New Dauntless 220: On the Third VERADO Power Head

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Author Topic:   New Dauntless 220: On the Third VERADO Power Head

Reichy posted 08-05-2007 12:22 AM ET (US)
Hi folks. I've been lurking on [CONTINUOUSWAVE] for almost two years. Finally took the plunge. New old-stock 2005 Dauntless 220 with 30 demo hours bought two weeks ago. The Verado 225 pushed it to 49.7-MPH on the GPS with two over-200-pounders plus full fuel of 90 gallons, fishing tackle, and safety gear in one-foot chop. I think it might be faster in a tiny bit of chop than on quiet water. Overall very satisfied with the boat. We've fished it for five days; love the casting platforms front and rear; have had it in four-foot chop generated by 60-foot motor cruisers coming out of St. Michaels, MD, and have just finished installing electronics. Will report more as use continues.
Thanks,
Reichy
Eastern Bay, Chesapeake area
jimh posted 08-05-2007 12:53 PM ET (US)
I have always liked that big 22-foot Dauntless. Its low gunwales remind me of the classic hulls. With a Verado motor you have a great package. I like the helm console layout, too. Welcome aboard.
cspaldi posted 08-07-2007 09:52 AM ET (US)
Small world, we also have a Dauntless 220 we keep tied-up in St. Michaels harbour ('04 model, I think, with the older 4-Stroke 225 Mercury). Great for the Miles River and trips around to Oxford to the Masthead for lunch. Sometimes I wish it rode a bit softer when the Bay is rough, but overall a great boat for day trips, light fishing, and family watersports.
lurkynot posted 08-07-2007 10:32 AM ET (US)
I have the 18 Dauntless and have contemplated moving up to a 220 for 2 reasons including a better ride and on availibility of the on board head. Alluding to a rough ride would steer me in a direction of say perhaps an Outrage. I sure would miss the low gunwhales and the auto/co-pilot front mount electric troll motor on the Dauntless line. The past few years I have left the net at home when fishing for Kings on Lake Michigan and walleye fishing on the local lakes because of those low gunwhales. Helps to keep others from crowding when they see a net fly. I will be sure to test ride my next one though to be sure of the decision.
afishermanswife posted 08-08-2007 07:15 AM ET (US)
I have the 2007, 200.. with 175 verado. Boat pushes 44mph - one adult and low fuel.. Ride is exceptional with little of no chop. Boat will pull skier with 5 others on board no problem. the mid range of this engine is outstanding. this is whole new design for whaler this model year with shear foward/rear drop an gunnel. On the pricey side for a 20'6" boat but outstanding amenities for the family/fisherman.
andygere posted 08-08-2007 11:52 AM ET (US)
I agree with jimh, the 220 Dauntless is the closest thing to the classic Outrage 22, which I think is Whaler's finest boat. With a bow mount trolling motor, that's a striper stalking machine if there ever was one! Enjoy your new boat, and please continue to post performance details, photos, etc.
Whalerdog posted 08-13-2007 08:54 PM ET (US)
Nice boat good luck!
Kelry posted 08-15-2007 02:46 PM ET (US)
Afishermanswife,
I just bought the 200 DA with the 175 Verado, taking delivery on 08/31. I test drove it, and with three in boat it went 43mph. I was in extremely rough water, but i expect a good ride in average water, and it is good to hear you say that.
I am patiently waiting until the 31st!
Kelry posted 08-16-2007 03:04 PM ET (US)
Riechy,
Your new boat sounds nice. Pretty fast, too. have fun!
gbunnjr posted 11-17-2007 10:52 PM ET (US)
Dauntless 18 1998 w/ 2007 140 suzuki four stoke..For the money..Not a better Whaler on the market. Bigger is not always better
gbunnjr posted 11-17-2007 10:54 PM ET (US)
Dauntless 18 1998 w/ 2007 140 suzuki four stoke..For the money..Not a better Whaler on the market. Bigger is not always better
masbama posted 11-18-2007 11:07 PM ET (US)
Does your 140 Suzuki have a dolephin?
cban posted 11-19-2007 12:13 PM ET (US)
I have a 1999 18' Dauntless center console with a 2003 Suzuki 140 and a Stingray hydrafoil. I bought the boat last February. I get incredible gas mileage. I ran the bought about 60 hours since I bought it and have refueled twice, the tank was filled by the dealership I bought it from. That includes a lot of idle time. I have never owned a boat before this one and I shopped for almost a year before buying this one. The boat tops out at 42 mph with 2 adults and a child on board. I use the boat for fishing the Georgia coastal waters and pulling kids on a tube. The boat handles great. I have seen a lot of posts concerning porpoising with the Dauntless and at low speed the bow does ride high, but the 140 gets me on plane quickly and with proper trimming even at low speeds the bow comes down. Even with my limited experience, I think the 180 is a great all-purpose boat.
Reichy posted 02-23-2008 08:59 AM ET (US)
Update:
Thus far boat performance has been fantastic. I never feel like I'm in too small of a craft when the Chesapeake gets snotty. However, the Verado 225 package has posed some issues:
1) Entire power trim/tilt assembly was replaced due to a pinhole leak in the main cylinder.
