Sea Ray SLX 280 OB (2023-)

Brief Summary

The SLX 280 Outboard is the latest in the new SLX lineup from Sea Ray. The 280 signals luxury with interior cues and amenities. She comes standard with twin 250-hp Mercury Verado outboard engines with Joystick Piloting. The 500-hp gets this boat on up plane quickly and can handle a crowd.

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	31' 5" 9.58 m
Beam	9' 2.74 m
Dry Weight	8,053 lb 3,653 kg
Draft Up	22" 56 cm
Draft Down	35" 89 cm
Deadrise/Transom	21 deg
Bridge Clearance	9' 10" 3 m
Fuel Capacity	135 gal 511 L
Water Capacity	20 gal 76 L

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	7.7 seconds
0 to 30	11.2 seconds
Climate	87 deg., 60 humid; wind: 8-15 mph, seas: flat

Engine Options

Tested Engine	2 x 250-hp Mercury Verado
Std. Power	2 x 250-hp Mercury Verado

Sea Ray SLX 280 Outboard

Captain's Report by Capt. Shelley Morton

Brief Summary

The SLX 280 Outboard is the latest in the new SLX lineup from Sea Ray. The 280 signals luxury with interior cues and amenities. She comes standard with twin 250-hp Mercury Verado outboard engines with Joystick Piloting. The 500-hp gets this boat on up plane quickly and can handle a crowd.

Mission

Sea Ray’s SLX series focuses on premium accessories, upscale seating and attractive upholstery. Her mission is to provide everything needed for waterborne adventure for people who want the very best in the boats they own.

Major Features

• Upmarket upholstery and stitchwork
• Extra wide captain’s chair
• Swiveling captains and companion seats
• 15-17 cupholders
• Stainless steel windshield header
• Removable storage caddy in the mechanical compartment
• Deeper more ergonomic seating throughout
• Indirect mood lighting
• Hidden speakers
• Dedicated soft-sided cooler storage.
• Five-year factory warranty
• Massive storage under the aft sun pad
• Dual Multi-function displays
• Large changing room or an optional head

Design

Sea Ray says they are designing the next generation of boats with the SLX model.  The SLX 280 Outboard showcases a new modern and athletic hull side sculpting that looks crisp and clean on the water. She has a robust freeboard both forward and aft.

Performance

During our tests of the SLX 280 Outboard with a combined 500 horsepower of the dual outboard motors, we achieved a top speed of 57 mph.  The best cruise came in at 4000 RPM and 35.4 mph. At that speed, the 17-GPH fuel burn translated into 2.1 MPG and a range of 249 statute miles, all while holding back a 10% reserve of the boat’s 135-gallon (511 L) total fuel capacity.

With a wide-open throttle, we reached full plane speed in 7.7 seconds, accelerated to 30 mph in 11.2 seconds and 50 in 17.7 seconds.  

Handling

The boat's 21-degree deadrise at the transom is a good compromise between comfort and speed. Indeed, she is faster than many boats we’ve tested in class. Even at high speeds, turns were steady and the 43” (109 cm) freeboard gives a sense of security and safety in quick maneuvers.

That relatively high freeboard adds to the sense of stability in this boat, in addition to keeping passengers dry and somewhat protected from the wind. At the helm, standing and seated operating positions have full visibility.  Overall, the Sea Ray SLX 280 Outboard boat was a pleasure to handle.

Boat Inspection

Cockpit

Like all Sea Ray SLX models, luxury finishes come standard. The intricate diamond stitching is woven into rich, durable upholstery with complementary accents.  Throughout the cockpit, there are properly placed grab handles for each seat — meeting ABYC standards.

The ABYC standards call for a minimum of 24” (60 cm) high support on weather decks, but the SLX 280 has a maximum cockpit depth of 39” (99.06 cm), which is certainly one of the deepest in class.

The deep cockpit has seats ergonomically designed for people to sit in and not on.  There is a big difference, which adds to both comfort and a sense of safety.  

I found these two attributes — a deep cockpit and ergonomically designed seats — compelling and they are details that differentiate the 280 from other bowriders in class.

Below the captain’s seat is a drawer-style 12V refrigerator and just aft is an optional end table. A two-person bench seat bench doubles as storage and the optional SeaDek decking provides a comfortable and non-slip surface.

Port Console

Within the port console is a storage compartment and the access door secures to the helm console with a strong magnet. The compartment can be upgraded with a flush toilet, a vanity with a sink and a trash can.

Helm

Standard are dual 9" (22.86 cm) Simrad multi-function touchscreens that control the whole boat. Our demo vessel was equipped with optional 12" (30.48 cm) displays. On the MFDs are Mercury engine data, active trim control and monitoring, a chart plotter, a depth finder and more. Sea Ray has utilized the CZone digital switching software that was once only available in large boats. This allows every electrical operation and piece of equipment to be controlled from the touch screen.

