Size has its privileges. Like a major automobile manufacturer, Sea Ray builds enough boats (approximately 15,000 per year) to justify frequently updating its entire model line, incorporating the latest trends in technology and design. That way, its customers always feel like they are getting something fresh and new, which keeps them coming back for more.

A case in point is the 38 Sundancer, which replaces the 36 Sundancer in Sea Ray���s everpopular express cruiser series. While the 36 had everything an owner needed for a comfortable cruise, the 38 is more efficiently laid out, providing more usable space on board. It also features an attractive hardtop integrated into the radar arch as standard equipment and a new cockpit configuration with wraparound seating and central transom access. ���We were trying to do something different and innovative,��� said Rob Noyes, vice president of marketing. ���Change and innovation are something we do in our business.���

A lot of this design work takes place in Sea Ray���s think tank ��� the Product Development and Engineering (PD&E) plant in Merritt Island, Fla., which is next door to the factory that builds the company���s larger yachts. I walked through the 38 prototype while it was still being finished there, and later took one of the first boats off the line for a test drive in the Indian River nearby. Even in weeks that intervened, Sea Ray���s engineers had tweaked the model, fine-tuning its layout.

The 38 has all the unmistakable Sundancer hallmarks: contemporary curved lines, the raked arch the large water-sports platform aft.On this boat, however, the transom hatch is split in two by the entry gate,with a large hatch on either side. Shore power, phone and cable hookups are inside, with a dedicated exit slot for the cords.

Inside the cockpit, a wraparound settee creates an intimate circular seating area for five adults that eliminates the awkwardness of some opposing-bench seat layouts. The portside wet bar is nicely designed not to impede traffic flow. The cocktail table is adjustable; in its lowered position, it supports the fill-in cushions that turn the cockpit into a sunlounge. Not that it���s necessary, with the large double sunpad on the foredeck.

At the flip of a switch, the entire aft cockpit rises, including the rear seats and the cockpit sole for engine access.Two diamond-plate steps lead down to a compartment with very good working space when the hatch is open. Our test boat was equipped with standard power: twin 370-hp 8.1S Horizon MerCruiser gas inboards linked to V-drives. The 38 is also available with 420-hp Horizon Mercs or twin 306-hp 6LP-STP Yanmar diesels.A 7.3 kW Kohler genset with a sound shield is standard.

Settling into the helm seat, I felt pampered by the individual, fully adjustable captain���s chair with padded armrests. Overhead was the seamless fiberglass hard top with an opening hatch and a canvas extension, providing shade from the Florida sun.

As I drove along the Indian River, I appreciated the serious command central feeling provided by this big helm station, which is designed to hold a large array of navigation instruments. Our test boat was equipped with a Raymarine E120 combination chartplotter/radar with a 12-inch color screen positioned front and center, and a SmartCraft systems display tied to the MerCruisers, which gave me continuous readouts of highly useful data such as fuel flow. High tech instruments from Northstar, Sea Ray���s sister company under the Brunswick Corporation umbrella, are also available.

A high rail (above) creates a safe foredeck area. The galley (above, right) is on the port side and benefits from three large ports. The settee is on the starboard side.

I drove standing up, leaning against the flipup bolster.The view forward down the long, sloping bow was excellent. Backing up, it was hard to see the swim platform, but opening the center transom gate helps. Steering was responsive but not jerky; I counted seven turns lock-to-lock on the wheel. Even though we were running down the center of the ICW, crab pots had a way of popping up in our path, and I was able to maneuver the boat nimbly around them even with its wide 12-foot, 6-inch beam. Cruising speed is anywhere from 3500 to 4000 rpm, although I hit a great groove at 4000/30 mph and stayed in it. From there to the top end of 35.8 mph, acceleration was smooth and fast.

The yacht quality of the 38���s helm and hard top are carried over into its interior. Here, the innovation is in the space planning, especially the split head/shower on either side of the entry to the master cabin. I am very much a fan of this configuration, which gives couples some privacy. Togetherness is not always desirable 24/7 on a cruise.

The 38���s saloon/galley cabin is both functional and elegant. Big hull windows let in light and water views.. One of the best design improvements is the 20-inch flatscreen TV built into the galley overhead. It drops down to create a theater-like setting for viewers on the sofa when desired and folds away to invisibility when not. This makes room for additional storage in the galley and is sure to elicit a satisfying ���Wow��� from guests.

Living space both in the mid-cabin and the forward owner���s cabin is generous.The owner���s cabin berth has an innerspring mattress and measures more than 6-feet, 3 inches in length. From the bed, there���s a great view of the standard flatscreen TV. Change is inevitable, but at Sea Ray, where the PD&E���s engineering and design team is continually looking for new ways to update and upgrade the line, change is a good thing ��� as the new 38 Sundancer ably demonstrates. Contact Sea Ray Boats, 800-211-0464; www.searay.com.