2001 220:DAUNLTESS: New Owner Questions

[Beleau]

I recently bought a 2001 220 DAUNTLESS. I am just getting to know this Boston Whaler boat.

Q1: how is the fresh water tank drained on a 2001 220 DAUNTLESS?

For the life of me I cannot figure out how to drain the fresh water tank. [Something is] not working. I fill the fresh water tank. A pump operates, but [unclear two-word description—please explain further]. I let the pump try to pressurize for a good bit.

Q2: where can replacement canvas be purchased for the OEM T-Top on a 2001 220 DAUNTLESS?

Q3: are there concern about the manufacturing of a 2001 220 DAUNTLESS?

Q4: what is the optimum route for running [a new small electrical cable] from the engine to the center console on a 2001 220 DAUNTLESS?

I want to install a NMEA-2000 cable between the engine and the console.

ASIDE
Hello again, haven’t been on here in years.

I have a 1976 SPORT 15 that my dad purchased new.

[jimh]

Q4: what is the optimum route for running a new electrical cable from the engine to the center console on a 2001 220 DAUNTLESS?

Use the same route used for the engine cables. There should be a rigging tunnel under the cockpit deck in which many cable are already in place. The rigging tunnel functions like an electrical non-conductive conduit. With a bit of exploration, careful visual observation, and perhaps removal of some deck plates or opening of a hatch cover, you will be able to discover the two ends of the rigging tunnel.

To add a new cable to an electrical conduit already having cables, there must be sufficient room for the new cable. In the case of a rigging tunnel on a Boston Whaler boat, the diameter of the rigging tunnel is generally very large, perhaps three or four inches inside diameter, and to not have room for one more small diameter cable would be extraordinarily unusual.

Typically a electrician’s fish tape can be used to install one new cable. If there is anticipation that in the future more cables will be added, then first use the fish tape to pull in a “pull cord” that is more than twice as long as the rigging tunnel, and leave the pull cord in place after you use it to pull in the first new cable. Tie off both ends of the pull cord so you don’t accidentally pull it out. Coil the excess at the console end.

[jimh]

Q3: are there [any widely known chronic defects] in the manufacturing of a c.2001 220 DAUNTLESS [for which the Boston Whaler company refused to provide a remedy to the original owner during the period when those components were under the limited warranty offered by Boston Whaler]?

I have not researched the c.2001 220 DAUNTLESS specifically, but as far as I know the 220 DAUNTLESS, like any other Boston Whaler boat that was very popular and in production for a decade or longer, has no history of angry buyers abandoned by the boat builder who regret their purchase decision.

In the case of your 22-year-old boat, all warranties have expired long ago, and the most significant element of the boat’s potential to have defects will be a result of how it was used for the past 22-years—not how it was designed or built.

[Beleau]

Jim—Thank you.

[jimh]

Also, I really like the 220 DAUNTLESS boats of c.2001. They have lower freeboard at the stern, and seem designed for water sports with swimmers who will get off the boat to enter the water or get on the boat from the water. The gentle reverse sheer line of the hull at the stern is very attractive. And the large aft cockpit seat should be comfortable for passengers.

Q5: what engine is on your 220 DAUNTLESS?

I would be surprised if the 220 DAUNTLESS has its original engine from 2001. At that time I think Boston Whaler was selling boats mated to Mercury engines. I am guessing the boat would have (at least) a 200-HP engine.

At that time, Mercury had not yet produced any four-stroke-power-cycle engines of their own with more than 25-HP. Brunswick was forced to buy engines from rival Yamaha, paint them black, and resell them as Mercury engines. They bought thousands of 225-HP engines from Yamaha.

The other options in c.2001 would have been an OptiMax V6 225 or 250-HP. The large block V6 OptiMax engines were not popular with Boston Whaler buyer in that time frame. (At some point, Boston Whaler dropped the option to have any OptiMax engines on their boats.) The boat could have been rigged with a two-stroke-power-cycle fuel injection 200-HP.

I am curious to learn what engine is on the transom now.

[Phil T]

I highly recommend you download all the parts diagrams for your boat from the Boston Whaler website.

These pdf drawings show what is installed and where as well as parts lists.

Go to https://www.bostonwhaler.com/resources-and-maintenance.html

Enter YEAR
Enter MODEL FAMILY
Enter MODEL
Select Type - Drawings
Click on each down arrow and save to your computer.

Congrats on adding her to the family.

[Phil T]

A2 - Carver makes really good canvas products that are custom fit or universal fit for Boston Whalers. One of their distributors, Boat Covers Direct has a good rep from owners.

They have 6 versions for your model, depending on your options. Go to https://www.boatcoversdirect.com/products/bimini_tops/ and select BOSTON WHALER then select the correct model version to see the tops offered. Note any stainless steel upgrades are worth it.

[Phil T]

I recommend to all new owners to replace all the through hulls as a matter of better safe than sorry.

Nauset Marine is a good parts source if you are east of the mid-atlantic states.
Derek, Jason, Justin, Parts Department
http://www.nausetmarine.com

The Boat House is good if you are west of there.
Sue Lodel, Parts Manager
https://www.boathouseh2o.com