For redundancy, Sea Ray has a row of illuminated stainless toggle switches by the steering wheel. The Luddites among us will welcome the simplicity.

Inboard of the steering wheel is the main Apollo controller for the high-end acoustical system made by Fusion, a Garmin-owned company.  Sea Ray told us that the SLX designers worked with Fusion to determine the optimal placement of all nine of the Signature Series Speakers and Subwoofer.

Their efforts resulted in the best possible sound from the boat and virtually eliminated the distortion often heard on lessor systems.

The captain’s seat has a flip-up bolster and measures 39" (99.06 cm), wide enough for two people or one adult and one child.  There is an option for an inductive charger hidden within the bulwarks on both port and starboard so that phones stay out of the sun while charging.

This is an important detail and one that most builders have so far failed to recognize.

Mechanical Room

The mechanical room is accessed through the central seat in the cockpit, which is more or less on the centerline.  Two gas struts lift the finished compartment lid and once the storage caddy is removed, there is access to maintenance items like batteries, filters and pumps.

Caveat: Every owner of any boat should reach into the mechanical compart to make sure all through hulls can be reached and shut off, along with other equipment that needs to be checked or cleaned periodically.

Power Tower

Stainless steel toggle buttons control the tower and there are additional options to add port and starboard-mounted Fusion Signature Series tower speakers as well as swiveling wakeboard racks.

Lighting

For sunset cruises, add the lighting bundle that includes illumination for all cupholders as well as ambient lighting throughout the bow and cockpit.  With the touch of a button, you can adjust the RBGW LED lights both above and below the water line.

The Sea Ray logo shines on the cockpit floor from the power tower. On the exterior of the boat, there are docking lights and an illuminated Sea Ray badge on the hull.

Transom

Moving aft, there is a single 10" (25.4 cm) step up where a solid wood boarding step is mounted to the starboard bulwarks. To port is a swinging transom gate that locks into place. The large integrated swim platform features a concealed stainless steel four-step ladder with grab handles.

The large sun pad is another social zone and measures 68" x 42" (172.72 cm x 106.68 cm) and there are cup holders on both sides. Under the pad on the port side is that large storage compartment, which is easy to access with a gas-assisted strut.

Bow

The bow is accessible through a hinged windshield with a locking air dam. In the passageway, there is a concealed trash can and remote key switches within.

Under both loungers, you will find storage. But, lift the starboard seat to gain access to this large storage space that features dedicated storage for the Comfort Bundle’s bow filler cushion as well as the bow and cockpit tables. 

With the optional manually deployable sun shade up, the bow is a cool space to relax during your day on the water. We recommend it.

At the pointy end are several options, including a bow boarding ladder. Or, opt for the Anchor Bundle that includes a stainless steel delta-style anchor, ground tackle and windlass.

Optional Equipment and Bundles

• Anchor Bundle: Stainless steel anchor, windlass with rope and chain — $5,415
• Comfort Bundle: Bow filler cushion, bow table and cockpit table — $2,677
• Entertainment Bundle: Fusion head unit and remote on sun pad, 9 Signature series speakers, Subwoofer, 2 inductive chargers — $5,969
• Essentials Bundle: Quick connect fender clips, flag pole with flag, SeaDek Flooring on the platform — $3,631
• Lighting Bundle: LED RGB-W color-changing & white accent lighting package lighting for bow & cockpit, lighting for cupholders, underwater thru-hull (3 lights), docking lights, Sea Ray badge, illuminated (hull), Sea Ray logo light projected onto cockpit floor — $9,385
• Water System Bundle: Bow washdown, freshwater pressure system with 12V pump & filtration, pullout transom sprayer — $1.338
• Sea Dek Flooring — $3,246
• Luxury Woven Vinyl — $1,262
• Hullside Colored Gel Coat — $3,336
• Electric Power Tower with Bimini Top — $24,728
• Bimini Top and Boot — $2,692
• Mooring Cover — $1,369
• Sunshade, Manual w/2 Poles — $1,800
• 1st Mate Safety and Security System — $1,231
• Bow Ladder — $369
• Ski Tow Pylon — $1,231
• VacuFlush Toilet with Holding Tank — $3,292
• Side Entry Step — $1,892
• Windshield Wiper — $385

Pricing

The base price is $264,504, including twin 250-hp Mercury Verados with Joystick Piloting.

Observations

Three things stand out about this boat for us:

1. As mentioned above, the 41" (104.14 cm) freeboard and 39" (99.06 cm) cockpit depth rank at the top — adding safety and comfort. Passengers will be able to feel the difference.
2. The ergonomic seating to sit in and not on makes this boat a lot more comfortable.
3. The five-year bow-to-stern warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.  

With the SLX 280 Outboard, Sea Ray has positioned itself squarely in the premium category in class.