![]() ![]() It's impossible to fault the construction of a Boston Whaler, which has been refined by their use in no-compromise military, rescue and patrol duty in the worst conditions. Flanking the entire bow area are welded stainless-steel low-profile grab rails, or a single all-around rail. The cockpit sole has a good non-slip surface, and an optional ski pylon slips into place for waterskiing. With the optional bow cushion, the raised bow area becomes a lounge or seat, and underneath is a fully-molded anchor locker with overboard drain and lockable latch. The entire cockpit is self-bailing, with two large drains on each side protected by flapper valves so that you won't get water sloshing back into the boat offshore. Each seat has removable cushions and there are stowage bins located underneath. Aft, a pair of quarter seats are on each side of the outboard well, protected by a welded Type 316 stainless-steel grab rail. Adding to the ergonomic comfort at the helm is the standard tilt wheel. The dash is laid out for maximum visibility, with a full set of gauges including tachometer, speedometer, voltmeter, trim and fuel. The cushions are removable for safekeeping and weather protection. Depending on what year model you look at, either a large swing-back bench cooler seat or two fully adjustable helm seats sit on pedestals. For a 17-foot boat, there's a remarkable feeling of space inside the cockpit. And, as you can see from the photo, the Dauntless has a vast amount more freeboard than the classic Whalers, meaning you'll also take less spray than before. One look tells you that this hull is going to eat up not just chop but healthy swells with aplomb. And that is why Boston Whaler developed what they have labeled the newer generation of deep-V hulls. Forty miles an hour in a bay full of wavelets is like riding down a ski slope on a garbage can lid - every impact is transmitted directly to your cortex. ![]() But it does have what we might laughingly call some shortcomings. That particular hull has probably been responsible for saving more lives, mine included, than any other craft ever built. If this sounds like I'm speaking ill of the classic Boston Whaler, I'm certainly not. You can literally stand on the rail of a classic Whaler, which is a good place to look for all the fillings that left your teeth after a fast run across an afternoon chop. But, ahem, those early Whalers used a unique cathedral hull design that was fast, extremely stable, and incredibly rough riding. Though a used 17 Dauntless won't look exactly like this 2017 model, Whaler fans are in for a treat when they look at this boat. ![]()
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