Whether the driver has company or not, he will have fun at the helm. As I found during my sea trial, the Zeus drives make this boat sportier than one would expect, and it makes decent speed: 30-plus knots at wide-open throttle. Upgrading to the optional 600-horsepower Cummins will only boost those top speeds. Most people will probably operate this boat more in the 2700 to 3000 rpm range, where it can run between 20 and 25 knots, a far more economical clip.
Besides executing hard turns at speed, we performed more realistic maneuvers, like S-curves, joystick docking and spinning within our own length. In each case the boat did exactly what it was told, despite fighting against a 14-knot wind.
The sportiness brought out by the pods transcends the helm; it is ingrained in the look of the boat. The 450’s profile has been restyled with curved lines and rounded windows. Subtly done, it gives the boat a more stylish, provocative look without compromising its Sea Ray identity. When it carves a tight turn in the channel or holds position next to you by the bridge, you’ll be watching. You might mutter to yourself, “No way,” but like me, you’ll be wrong. Way.
See our complete photo gallery here.
LOA: 45’6”
LWL: 38’3”
BEAM: 14’5”
DRAFT: 4’0”
DISPL.: 36,602 lb.
FUEL: 375 gal.
WATER: 130 gal.
DEADRISE: 17 degrees
TEST POWER: 2 x 480 hp Cummins MerCruiser QSB 480 diesels with Zeus drives
STANDARD POWER: 2 x 480 hp Cummins MerCruiser QSB diesels with Zeus drives
BASE PRICE: $941,688
PRICE AS TESTED: $1,016,001
Test conditions: Speeds were measured by GPS in the Intracoastal, with calm seas and 14-knot winds, with ½ load of fuel, full water and three people on board. Fuel consumption was calculated by the electronic engine-monitoring system. Sound levels were measured at the helm.
RPM Knots GPH db(A)
600 4.3 1.4 63
900 6.0 2.6 64
1200 7.5 4.2 66
1500 8.8 7.2 67
1800 9.6 13.1 71
2100 10.6 20.4 72
2400 16.7 24.6 75
2700 21.2 30.6 76
3000 25.3 36.0 78
3450 30.4 51.0 80
Sea Ray Boats, 865-522-4181; www.searay.com
