It's d'j' vu all over again. The last time you stood at the helm of a Sea Ray 340 Sundancer on the Tennessee River, it was to begin a 550-mile adventure that began in Knoxville and ended in Iuka, Mississippi, two years ago. This multifaceted river is miles wide in the oxbow sections called 'lakes,' but is surprisingly intimate with numerous creeks and coves that allow 'right-sized' cruisers to experience private anchorages. At the time it was hard to believe you were traveling in anything but the perfect boat for the trip. But this second journey on the river is aboard the new 2003 model, which is an entirely new boat that features improvements in virtually every aspect of its design. Perfection, it would seem, is not a stationary target but rather a constantly evolving goal.

At a glance, you can tell this is a different boat. As your eyes trace the bow rail, it swoops gently and tapers off amidships, drawing your eye to the sculpted stern, then to the forward-leaning radar arch. Sleek and elegant are the words your mind associates with this modern look. When boarding the 340 Sundancer at Pickel Island on the French Broad River, another new feature is noticed: The swim platform is an integral part of the hull and not just bolted on. Entering via a portside walkthrough takes you into the entertainment cockpit that features a wraparound U-lounge. A filler section can transform the cockpit area into a giant sunpad. If you prefer, an al fresco dining table can be retrieved from its dedicated storage area under the seats and pedestaled into place.

It's a sultry summer day, and the first stop is the refreshment center to assemble a Coke on ice for the ride. Filling a couple of cups with cubes from the portable cooler, the beverage chairman steps up to the wet bar on the portside ' which looks like an upscale pedestal bathroom sink ' and empties the contents of two red cans into a pair of cups placed in the stainless-steel wire cupholders. A full-width grab rail means you can safely attend to refreshment requirements on the go. On the previous model, the wet bar area extended from its current placement to the portside cabin bulkhead. Now there's a third crew seat on the left side that matches the pair of captain/co-pilot thrones, which are fully adjustable and have flip-up thigh bolsters. This new configuration is possible, in part, to the 340's 12-foot beam ' an increase of seven inches.

Before getting underway, a look under the hood to check the oil is in order, so the captain activates the engine hatch switch and the aft half of the deck rises, revealing a pair of MerCruiser Horizon 8.1 engines that produce 370 hp each. Although the engines fit pretty tight in the gel-coated compartment ' to maximize cabin space ' routine maintenance is easy to perform and a yank on each of the yellow-tipped dipsticks confirms that oil levels are fine. Dropping the hatch and turning the keys brings the pair of MerCruisers to life. Although 740 hp are percolating, the decibel meter registers 62 decibels, due to the acoustic and thermal insulation.

Casting off the lines, the driver engages the practically zero-effort shift levers forward and they idle with the current down river. There is some debris in the water, so the driver flips up the thigh-rise bolster and stands for better visibility. The driver advances the throttles to the stops. The 37-and-a-half-foot Sea Ray planes quickly and accelerates to 30 mph in just a little more than 10 seconds, which is impressive for a boat with a dry weight of 14,600 pounds. Heck, you could probably water-ski behind this boat. Despite having five people on board and 5/8 of a load of fuel in the 225-gallon tank, the 340 Sundancer comes a half a tick away from 40 mph. At this speed the engines register only 90 decibels, making conversation still possible without having to yell.

After dropping down to idle to pass a small jon boat where the Holsten River meets the French Broad to form the Tennessee River, you get back on plane and settle into a cruise speed of 30 mph. With four passengers sitting on the spacious U-lounge, the driver reaches to the right of the sculpted sport wheel and blips the port control on the standard hydraulic trim tabs to even the load. The helm station is ultra-modern. The electronic displays reside in their own pods, and front and center is Mercury's SmartCraft SC5000 color display, which allows the driver to monitor virtually every system on board. Not only can it monitor all aspects of the Horizon 8.1 engine's operation ' including troubleshooting ' but it can also be linked to the GPS to assist with navigation. Engineered in cooperation with VDO, the renowned German maker of quality automotive gauges, the SmartCraft system uses a Windows-based program for user-friendly power.

