The Sundancer line is epic in the world of boats; it boasts an incredibly popular list of models built by an incredibly popular manufacturer, and despite being around for decades, remains a top choice among power cruisers and day-boaters in every corner of the country. Why? Because Sundancers offer both utility and luxury, along with a heaping dose of value. But model lines get old. Usually, after a decade or two they get retired. In this case, however, they just get better. You want proof? Just take a look at the new 470 Sundancer.Sure, it carries the same old name. But this boat is as modern as sport cruisers get, with the latest in styling, design, and technology. It looks nothing like the Sundancers of yesteryear; instead of a bridgedeck enclosed either by fiberglass or canvas, this one has windows all around, a monster sunroof overhead (which hums open at the press of a button), and a glass aft bulkhead that slides open to connect the cockpit with the cabin. Natural light floods into the lower cabin via an atrium over the companionway and galley, and five hullside ports bring in even more sunshine. Modernity can also be found in the boat’s mechanical systems. Yes, you can get the 470 with standard V-drives, but opt for the twin Zeus CMD QSB 480 pod drives. You’ll enjoy joystick control along with features like Skyhook virtual anchoring. A pair of Raymarine e125 Widescreen MFDs grace the helm. SmartCraft VesselView digital display comes standard, and the entertainment system has everything from a gaming system port to an iPod docking station. I had the chance to spend an afternoon on a 470 in sunny Florida a while back, and there was one thing I noticed that hasn’t changed a bit from the older Sundancers in Sea Ray’s line-up: construction quality. One of the reasons this model line has withstood the test of time is that the boats themselves withstand the test of time. You can see why when you look closely at the 470. Check out the rail stanchions, for example. Cheap boats have stations secured by one or two fasteners. On well-built boats, you’ll see three fasteners. And on the 470 you’ll see four of them. For another example take a peek at the boat’s wiring. It’s color-coded, and chafe-protected where it runs through bulkheads. Or, climb down into the engine room and look at the stringers. Yes, they’re molded fiberglass, and yes, they’re backed up with a 10-year structural warranty. So, what happened when we pushed off the dock? Our 470 Sundancer was rigged with a pair of the Zeus drives, which I was glad to have, since we had to sneak out of a tight slip and creep through a tighter challenge. The joystick control was awesome; a twist here, a jiggle there, and we were out in open water. Cruising speed was a hair over 30 miles per hour, and at wide-open throttle we broke 37 miles per hour. It was relatively calm during the sea trial, but we found plenty of boat waves to run through. The 470 felt thoroughly solid. A fairly steep (for this size boat) 19 degrees of transom deadrise help the hull chop through waves without bumping or thumping. [su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf426sJcW8g"] Relaxing on the open water was enhanced with a retractable cockpit sunshade, a gargantuan swim platform, a wet bar, two big bow loungers, and though we didn’t have the chance to use it (shucks!), a built-in cockpit grill. I was a bit surprised to see it, but Sea Ray even puts a pair of rodholders into the gunwales in case you care to wet a line. As far as accommodations go, the 470 focuses on complete privacy for two couples. There’s a stateroom in the bow with its own head, two large hanging lockers, and a 24-inch LED television. The head is split into port and starboard units with the commode on one side and the shower on the other. In the mid-cabin, full-beam master, there’s a queen berth, a large hanging locker, another television, and a vanity. The private head has a stall shower. There is also a generous galley. Put together the modern exterior design and the interior luxury, and spending a day aboard the 470 makes you feel like a million bucks. What will it cost you? Well, about a million bucks. Dress it out with all the upgrades and goodies, and you’ll need to add a point-two after that million. That may be a bit more than the 40-something Sundancers than yesteryear, but remember, this 470 is nothing like those boats. It’s an all-new Sundancer, with an attitude befitting 2015. SPECIFICATIONS: LOA: 47'3" Beam: 14'0" Draft: 4'3" Displacement: 33,700 Max HP: 1100 Fuel Cap: 350