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Author Topic:   305 Conquest; Twin 225-HP Four-stroke

schools out posted 04-03-2006 02:09 PM ET (US)
I have the opportunity to buy a 2004 305 CONQUEST with 225-HP four-stroke Mercury motors. The engines have 300-hours on them, and the boat is loaded. How does this boat ride? Is it a wet boat? What is the fuel burn at cruising speed? What is cruising speed? How are the motors? What do you like and/or dislike?
Any help is appreciated.
nooner posted 04-03-2006 03:35 PM ET (US)
Boat is great, not wet at all. Get it! I'm guessing your warranty on motors would be 3-4 years. I don't know if 300 hours on the 225's should be of concern.
c_mccann posted 04-03-2006 04:47 PM ET (US)
Fished one for three years, the 29' Conquest. Good boat, loaded with good features. I liked the seating layout best, works for that size boat. If not trimmed right, she'll pound a little, not bad though. We took 4' seas in the snout from Ensenada to San Diego one afternoon and though bouncy, not bad, and my buddy liked the throttles. Caught one of the biggest Ling Cod I ever boated in that boat. Good insulated fish holds. Mercury 225 4-strokes- the one I fished had the Yama-Mercs and were great engines- he had about 400 hours on her last check and running strong. She got about .75 mile per gallon, but she's a heavy boat. Quick though. Expensive boat, I think my friend paid $175,000 for her new with some goodies on board. We slept 4 guys on board with no problem and fished tuna at 3 day intervals. One thing: the factory wiring was a bit messy. Whaler could have done better considering what they are asking for this size boat.
One more thing: the cockpit [locker or well that contains] the water heater leaked water right on top of the water heater, expect a short life from that unit unless better protected.
schools out posted 04-03-2006 05:21 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the replies. The motors--I think and will check--are under warranty until 2010. They are the [Yamaha motors with Mercury cowlings]. I'll also keep an eye on the water heater if I buy. What I will do is have a survey done. If, and hopefully when, I buy, I'll let you know. Also checking out prices: seems low of $157,000 and high of $170,000 for this year. Sound right? New would be about $170,000 without electronics. Any sources for pricing besides NADA?
Thanks
jimh posted 04-03-2006 09:36 PM ET (US)
[This discussion has been moved to the POST-CLASSIC area. The POST-CLASSIC area concentrates on the newer models from Boston Whaler, those first designed after c.1990.]
You can get an idea of the performance from a report available on the Boston Whaler website for the CONQUEST 305. Unfortunately, they no longer offer it with the twin 225-HP four-stroke motor, and the performance data no longer includes those numbers. Perhaps someone has an old copy of the data showing the performance with the Yamaha/Mercury four-stroke motors. You might be able to obtain it from Boston Whaler if you make an inquiry.
My supposition is that the four-stroke motors are not quite as strong as the OptiMax two-stroke. You can see that trend from the Verado performance numbers.
It looks like it will be a 1.2 or 1.3-MPG boat at cruise, and cruise starts around 3,500-RPM.
Factory Performance Report:
http://whaler.com/Rec/pdfs/305ConquestEng.pdf
schools out posted 04-04-2006 01:13 PM ET (US)
Thanks for that info. The wife and I are shopping loans for the boat now. We love the boat and the sea trial was great, now the PITA bank stuff. Any suggestions?
jimh posted 04-05-2006 01:28 AM ET (US)
Just tell your CFO that every time you overnight on the boat while visiting a top-notch resort area in prime season you will be saving $400/night in lodging. On this basis, the more you use the boat the faster it will pay for itself.
I had a short demonstration ride on a 305 CONQUEST when they first came out. It is quite a vessel. It should be a great ride and it looks like it will stand up to just about anything.
When heavily loaded it will not be a over-powered with the twin 225-HP four-stroke Yamaha-Mercury motors.
handn posted 04-07-2006 02:45 PM ET (US)
I have a 305 just like the one you are looking at and like it very much.
My engines have 550 hours and I have had zero trouble. The engines are extremely quiet, shift well and are a pleasure. Top end with light load is 33 knots at 5600 rpm.
I keep a log of fuel burned against distance traveled. Overall I am at 1.3 nautical miles per gallon with a mixture of running 4100 rpm at 20-21 knots and trolling with one engine at 5-7 knots. At cruise, I estimate each engine burns 10 gallons per hour and trolling at 2000 rpm one engine is buring 3-3.5 gph.
The boat has a smooth ride in all reasonable sea conditions. It will go 20 knots into 3-4 foot whitecaps comfortably but you will put water over the top doing it. Put the bow up, slow to 12 knots and you will get only a little bit of spray. The boat has the hull to hold a plane at 12 knots going into big seas if you have the Revolution 4 props.
Other threads on this forum talk about the ride, interior, comfort and the ability of this boat to hold a plane at low speeds.
You will like this boat.