2) Fuel delivery system was replaced and Verado was running rich/making oil. Compression checks were excellent, so no problem noted with past break-in procedure.
Chesapeake Whalertowne has been wonderful in helping resolve the issues, even though I did not purchase the boat there.
R
jollyrog305 posted 02-23-2008 09:32 AM ET (US)
Congrats on your purchase. See you out on the bay in a month or so for striper season. The folks at Whalertowne are great folks and very professional. Hope to see you at the BW event at Kent Narrows this year.
tsite posted 02-24-2008 08:26 PM ET (US)
congrats on your purchase,i own a2004 220 dauntless very fast and great bay boat and family boat i believe you will be very happy with 220 overall.
Reichy posted 09-08-2008 09:45 PM ET (US)
Update: Powerhead replaced at 115 hours due to unfixable oil-fuel (making oil) contamination and 25% power loss in #4 cylinder. Powerhead lasted 3 hours then the cam fingers & valve for #6 cylinder grenaded, destroying the majority of #6 cylinder and creating zero compression. Mercury is shipping a new powerhead to Whalertowne of Annapolis & Grasonville to install, but I have almost no confidence or enthusiasm for this propulsion unit at this point. Dealer's master mechanic said we followed break-in properly and the failures are unexplainable. They're not seen such consistent & pervasive failure in a Verado since they started servicing them. About 20% of our ownership period has been spent out of service. Grrr....
R
Reichy posted 12-12-2008 03:04 PM ET (US)
I find it baffling that the staunch and usually vocal defenders of the Verado powerplant have had very little to say about the two powerheads that our 225 Verado has gone through in a year's time. We're now at approximately ten hours on the third powerhead and keeping our fingers crossed. The whole experience has certainly not left us with a warm and fuzzy feeling toward Mercury or Whaler. Either way, in my opinion, the 225 Verado is too heavy for the Dauntless 220, leading to a squatting of the aft end such that the bilge & scupper outlets are perpetually under the water line.
glen e posted 12-12-2008 07:54 PM ET (US)
So what do you want us to say? - you got a bad motor, I guess. Even your dealer says he's never seen this happen before. I suggest you get it up and running, sell it and buy something that makes you happy.....life's too short to own something you don't like or have confidence in...
Feejer posted 12-14-2008 07:29 PM ET (US)
I'll be glad to trade my excellent running 2005 170 for it.
jimh posted 05-02-2010 05:28 PM ET (US)
How is the third VERADO power head holding up?

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Author	Topic: New Dauntless 220: On the Third VERADO Power Head
Reichy	posted 08-05-2007 12:22 AM ET (US) Hi folks. I've been lurking on [CONTINUOUSWAVE] for almost two years. Finally took the plunge. New old-stock 2005 Dauntless 220 with 30 demo hours bought two weeks ago. The Verado 225 pushed it to 49.7-MPH on the GPS with two over-200-pounders plus full fuel of 90 gallons, fishing tackle, and safety gear in one-foot chop. I think it might be faster in a tiny bit of chop than on quiet water. Overall very satisfied with the boat. We've fished it for five days; love the casting platforms front and rear; have had it in four-foot chop generated by 60-foot motor cruisers coming out of St. Michaels, MD, and have just finished installing electronics. Will report more as use continues. Thanks, Reichy Eastern Bay, Chesapeake area
jimh	posted 08-05-2007 12:53 PM ET (US) I have always liked that big 22-foot Dauntless. Its low gunwales remind me of the classic hulls. With a Verado motor you have a great package. I like the helm console layout, too. Welcome aboard.
cspaldi	posted 08-07-2007 09:52 AM ET (US) Small world, we also have a Dauntless 220 we keep tied-up in St. Michaels harbour ('04 model, I think, with the older 4-Stroke 225 Mercury). Great for the Miles River and trips around to Oxford to the Masthead for lunch. Sometimes I wish it rode a bit softer when the Bay is rough, but overall a great boat for day trips, light fishing, and family watersports.
lurkynot	posted 08-07-2007 10:32 AM ET (US) I have the 18 Dauntless and have contemplated moving up to a 220 for 2 reasons including a better ride and on availibility of the on board head. Alluding to a rough ride would steer me in a direction of say perhaps an Outrage. I sure would miss the low gunwhales and the auto/co-pilot front mount electric troll motor on the Dauntless line. The past few years I have left the net at home when fishing for Kings on Lake Michigan and walleye fishing on the local lakes because of those low gunwhales. Helps to keep others from crowding when they see a net fly. I will be sure to test ride my next one though to be sure of the decision.
afishermanswife	posted 08-08-2007 07:15 AM ET (US) I have the 2007, 200.. with 175 verado. Boat pushes 44mph - one adult and low fuel.. Ride is exceptional with little of no chop. Boat will pull skier with 5 others on board no problem. the mid range of this engine is outstanding. this is whole new design for whaler this model year with shear foward/rear drop an gunnel. On the pricey side for a 20'6" boat but outstanding amenities for the family/fisherman.
andygere	posted 08-08-2007 11:52 AM ET (US) I agree with jimh, the 220 Dauntless is the closest thing to the classic Outrage 22, which I think is Whaler's finest boat. With a bow mount trolling motor, that's a striper stalking machine if there ever was one! Enjoy your new boat, and please continue to post performance details, photos, etc.
