First, let’s look at fishability; this is, after all, the Chesapeake. And when it’s time to go after those stripers, the 240 Dauntless will prove capable with Bay-boat style features such as fore and aft casting decks, a livewell built into the front of the forward console seat, a six pack of vertical console rodracks, and four deck-mounted aft rodholders. Thick trolling spreads, gobs of casting room, and forward fishboxes that do double duty as locking rodboxes ensure that whatever type of angling strikes your fancy: the Dauntless will do the trick. There’s even a flat molded into the bow, for mounting an electric trolling motor. You say fishing is priority number one? Then jazz the boat up even more with the reversible pilot seat, which has a 25-gallon livewell, knife/leader holder, raw water washdown, and two additional rodholders.
From a watersports perspective, perks such as the swim platform with telescopic ladder and aft tow eyes get the job done. But if you really want to make wakeboarding and water skiing a priority, get Whaler’s optional All Activity tower, instead of the ski tow pylon. It not only provides an elevated towing point, but also has board racks and acts as a poling platform. And don’t worry for a moment about yanking a husky guy up and out of the hole. With a 300-hp Mercury Verado on the transom, this boat has plenty of oomph, breaking 50-mph and cruising in the mid-30s while turning 4500 rpm.
If just kicking around on the Bay is more your style, again, you won’t be disappointed. The boat has a console head compartment with a portable MSD (it’s a bit tight, but functional), an optional bow picnic table can be added, and there is plenty of seating. Added bonus: the foredeck seats have folding back-rests, so you can kick back and ride in a reclined position while facing forward.
Like all Whalers, this boat is also designed to do whatever you like in the safest manner possible. These guys mean it when they say the boat’s unsinkable: the deck and liner are pumped full of foam under pressure, to create a one-piece structure that’s free of voids. Saw it in half—heck, saw it into 50 pieces—and every chunk ‘o Whaler will still float. This construction method also makes for a great ride, since the boat comes down solidly off of waves, without rattles, bangs, or excessive vibrations.
Another unusual attribute of the 240 Dauntless comes in the form of options. Unlike many builders, Whaler has begun offering many items which used to be considered after-market add-ons, on a factory-installed basis. Electronics, for example. You can order a 240 Dauntless with your choice of seven-inch or nine-inch Raymarine GPS/chartplotter/fishfinders and/or a VHF radio already installed at the helm. You can option-out the boat with an iPod/electronics compartment. And you can even get a custom-matched aluminum trailer, with disc brakes, dual torsion axels, and guide-on posts.
Does it sound as if you can do pretty much anything with the Dauntless 240? Yup. Remember, that’s the whole idea behind this design. It may not be a hard-core fisher, a dedicated tow sports scion, or a runabout—but it is all of the above.
Thursday, April 24, 2014 - 15:27
There’s a new member of the Boston Whaler Dauntless family, one that will be ideal for many Bay-dwellers. At 23’11” the 240 Dauntless is the second largest in this model line designed to be Whaler’s SUV-like, do-everything group of boats. That means the 240 Dauntless isn’t exactly a hardcore fishing machine, but it’s ready for casting and catching. It isn’t exactly a watersports boat, but pulling tow toys is no problem. And it isn’t exactly a runabout, but coving and sunbathing will still come naturally.
First, let’s look at fishability; this is, after all, the Chesapeake. And when it’s time to go after those stripers, the 240 Dauntless will prove capable with Bay-boat style features such as fore and aft casting decks, a livewell built into the front of the forward console seat, a six pack of vertical console rodracks, and four deck-mounted aft rodholders. Thick trolling spreads, gobs of casting room, and forward fishboxes that do double duty as locking rodboxes ensure that whatever type of angling strikes your fancy: the Dauntless will do the trick. There’s even a flat molded into the bow, for mounting an electric trolling motor. You say fishing is priority number one? Then jazz the boat up even more with the reversible pilot seat, which has a 25-gallon livewell, knife/leader holder, raw water washdown, and two additional rodholders.
From a watersports perspective, perks such as the swim platform with telescopic ladder and aft tow eyes get the job done. But if you really want to make wakeboarding and water skiing a priority, get Whaler’s optional All Activity tower, instead of the ski tow pylon. It not only provides an elevated towing point, but also has board racks and acts as a poling platform. And don’t worry for a moment about yanking a husky guy up and out of the hole. With a 300-hp Mercury Verado on the transom, this boat has plenty of oomph, breaking 50-mph and cruising in the mid-30s while turning 4500 rpm.
