210, 220, and 230 Dauntless

[Tacky79]

I've mostly narrowed down a search for a new (used) boat for our family to [a 210 DAUNTLESS, a 220 DAUNTLESS, and a 230 DAUNTLESS]. There aren't any locally for me to check.

Q1: Is anyone familiar with the ride of all three of these Boston Whaler models: [a 210 DAUNTLESS, a 220 DAUNTLESS, and a 230 DAUNTLESS]?

Q2: Do [a 210 DAUNTLESS, a 220 DAUNTLESS, and a 230 DAUNTLESS ride] similarly?

Q3: Among [a 210 DAUNTLESS, a 220 DAUNTLESS, and a 230 DAUNTLESS is there] one to avoid?

Q4: Is there one to seek out?


I like that the 230 DAUNTLESS seems to have rod storage in the bow storage area. It seems the 230 DAUNTLESS is rare.

We are a family of five. We fish, ski, and generally cruise around, and we'll use this boat on Lake Michigan.

[jimh]

I always liked the look of the 220 DAUNTLESS and its very low freeboard. Low freeboard would make entering the boat from the water much easier. I test drove a 220 DAUNTLESS with a VERADO FOURSTROKE L4 engine. It was a fun boat. I have not been on the other models.

I don't think the three share a similar hull form. I would not expect them to all have exactly the same ride characteristics.

Are you on the Michigan shore of Lake MIchigan?

That lake is so rough I can hardly get out there to go boating. This Spring I stopped by at Leland to see what conditions were like. A 25-knot Northwesterly fresh breeze was putting big waves on the harbor break wall with spray coming over the wall about 20-feet in the air. Not a good day for a small boat on the big lake.

When the wind has been calm for a few days, the swell goes away and you can have some fun out there. But you have to pick the right day.

[Tacky79]

Our boating is mostly on the Green Bay side of Door County, but sometimes on the Lake Michigan side via Baileys Harbor. We were pounding away in our 190 Montauk last year when Salmon fishing at 4 a.m. via Baileys Harbor. Quite "entertaining" in the dark considering it was an unfamiliar place to launch and boat, and it was dark.

There's a nice 210 Dauntless up near Torch Lake that I've been thinking about, but it's a pricey one.

[Tacky79]

Update:

I found a nice looking (at least in pictures!) 2012 230 Dauntless and might go look at it. That involves a flight and a bit of a hassle, but the 230 Dauntless is on my short list of ideal boats. It has the 250 HP Verado, which per my understanding, doesn't have the fuel float problem.

Any advice about looking at this boat would be great. It seems to get good reviews, and has some great features and lots of storage (that our 190 Montauk lacks, a bit).

[Tacky79]

The other option is a 1999 Outrage 23 with new twin Yamaha 150s. I'm not sure of the cost on this one yet, though.

For lounging about, the Dauntless seems ideal. For fishing and heavier seas (Lake Michigan), the Outrage seems ideal.