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      • SLX 280 Outboard
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      • SLX 310 Outboard
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      • SPX 190 Outboard
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      • Sundancer 320 Outboard
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      • Sundancer 370 Outboard
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      65+ years on the water
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      Innovation in every hull
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Sea Ray

Meticulous Craftsmanship. Effortless Performance.

© 2026 Sea Ray. All rights reserved.

The History of Sea Ray

Over 65 years on the water — and still raising the bar.

Built by craftsmen since 1959

Sea Ray was founded in 1959 by C.N. Ray, who purchased the assets of Carr-Craft, a small fiberglass manufacturer in Detroit. The company began with just three people: Ray, designer Jerry Michalak, and business partner Arch Mehaffey.

From day one, the priority was the same one we hold today: build boats that crew and family can trust on the water, with materials and craftsmanship that reward years of ownership.

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Innovation through the decades

The 1970s brought the Sundancer — a cabin cruiser that defined a category and that still anchors our lineup today. In 1986 Sea Ray joined the Brunswick family of brands and opened its first international plant; by the late '80s the lineup had grown past 50 models.

The 1990s saw the launch of the Sea Ray Owners Club and the industry's first ISO 9002 quality certification across every production facility. Each decade has added new technology — but the boats have always been built the same way: by craftspeople, in our plant in Vonore, Tennessee.

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By the numbers

Years on the water
65+
Joined the Brunswick family
1986
Models in current lineup
33

Milestones in Sea Ray history

Six decades of firsts — from the first hull to today's lineup of sterndrive and outboard models.

1959 — The founding

C.N. Ray buys Carr-Craft and starts building fiberglass boats with two partners in Detroit.

1970s — The Sundancer

The Sundancer is launched and immediately defines the cabin cruiser category for the entire industry.

The Sea Ray promise

Every Sea Ray is built in Vonore, Tennessee by master craftspeople who treat each hull like it's going home with them. Sixty-five years of refinement, the backing of the Brunswick family, and a dealer network that's been with us for decades — that's what arrives the day you take delivery, and what's still there when you bring the boat back next spring.

1986 — Brunswick era

Sea Ray joins Brunswick and opens its first international plant. The lineup grows past 50 models.

Today — A reinvigorated fleet

Every model in the lineup is offered in sterndrive and outboard. The new design language launched with the Sundancer 370.

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Talk to a Sea Ray dealer about the model that fits the way you spend time on the water.

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