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Author Topic:   Dauntless specs

boymeetsboat posted 10-01-2003 11:31 PM ET (US)
Looking for a used 13' - 15' dauntless and have been researching specs (seemed a noble pursuit for a friday night). What I can find shows the 14' @ 1k #s w/ 75hp max and the 15' @ 850 #s w/ 60hp max.
Anyone with insight as to the 14' weighing more than the 15'?
dfw
rkong posted 10-02-2003 02:34 AM ET (US)
As far as I know, the Dauntless 14 is a very different boat than the Dauntless 15. The 15 came out in the mid 90s with 13,15,17 models. Later on in the late 90s, they discontinued them and came out with the dauntless 14,16,18 models. The newer models are much heavier than the original. For the new models, I think the gunwales are taller, wider, and thicker (not positive though). I beleive they have an internal fuel tank too. So yes, the 14 is heavier than the 15. My 96 duantless 15 weighs 730lbs. The hp capacity is 75 though.
boymeetsboat posted 10-02-2003 07:50 AM ET (US)
Thanks rkong,
Thoughts as to which length would be better as a fun, zipping up and down the ICW, 2 people & 2 dog, beach it on a sandbar for lunch, kinda' boat?
dfw
Jarhead posted 10-02-2003 09:16 AM ET (US)
Try this method to determine the size of Whaler to buy...
Just figure the lenght you think you need and add 2 feet. It'll save you from the dreaded 2'itis. :)

Fountain00 posted 10-02-2003 03:20 PM ET (US)
I just bought a '96 15' Dauntless about a month ago. It has a 60 hp Merc 2 stroke but as RKong above stated it is rated for 75hp. According to the brochures my '96 weighs 730 lbs but the 97 and 98's weigh 850 lbs. A dealer told be BW "revised" the weights and there were no actual changes to the 15 dauntless. I compared a '96 and a '98 and saw no difference. There IS a difference between the 14 and 15. The 14 is "bulkier" and Looks to be heavier than the 15. As far as 2 people and 2 dogs I would not go below the 15. I've been in the 13D as well and it is small-very small for 2 adults and 2 Labs. The 15 may ride a little better and still be a "small boat". Strongly consider the 15 and maybe the old style Montauk.
Mike
Barryc posted 10-02-2003 04:52 PM ET (US)
I have a '97 Dauntless 15 with a Johnson 50. I love this boat. It handles the Boston harbor trafic and chop better than my 21' Deep V Parker. I get 5 mpg at 3900 RPM ( 21 mph) with 2 adults and 12 Gallons of gas/etc. Rated for 6 people or 840 lbs. but probably only 2 people for fishing. I bought it last fall and used it all season with my wife and three kids. I would buy it again in a heartbeat!
bc
Barryc posted 10-02-2003 05:14 PM ET (US)
I did not mean to dis the Parker (above post)- they are great boats and I always felt safe in it. We sold it last fall to buy the D15 -
bc
JohnJ80 posted 10-02-2003 08:37 PM ET (US)
I have a 95 dauntless 15. Bought it with a 70HP Johnson 2 stroke on it. Repowered it this year with a 75HP FICHT from Evinrude since the 70HP was on its last legs.
I get 41mph out of it. I have taken this boat out in everything from a 45kn gale to dead calm. With 4-6 people on board, you know they are there but you still don't get wet.
I fish this boat with my two little kids (9 and 11) and there is plenty of room (although with kids this age casting, its hard to have one too big!). My bow mount trolling motor pushes it all day long on a single 12V battery.
My kids water ski and tube behind it no problem.
The boat got swamped in a storm at my dock (due to the intensity of the storm and the way it was tied up). Started the motor and drove it around while the water drained - during the storm in 4' waves. No problem. Didn't get a drop on me (other than standing in the water until it drained).
With both the 70HP and the 75HP she has a tendency to porpoise when you trim up a bit. I installed a fin (Turbo Lift) and that pretty much went away. However, I had to raise the motor position on the transom and also experiment with props to optimize.
Because we boat in an area with lots of large wakes, I installed trim tabs and because I was just plain curious how well they would work. This makes it handle like its a 21 footer in the chop. The ride improves 100% in chop when you force the fine entry down to meet the waves first. We found this didn't increase the seaworthiness (or decrease it) but it sure helped the ride a lot in chop.
I bought this little whaler just because her lines caught my eye and I needed a <16' runabout (another whole story). Since then I have become a whaler fanatic. We have had some terrific times on this little boat. She just takes punishment from the river and shrugs it off. I've been around boats all my life but this is my first whaler. I'm totally sold on it. Excellent boat. Can't believe how I lucked out in getting her.
J


