posted 11-23-2002 08:29 AM ET (US)
CSG,It kind of depends on which Dauntless you are referring to. In 1995, 4 Dauntless models where available. Two where small CC models and two where Bow rider/walk through. Then a few years later BW introduced the Ventura series which became the Bowrider/walk through boats and the Dauntless all became CC boats.
Eventually because of overlap in the OR/Dauntless series BW eliminated the smaller OR's below 21' feet and the Dauntless series became the V hull boats for the 16-22' boat cat.
The original Dauntless small boats didn't have built in fuel tanks. Dauntless typically have less freeboard(reason for side rails?) than the OR's(example 22' Dauntless has 20" of freeboard 23'OR has 28" of freeboard w/only a 4" LOA difference) Dauntless have narrow gunwales- which prevents under gunwale rod racks/gunwale mount rod holders. Dauntless does have fold out rod racks. Dauntless lack in deck storage. OR's have larger fuel tanks, larger carrying capacities and can handle larger engines, they also weigh more.
The Dauntless are simpler boats in some ways but offer many more options such as trolling motor panel and pedestal seats.
As others have said, I believe the Dauntless is geared towards back water/ small fresh water lake use and the OR is geared towards open ocean or large fresh water lakes. That said, I've seen 30' Grady's w/twin 225's on small fresh water lakes and 13' whalers in the open ocean!