Sea Ray has lifted the curtain on the SLX 360 Outboard, a new premium day boat that blends outboard performance with the kind of onboard comfort more commonly found on larger launches.
The boat was unveiled at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, an unusual setting for a recreational boat, but a deliberate one. The SLX 360 is as much about systems and interface as it is about hull shape and layout.
At just over 36 feet, stretching to 38 feet overall with engines and anchor deployed, the SLX 360 Outboard sits at the upper end of the day-boat market. It targets owners who want room to move and confident handling, without stepping into flybridge territory.
A helm that reduces workload
The most noticeable shift is at the helm. Rather than adding features for their own sake, Sea Ray has focused on how systems talk to each other and how the skipper interacts with them underway.
Twin ultra-wide Simrad NSX displays form the centre of the dash, with steering wheel controls handling many of the functions normally buried in menus. Navigation, lighting, propulsion data, and diagnostics are tied together, cutting down head-down time at speed.
The boat runs triple Mercury 300hp Verado V8 outboards with joystick control and an integrated bow thruster. Docking and close-quarters handling are clearly a priority here, particularly for owners stepping up from smaller boats or operating short-handed.
Optional systems include Brunswick’s Fathom e-Power energy setup and a gyro stabiliser, pointing to longer days aboard and improved comfort when conditions are less settled.
Built for longer days on the water
Sea Ray has paid close attention to how the SLX 360 is actually used, not just how it looks at the dock.
A climate-controlled cockpit and private cabin make the boat viable outside peak summer conditions. The full stand-up head is accessed internally, allowing guests to move below without stepping into the cockpit, a small but important detail.
The swim terrace door improves access to the water, while the cockpit layout allows easy movement fore and aft without breaking up the social space. A convertible summer galley, powered helm seat, and rotating powered port companion seat add flexibility without clutter.
Large hullside windows in the bow bring in light and reduce the enclosed feel that can creep into boats of this size. Storage has not been treated as an afterthought, with a deep in-floor cockpit locker that would normally be reserved for larger cruisers.
Outboards with presence
Power comes from triple outboards rather than inboards or sterndrives, a choice that reflects how far modern outboard systems have come. The Verado V8s offer strong performance and easier servicing, while freeing up interior volume.
With a beam of 10 feet 10 inches and a dry weight of around 8.2 tonnes, the SLX 360 carries the footprint of a much bigger boat. Fuel capacity sits at 275 gallons, with 30 gallons of freshwater onboard, allowing for long coastal runs, island hopping, or full days entertaining without compromise.
Where Sea Ray is heading
Sea Ray president Keith Yunger says the SLX 360 Outboard reflects a shift in how the brand approaches design, bringing technology and layout together rather than treating them as separate elements.
For New Zealand buyers, Sea Ray is represented locally by Sports Marine, providing sales and support across the range.
Stripped of launch theatre and marketing gloss, the SLX 360 Outboard reads as a clear signal of where premium day boats are heading. Owners want boats that are easy to drive, comfortable to spend time on, and smart enough to stay out of the way when they are not needed.
On that front, Sea Ray’s latest SLX makes a strong case.