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Author	Topic: Dauntless specs
boymeetsboat	posted 10-01-2003 11:31 PM ET (US) Looking for a used 13' - 15' dauntless and have been researching specs (seemed a noble pursuit for a friday night). What I can find shows the 14' @ 1k #s w/ 75hp max and the 15' @ 850 #s w/ 60hp max. Anyone with insight as to the 14' weighing more than the 15'? dfw
rkong	posted 10-02-2003 02:34 AM ET (US) As far as I know, the Dauntless 14 is a very different boat than the Dauntless 15. The 15 came out in the mid 90s with 13,15,17 models. Later on in the late 90s, they discontinued them and came out with the dauntless 14,16,18 models. The newer models are much heavier than the original. For the new models, I think the gunwales are taller, wider, and thicker (not positive though). I beleive they have an internal fuel tank too. So yes, the 14 is heavier than the 15. My 96 duantless 15 weighs 730lbs. The hp capacity is 75 though.
boymeetsboat	posted 10-02-2003 07:50 AM ET (US) Thanks rkong, Thoughts as to which length would be better as a fun, zipping up and down the ICW, 2 people & 2 dog, beach it on a sandbar for lunch, kinda' boat? dfw
Jarhead	posted 10-02-2003 09:16 AM ET (US) Try this method to determine the size of Whaler to buy... Just figure the lenght you think you need and add 2 feet. It'll save you from the dreaded 2'itis. :)
Fountain00	posted 10-02-2003 03:20 PM ET (US) I just bought a '96 15' Dauntless about a month ago. It has a 60 hp Merc 2 stroke but as RKong above stated it is rated for 75hp. According to the brochures my '96 weighs 730 lbs but the 97 and 98's weigh 850 lbs. A dealer told be BW "revised" the weights and there were no actual changes to the 15 dauntless. I compared a '96 and a '98 and saw no difference. There IS a difference between the 14 and 15. The 14 is "bulkier" and Looks to be heavier than the 15. As far as 2 people and 2 dogs I would not go below the 15. I've been in the 13D as well and it is small-very small for 2 adults and 2 Labs. The 15 may ride a little better and still be a "small boat". Strongly consider the 15 and maybe the old style Montauk. Mike
Barryc	posted 10-02-2003 04:52 PM ET (US) I have a '97 Dauntless 15 with a Johnson 50. I love this boat. It handles the Boston harbor trafic and chop better than my 21' Deep V Parker. I get 5 mpg at 3900 RPM ( 21 mph) with 2 adults and 12 Gallons of gas/etc. Rated for 6 people or 840 lbs. but probably only 2 people for fishing. I bought it last fall and used it all season with my wife and three kids. I would buy it again in a heartbeat! bc
Barryc	posted 10-02-2003 05:14 PM ET (US) I did not mean to dis the Parker (above post)- they are great boats and I always felt safe in it. We sold it last fall to buy the D15 - bc
JohnJ80	posted 10-02-2003 08:37 PM ET (US) I have a 95 dauntless 15. Bought it with a 70HP Johnson 2 stroke on it. Repowered it this year with a 75HP FICHT from Evinrude since the 70HP was on its last legs. I get 41mph out of it. I have taken this boat out in everything from a 45kn gale to dead calm. With 4-6 people on board, you know they are there but you still don't get wet. I fish this boat with my two little kids (9 and 11) and there is plenty of room (although with kids this age casting, its hard to have one too big!). My bow mount trolling motor pushes it all day long on a single 12V battery. My kids water ski and tube behind it no problem. The boat got swamped in a storm at my dock (due to the intensity of the storm and the way it was tied up). Started the motor and drove it around while the water drained - during the storm in 4' waves. No problem. Didn't get a drop on me (other than standing in the water until it drained). With both the 70HP and the 75HP she has a tendency to porpoise when you trim up a bit. I installed a fin (Turbo Lift) and that pretty much went away. However, I had to raise the motor position on the transom and also experiment with props to optimize. Because we boat in an area with lots of large wakes, I installed trim tabs and because I was just plain curious how well they would work. This makes it handle like its a 21 footer in the chop. The ride improves 100% in chop when you force the fine entry down to meet the waves first. We found this didn't increase the seaworthiness (or decrease it) but it sure helped the ride a lot in chop. I bought this little whaler just because her lines caught my eye and I needed a <16' runabout (another whole story). Since then I have become a whaler fanatic. We have had some terrific times on this little boat. She just takes punishment from the river and shrugs it off. I've been around boats all my life but this is my first whaler. I'm totally sold on it. Excellent boat. Can't believe how I lucked out in getting her. J