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Author	Topic: 305 Conquest; Twin 225-HP Four-stroke
schools out	posted 04-03-2006 02:09 PM ET (US) I have the opportunity to buy a 2004 305 CONQUEST with 225-HP four-stroke Mercury motors. The engines have 300-hours on them, and the boat is loaded. How does this boat ride? Is it a wet boat? What is the fuel burn at cruising speed? What is cruising speed? How are the motors? What do you like and/or dislike? Any help is appreciated.
nooner	posted 04-03-2006 03:35 PM ET (US) Boat is great, not wet at all. Get it! I'm guessing your warranty on motors would be 3-4 years. I don't know if 300 hours on the 225's should be of concern.
c_mccann	posted 04-03-2006 04:47 PM ET (US) Fished one for three years, the 29' Conquest. Good boat, loaded with good features. I liked the seating layout best, works for that size boat. If not trimmed right, she'll pound a little, not bad though. We took 4' seas in the snout from Ensenada to San Diego one afternoon and though bouncy, not bad, and my buddy liked the throttles. Caught one of the biggest Ling Cod I ever boated in that boat. Good insulated fish holds. Mercury 225 4-strokes- the one I fished had the Yama-Mercs and were great engines- he had about 400 hours on her last check and running strong. She got about .75 mile per gallon, but she's a heavy boat. Quick though. Expensive boat, I think my friend paid $175,000 for her new with some goodies on board. We slept 4 guys on board with no problem and fished tuna at 3 day intervals. One thing: the factory wiring was a bit messy. Whaler could have done better considering what they are asking for this size boat. One more thing: the cockpit [locker or well that contains] the water heater leaked water right on top of the water heater, expect a short life from that unit unless better protected.
schools out	posted 04-03-2006 05:21 PM ET (US) Thanks for the replies. The motors--I think and will check--are under warranty until 2010. They are the [Yamaha motors with Mercury cowlings]. I'll also keep an eye on the water heater if I buy. What I will do is have a survey done. If, and hopefully when, I buy, I'll let you know. Also checking out prices: seems low of $157,000 and high of $170,000 for this year. Sound right? New would be about $170,000 without electronics. Any sources for pricing besides NADA? Thanks
jimh	posted 04-03-2006 09:36 PM ET (US) [This discussion has been moved to the POST-CLASSIC area. The POST-CLASSIC area concentrates on the newer models from Boston Whaler, those first designed after c.1990.] You can get an idea of the performance from a report available on the Boston Whaler website for the CONQUEST 305. Unfortunately, they no longer offer it with the twin 225-HP four-stroke motor, and the performance data no longer includes those numbers. Perhaps someone has an old copy of the data showing the performance with the Yamaha/Mercury four-stroke motors. You might be able to obtain it from Boston Whaler if you make an inquiry. My supposition is that the four-stroke motors are not quite as strong as the OptiMax two-stroke. You can see that trend from the Verado performance numbers. It looks like it will be a 1.2 or 1.3-MPG boat at cruise, and cruise starts around 3,500-RPM. Factory Performance Report: http://whaler.com/Rec/pdfs/305ConquestEng.pdf
schools out	posted 04-04-2006 01:13 PM ET (US) Thanks for that info. The wife and I are shopping loans for the boat now. We love the boat and the sea trial was great, now the PITA bank stuff. Any suggestions?
jimh	posted 04-05-2006 01:28 AM ET (US) Just tell your CFO that every time you overnight on the boat while visiting a top-notch resort area in prime season you will be saving $400/night in lodging. On this basis, the more you use the boat the faster it will pay for itself. I had a short demonstration ride on a 305 CONQUEST when they first came out. It is quite a vessel. It should be a great ride and it looks like it will stand up to just about anything. When heavily loaded it will not be a over-powered with the twin 225-HP four-stroke Yamaha-Mercury motors.
handn	posted 04-07-2006 02:45 PM ET (US) I have a 305 just like the one you are looking at and like it very much. My engines have 550 hours and I have had zero trouble. The engines are extremely quiet, shift well and are a pleasure. Top end with light load is 33 knots at 5600 rpm. I keep a log of fuel burned against distance traveled. Overall I am at 1.3 nautical miles per gallon with a mixture of running 4100 rpm at 20-21 knots and trolling with one engine at 5-7 knots. At cruise, I estimate each engine burns 10 gallons per hour and trolling at 2000 rpm one engine is buring 3-3.5 gph. The boat has a smooth ride in all reasonable sea conditions. It will go 20 knots into 3-4 foot whitecaps comfortably but you will put water over the top doing it. Put the bow up, slow to 12 knots and you will get only a little bit of spray. The boat has the hull to hold a plane at 12 knots going into big seas if you have the Revolution 4 props. Other threads on this forum talk about the ride, interior, comfort and the ability of this boat to hold a plane at low speeds. You will like this boat.