2003 Sea Ray 200

Sea Ray 200 Select: A Class Act
Sea Ray 200 Select bowrider is upscale.

By Keith BurtonJuly 21, 2003
Over the water, the 200 Select is a smooth operator. The boat accelerates strongly from idle and planes quickly.
Over the water, the 200 Select is a smooth operator. The boat accelerates strongly from idle and planes quickly.



Luxury feels good — and it is perfectly all right to enjoy it in the company of others when you're aboard Sea Ray's new 200 Select. This fancy bowrider will soon be in dealer showrooms, and it is certainly worth a look if you are shopping for a premium-level boat.

Our opportunity to test Sea Ray's new bowrider came at the company's manufacturing facility next to Tellico Lake in Southeast Tennessee. The environmental luxury proved the perfect setting for Sea Ray's plush new boat.

The 200 Select abounds with soft seats, rich-looking carpet and soft padding on almost all of the hard surfaces of the interior. The look is one of stylish comfort, for here is a midsize, fast bowrider that exudes elegance and luxury in the Italian style. The interior reminded us of something you might see in an Italian luxury sedan.

The fiberglass is smooth, the gelcoat is flawless and the embedded striping is crisp. The color density is also first rate. The Sea Ray 200 Select's color palette and graphic design add to the sporting luxury appearance of the boat.

On Board

A large swim platform stretches across the transom. The platform is stoutly constructed and affects how the boat handles when coming to a stop. Since the platform extends beyond the hull, when the boat stops, the backwash flows under the platform lifting the stern instead of washing over the transom.

Also at the stern is a large sundeck that extends two-thirds across the stern and is amply padded for sunbathers. The sundeck covers the engine bay and contributes to quieting the engine sounds when under way. A bucket seat big enough for one passenger is to port. That area also serves as a step in from the stern of the boat.

A large, heavily padded bench seat resides just forward of the sundeck. An optional seating plan has the sundeck extending the full width of the boat, with a full-width bench seat just forward. The 200 Select is rated for eight passengers, or 1,100 pounds, but the comfort level is closer to five people.

Captain's chairs that offer a range of adjustments are on hand for both the skipper at the helm and the port passenger. The command console is elegantly designed with chrome bezels and large gauges that look considerably upscale when compared to other similar boats. The faux wood trim also looks better than most.

We have to comment more on the jewel-like instruments that look like large chronograph watches. It's a nice touch. At night, the instruments are lit with a soft blue color. We also liked the toggle switches used for controlling the accessories. They are better looking than those used on many other boats.

Standard equipment also includes Mercury's SmartCraft instrumentation, which allows the boat operator to get a digital readout of all the vital engine functions with the touch of a button. This can be particularly helpful for those monitoring fuel economy, because it provides a continuous readout of fuel use, fuel range and engine performance (all in a single gauge).

A remote control for the high-power satellite-ready AM/FM/CD system is also right at hand. The actual head unit is stored safely away from the weather inside a large glove box compartment on the passenger side.

On the port passenger side below the glove box is a built-in cooler that drains to the outside of the boat. Although the boat has cup holders for most seating positions, the captain's seat did not have one. However, a cup holder was within a small stretch on the passenger side, next to the walk-through to the bow.

The 200 Select also has plush-looking snap-in carpet and a durable fiberglass floor that looks good even without the carpet.

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