If just kicking around on the Bay is more your style, again, you won’t be disappointed. The boat has a console head compartment with a portable MSD (it’s a bit tight, but functional), an optional bow picnic table can be added, and there is plenty of seating. Added bonus: the foredeck seats have folding back-rests, so you can kick back and ride in a reclined position while facing forward.
Like all Whalers, this boat is also designed to do whatever you like in the safest manner possible. These guys mean it when they say the boat’s unsinkable: the deck and liner are pumped full of foam under pressure, to create a one-piece structure that’s free of voids. Saw it in half—heck, saw it into 50 pieces—and every chunk ‘o Whaler will still float. This construction method also makes for a great ride, since the boat comes down solidly off of waves, without rattles, bangs, or excessive vibrations.
Another unusual attribute of the 240 Dauntless comes in the form of options. Unlike many builders, Whaler has begun offering many items which used to be considered after-market add-ons, on a factory-installed basis. Electronics, for example. You can order a 240 Dauntless with your choice of seven-inch or nine-inch Raymarine GPS/chartplotter/fishfinders and/or a VHF radio already installed at the helm. You can option-out the boat with an iPod/electronics compartment. And you can even get a custom-matched aluminum trailer, with disc brakes, dual torsion axels, and guide-on posts.
Does it sound as if you can do pretty much anything with the Dauntless 240? Yup. Remember, that’s the whole idea behind this design. It may not be a hard-core fisher, a dedicated tow sports scion, or a runabout—but it is all of the above.
First, let’s look at fishability; this is, after all, the Chesapeake. And when it’s time to go after those stripers, the 240 Dauntless will prove capable with Bay-boat style features such as fore and aft casting decks, a livewell built into the front of the forward console seat, a six pack of vertical console rodracks, and four deck-mounted aft rodholders. Thick trolling spreads, gobs of casting room, and forward fishboxes that do double duty as locking rodboxes ensure that whatever type of angling strikes your fancy: the Dauntless will do the trick. There’s even a flat molded into the bow, for mounting an electric trolling motor. You say fishing is priority number one? Then jazz the boat up even more with the reversible pilot seat, which has a 25-gallon livewell, knife/leader holder, raw water washdown, and two additional rodholders.
From a watersports perspective, perks such as the swim platform with telescopic ladder and aft tow eyes get the job done. But if you really want to make wakeboarding and water skiing a priority, get Whaler’s optional All Activity tower, instead of the ski tow pylon. It not only provides an elevated towing point, but also has board racks and acts as a poling platform. And don’t worry for a moment about yanking a husky guy up and out of the hole. With a 300-hp Mercury Verado on the transom, this boat has plenty of oomph, breaking 50-mph and cruising in the mid-30s while turning 4500 rpm.
If just kicking around on the Bay is more your style, again, you won’t be disappointed. The boat has a console head compartment with a portable MSD (it’s a bit tight, but functional), an optional bow picnic table can be added, and there is plenty of seating. Added bonus: the foredeck seats have folding back-rests, so you can kick back and ride in a reclined position while facing forward.
Like all Whalers, this boat is also designed to do whatever you like in the safest manner possible. These guys mean it when they say the boat’s unsinkable: the deck and liner are pumped full of foam under pressure, to create a one-piece structure that’s free of voids. Saw it in half—heck, saw it into 50 pieces—and every chunk ‘o Whaler will still float. This construction method also makes for a great ride, since the boat comes down solidly off of waves, without rattles, bangs, or excessive vibrations.
Another unusual attribute of the 240 Dauntless comes in the form of options. Unlike many builders, Whaler has begun offering many items which used to be considered after-market add-ons, on a factory-installed basis. Electronics, for example. You can order a 240 Dauntless with your choice of seven-inch or nine-inch Raymarine GPS/chartplotter/fishfinders and/or a VHF radio already installed at the helm. You can option-out the boat with an iPod/electronics compartment. And you can even get a custom-matched aluminum trailer, with disc brakes, dual torsion axels, and guide-on posts.
Does it sound as if you can do pretty much anything with the Dauntless 240? Yup. Remember, that’s the whole idea behind this design. It may not be a hard-core fisher, a dedicated tow sports scion, or a runabout—but it is all of the above.