In a fairly narrow part of the river, the driver wants to do a U-turn, and after warning the occupants, swings the wheel hard over. The manganese bronze rudders bite well and the 340 carves a precise but fairly wide turn, and as the bank rushes up, the helmsman chickens out and drops down to idle. Taking a mulligan, the driver gets on plane once again and throws the Sundancer in a hard left turn, and this time leaves a perfect O-shaped wake visible on the river.

Featuring V-drives, the 340 gives you the simplicity of inboards without having to place the engines farther forward, which would restrict cabin space. They feature 1 1/2-inch stainless-steel shaft logs and maintenance-free dripless seals. Connected to the shafts are three-bladed props, made of nibral, an alloy consisting of nickel, bronze and aluminum that is very strong, yet repairable. The running gear gives the 340 Sundancer a draft of 32 inches, which allows those on board a chance to explore the scenic areas such as the section of the Little Tennessee River near the dam where stratified cliffs rise high above the water.

After passing through downtown Knoxville and heading down river, the Tennessee widens into Lake Tellico. Here, brisk winds transform the water's surface into a liquid washboard that would beat a Gene Krupa drum solo on boats with flatter bottoms, but the Sundancer's new hull features a wave-slicing 21-degrees of deadrise, making this the most seaworthy and comfortable 340 ever. The ultra-wide beam provides side-to-side stability that is very earth-like.

One of the best things to do on the Tennessee River is nothing. You find a sheltered cove out of the wind and head up to the bow to drop anchor. Just beside the wet bar is a wide step up to the gunwale, and with the safety rail on the radar arch, you can hoist yourself up with ease. The walkway is wide enough that you don't feel like you are walking a tightrope, and by placing your hand on the polished stainless-steel windshield that supports you as you walk forward then switching hands to the tall bow rail, you can transit safely even when the boat is rocking. Anchoring is easy, with a windlass' foot control at the bow, or if you prefer, you can use the activator at the helm. Another nice touch is the optional bow sunpad that has a pair of full-length grab rails for safety.

With the sun beating down, the crew gets a case of 'cabin fever,' which in this case means the desire to get in the frosty air conditioning provided by the standard 12,000-BTU unit, powered by the optional 5.0 kilowatt Kohler gas generator. The cabin is well-lit with seven portholes and overhead hatches, and with the standard cherry cabinetry and light earth-tone fabrics and upholstery, the ambience is soothing. The galley now features a one-level counter that gives chefs at sea plenty of uncluttered working room. The standard setup comes with a two-burner stove, microwave, refrigerator and enough food storage space to last for a week's cruise. Directly across the cabin is the curved lounge with tidy, beige, soft-to-the touch vinyl and a dining table that features a Corian surface. A Clarion six-CD-changer stereo with eight speakers comes standard, as does a 13-inch TV/VCR entertainment system. The roomy, stand-up head compartment has a hot-and-cold-water shower fed by a 45-gallon tank, vanity with mirror and medicine cabinet, and a VacuFlush head with a 28-gallon holding tank.

You won't find a cruiser in this class that has accommodations for three couples and offers the level of comfort, roominess and privacy that the 340 does. The island-style bow bed is shaped for maximum usable sleeping space and has a curtain to isolate it from the main cabin. The sofa transforms into a double bed, and the mid-cabin berth converts to a conversation pit during the day and also has privacy curtains. There is a hanging closet and storage in every usable nook and cranny on this boat.

A trip on the Tennessee River in the perfect boat is a deeply satisfying experience. But being satisfied isn't a new experience for most Sea Ray owners. According to the latest J.D. Power and Associates survey, in the cruiser category, Sea Ray received the highest overall rating from its owners. The 340 Sundancer isn't likely to disappoint anyone and is the perfect size for someone looking to move up to the next level. With a base price of $214,798 it's not an inexpensive boat, but what you get for the money is a complete package that only needs a few recommended options such as the MerCruiser 8.1 Horizon engines, Raymarine electronics, SmartCraft System View and a Kohler generator to make it the ultimate sportcruiser.