manufacturer, mercurymarine.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Model sources (4)
hmy.com · argentinomarine.com · rnr-marine.com · everythingsearay.com
Other Sea Ray models
- Sea Ray 270 Sundancer (1994-97, 1999) 1994–1999
- Sea Ray 330 Sundancer (1995-99) 1995–1999
- Sea Ray 340 Sundancer (1999-2002) 1999–2002
- Sea Ray 370 Sedan Bridge 1991–1997
- Sea Ray 380 Sundancer (1999-2003) 1999–2003
- Sea Ray 400 Sedan Bridge 1996–2003
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.