Whalerdog	posted 08-13-2007 08:54 PM ET (US) Nice boat good luck!
Kelry	posted 08-15-2007 02:46 PM ET (US) Afishermanswife, I just bought the 200 DA with the 175 Verado, taking delivery on 08/31. I test drove it, and with three in boat it went 43mph. I was in extremely rough water, but i expect a good ride in average water, and it is good to hear you say that. I am patiently waiting until the 31st!
Kelry	posted 08-16-2007 03:04 PM ET (US) Riechy, Your new boat sounds nice. Pretty fast, too. have fun!
gbunnjr	posted 11-17-2007 10:52 PM ET (US) Dauntless 18 1998 w/ 2007 140 suzuki four stoke..For the money..Not a better Whaler on the market. Bigger is not always better
gbunnjr	posted 11-17-2007 10:54 PM ET (US) Dauntless 18 1998 w/ 2007 140 suzuki four stoke..For the money..Not a better Whaler on the market. Bigger is not always better
masbama	posted 11-18-2007 11:07 PM ET (US) Does your 140 Suzuki have a dolephin?
cban	posted 11-19-2007 12:13 PM ET (US) I have a 1999 18' Dauntless center console with a 2003 Suzuki 140 and a Stingray hydrafoil. I bought the boat last February. I get incredible gas mileage. I ran the bought about 60 hours since I bought it and have refueled twice, the tank was filled by the dealership I bought it from. That includes a lot of idle time. I have never owned a boat before this one and I shopped for almost a year before buying this one. The boat tops out at 42 mph with 2 adults and a child on board. I use the boat for fishing the Georgia coastal waters and pulling kids on a tube. The boat handles great. I have seen a lot of posts concerning porpoising with the Dauntless and at low speed the bow does ride high, but the 140 gets me on plane quickly and with proper trimming even at low speeds the bow comes down. Even with my limited experience, I think the 180 is a great all-purpose boat.
Reichy	posted 02-23-2008 08:59 AM ET (US) Update: Thus far boat performance has been fantastic. I never feel like I'm in too small of a craft when the Chesapeake gets snotty. However, the Verado 225 package has posed some issues: 1) Entire power trim/tilt assembly was replaced due to a pinhole leak in the main cylinder. 2) Fuel delivery system was replaced and Verado was running rich/making oil. Compression checks were excellent, so no problem noted with past break-in procedure. Chesapeake Whalertowne has been wonderful in helping resolve the issues, even though I did not purchase the boat there. R
jollyrog305	posted 02-23-2008 09:32 AM ET (US) Congrats on your purchase. See you out on the bay in a month or so for striper season. The folks at Whalertowne are great folks and very professional. Hope to see you at the BW event at Kent Narrows this year.
tsite	posted 02-24-2008 08:26 PM ET (US) congrats on your purchase,i own a2004 220 dauntless very fast and great bay boat and family boat i believe you will be very happy with 220 overall.
Reichy	posted 09-08-2008 09:45 PM ET (US) Update: Powerhead replaced at 115 hours due to unfixable oil-fuel (making oil) contamination and 25% power loss in #4 cylinder. Powerhead lasted 3 hours then the cam fingers & valve for #6 cylinder grenaded, destroying the majority of #6 cylinder and creating zero compression. Mercury is shipping a new powerhead to Whalertowne of Annapolis & Grasonville to install, but I have almost no confidence or enthusiasm for this propulsion unit at this point. Dealer's master mechanic said we followed break-in properly and the failures are unexplainable. They're not seen such consistent & pervasive failure in a Verado since they started servicing them. About 20% of our ownership period has been spent out of service. Grrr.... R
Reichy	posted 12-12-2008 03:04 PM ET (US) I find it baffling that the staunch and usually vocal defenders of the Verado powerplant have had very little to say about the two powerheads that our 225 Verado has gone through in a year's time. We're now at approximately ten hours on the third powerhead and keeping our fingers crossed. The whole experience has certainly not left us with a warm and fuzzy feeling toward Mercury or Whaler. Either way, in my opinion, the 225 Verado is too heavy for the Dauntless 220, leading to a squatting of the aft end such that the bilge & scupper outlets are perpetually under the water line.
glen e	posted 12-12-2008 07:54 PM ET (US) So what do you want us to say? - you got a bad motor, I guess. Even your dealer says he's never seen this happen before. I suggest you get it up and running, sell it and buy something that makes you happy.....life's too short to own something you don't like or have confidence in...
Feejer	posted 12-14-2008 07:29 PM ET (US) I'll be glad to trade my excellent running 2005 170 for it.
jimh	posted 05-02-2010 05:28 PM ET (US) How is the third VERADO power head holding up?