Sea Ray 220 SunDeck Review

Designed as a versatile, do-anything family boat, Sea Ray’s 220 SunDeck was created to meet Sea Ray’s vision of blending the vast interior space and passenger capacity of a deck boat with the sleek lines and sporty handling of a traditional bowrider. And this it does, thanks to some thoughtful engineering and a beamy new hull that brings more legroom and improved handling.

Freshly redesigned for 2015, the 220 SunDeck offers twin bucket seats in the main cockpit with a large, L-shaped settee aft. The passenger and driver buckets – decked out in an attractive twin-tone vinyl with vertical accents on the back rests – both feature a flip-up bolster for improved visibility when navigating confined spaces. Further, each raises, slides and swivels to adjust for riders of any size. A padded sidewall armrest to port provides a small storage nook for items like sunscreen, and comes complete with a stainless steel grab handle.

The head compartment inside the passenger console is surprisingly spacious for a 22-foot boat.

The spacious passenger console is topped with a small padded space for cell phones and other valuables you want to keep within close reach. Inside, you’ll find a surprisingly spacious head compartment that accommodates either portable and pump-out heads, turning this day boat into an all-day boat.

The helm console is topped by a carbon-fiber dash panel that positions the standard Mercury SmartCraft instrumentation right up top where it’s easily visible regardless of how you adjust the tilt wheel. The keyless dash offers a streamlined look, leaving more space for the control head to the standard Bluetooth-enabled stereo. An available flush-mount Raymarine multifunction display gives the helm an aircraft-like, glass cockpit look.

The keyless helm offers a clean layout that fits with the 220 SunDeck’s smooth, flowing lines.

The rear settee extends forward along the port gunnel, concealing a 25-quart removable cooler beneath. You access the cooler through a door in the seat base, meaning the person seated there doesn’t have to get up every time someone wants a soda. This seat is a popular place to hang out, especially when the available pedestal-mount table is installed, creating a comfortable spot to enjoy a cold drink or a spot of lunch. When not needed, the table stores in a dedicated spot inside the helm console.

The available cockpit table features four integral beverage holders.

The 220 SunDeck offers abundant storage, with two large in-floor gear lockers accessed through hatches in the cockpit sole. Standard snap-in carpet is a nice touch, as is the bi-fold door that allows you to close off the bow with the walk-through windshield, for a more comfortable ride on cool days. Overhead, a standard Bimini top provides a break from the mid-day sun.

Aft of the rear settee is a large cushioned sun pad, which flips up to reveal a large storage space with an internal drain – the perfect spot for storing wet swimwear. A transom pass-through along the starboard side allows easy access to the massive rear swim platform. An available transom shower here allows swimmers to rinse off sandy feet before re-entering the main cockpit.

Up front, the 220 SunDeck’s wide bow offers wrap-around seating for a half-dozen people or more, with forward-facing backrests on the side loungers. There’s a huge amount of storage space in the seat bases, while a flip-up panel on the front deck conceals a handy boarding ladder that makes it easy to exit and re-board if you stop for a beach picnic. Sea Ray thoughtfully also includes a transom shower head here too, if you order it. An available drop-in filler cushion lets you convert the entire bow into a huge, continuous sun pad.

With its large rear sun pad and oversized swim platform, the 220 SunDeck is built with water sports in mind.

The 220 SunDeck comes with MerCruiser’s 4.5L V6 as standard power – an all-new, 250 horsepower gem that will push the 4,200-pound 220 to about 45 mph while delivering excellent fuel economy. A 300 horsepower MerCruiser 350 Magnum is also available for those who crave just a touch more power.

Visit SeaRay.com for more information.

Sea Ray 220 SunDeck Specs
Length: 22’ 6”
Beam: 8’4”
Fuel capacity: 45 gals.
Passenger capacity: 12
Dry weight: 4,200 lbs.
Maximum power: 300 hp