Entertainment Extraordinaire: Sea Ray SLX 400

Sea Ray boats are omnipresent on the water, and they make them as small as 19 feet to as large as 65 feet. The company's new Sea Ray SLX 400, however, stands apart.

At first glance, it looks like another handsome 40-foot luxury open cruising boat. Then the starboard aft quarter folds down 90 degrees to open the cockpit while creating a swim terrace. The starboard half of the transom bench seat turns 90 degrees to offer comfortable seating facing the strangely fascinating swim terrace that resembles a hull wing.

After that comes a laundry list of luxury features: a well-appointed wet bar with refrigerator, sink, and available dual grills; a retractable sunshade deploys electronically from the hardtop; a transom "entertainment zone" featuring a stereo, and comfy aft-facing seating overlooking the integral extended swim platform. An enclosed storage compartment in the aft deck accommodates two full-sized stand-up paddleboards.

The bow is another social zone that accommodates a crowd. A row of forward touring seats features arm rests, with additional forward benches that surround a bow table, which also converts into a sunpad. A bow sunshade stretches over this zone, too, providing additional shade.

The helm station features an intuitive Digital Dash with standard twin 12-inch Raymarine glass displays. For propulsion, the SLX 400 is equipped with Axius joystick control.

"The SLX 400 was conceived as the ideal entertaining vessel for socializing with large groups of family and friends, no matter the boaters' preferred on-water fun," says Brad Anderson, Sea Ray president and general manager of sport boats and sport cruisers.