Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless Dauntless Review

Founded in 1958 by the late Dick Fisher, Boston Whaler has earned a well-deserved reputation for building innovative, durable, comfortable and virtually unsinkable boats. Formed from a proprietary synthetic compound that floats like a cork, Boston Whaler is legendary for that unique added safety feature – a trait that the company still highlights in its ads by cutting a boat in half with a chain saw, then driving around in the half with the motor attached. That enduring legacy lives on in the Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless, a brand-new model for 2021 that continues to raise the bar on versatility and value.

The aft deck reveals corner jump seats, a central bait well, gear storage and space for an angled stainless steel boarding ladder. Note the flush-mount drink holders, rod holders and recessed steel railings for added security underway.

Boston Whaler describes the 250 Dauntless as a center console bay boat. As a fishing platform it’s exceedingly versatile, being built on a semi-deep V hull with a full 18 degrees of wave-taming deadrise, yet somehow managing to draw just 15 inches of water in the process. The result is a boat that can handle rough water with aplomb, yet still sneak into very shallow bays in quest of big fish, and be easily launched or retrieved from even poor, shallow ramps. The Dauntless is definitely a boat that can go anywhere, but that’s only the beginning of its story.

The flip-up jump seats in the stern are a bit bigger than most, and a little more nicely upholstered.

Step aboard and the sporty Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless immediately feels like a bigger boat than it really is, and that’s partly the result of its generous 22 inches of freeboard. The added depth instills a sense of security in rough water, as you don’t feel like you’re going to pitch head-first over the side at any moment. That’s backed up by this boat’s exceptional attention to detail, and that become obvious pretty quickly as you begin to look around onboard.

A bait well in the stern deck includes a thoughtful, stainless steel gas ram to hold the lid open during use.

There’s no question that the Dauntless was designed by actual boaters, and reflects many lifetimes of real-world, on-the-water experience. The cockpit is fully self-draining, so any spray or rain just runs down the deck, through the stainless steel drains and harmlessly over the side. But the boat still has an automatic bilge pump – a redundant feature, but one which provides extra assurance should those drains ever become clogged. Because, what if?

The expansive bow deck houses an anchor locker, a big insulated fish box, and storage spaces for gear.

Further attention to detail becomes evident when you spot the neatly recessed, low-profile, all-welded stainless steel grab rails at the bow and stern seating positions, providing a bit of added security for younger or less experienced passengers. You also notice the Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless has six mooring clears instead of just four – two at the bow, two at the stern, and another pair amidships, allowing you to rig a spring line at the dock so the boat doesn’t rub. And like everything else metal onboard, they’re made from the same ultra-durable 316-L stainless steel. Same for the 10 drink holders positioned throughout the boat, and the four flush-mount rod holders at the stern.

Adding removable cushions converts the bow casting deck into a delightful lounge space. Note the neatly recessed safety rails, drink holders and mooring cleats.

The large, raised stern casting deck doubles as a large swim platform, complete with a retractable stainless steel boarding ladder – one which is angled to the side, to direct swimmers away from the engine for still more added safety.

Even the seat on the front face of the console reflects Boston Whaler’s attention to detail. Not only does it provide gear storage under the seat cushion, it also accommodates rod storage, and is lighted for easy use at night.

To the sides of the rear deck you’ll find a pair of large lids that lift to expose comfortable jump seats. Once you arrive at destination, these fold flush so they don’t interfere with the deck space, whether you’re swimming, fishing or whatever.

Between the jump seats of the Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless is an aerated bait well, with its lid supported by a stainless steel gas ram. This is just another thoughtful little detail, since it’s simply awkward to hold a hook in one hand, chase bait with the other and prop the lid open with one’s head. It sounds silly to put it that way, but without the gas ram, that’s exactly what one would have to do. Not so on this boat.

The generously-proportioned helm includes plenty of space for flush-mount touch-screen displays, while still accommodating a big glove box, a Fusion stereo and a VHF.

Step up front into the bow and there’s further evidence of Boston Whaler’s remarkable attention to detail, starting with the provision of a mounting platform for an electric trolling motor. Because this is a boat designed with fishing in mind, the bow railings, drink holders and cleats are all neatly recessed so they won’t snag fishing lines. The bow deck itself is elevated to the ideal height for spotting fish in shallow water and facilitating easy casting. And there’s not only a convenient anchor locker up front, but a big, insulated fish box with an overboard drain for the day’s catch.

When fishing gives way to family cruising, a set of comfortable cushions quickly convert the bow deck into a comfortable lounging space. With the double-wide, forward-facing seat in front of the console, you have a very nice spot to hang out, talk the day away and enjoy the sunshine in pure, unadulterated comfort.

The standard leaning post provides double-wide seating, with fold-down arm rests and flip-up bolsters.

That big seat on the console face is more than just a great spot to stretch out in the sun. Lift the seat cushion and there’s plenty of storage space for bulky gear, plus room for rod storage on top. Best of all, it’s lighted for easy access at any time of day or night.

The console itself is spacious enough to house a head compartment, complete with a portable toilet with pump-out. There’s a durable acrylic windshield to protect cockpit occupants from the breeze, while the helm itself provides a locking glove box, plenty of space for flush-mount touch-screen displays, a Fusion stereo, a couple of drink holders and a super-nice stainless steel, tilt steering wheel complete with a turning knob. Facing is a double-wide pilot’s seat with fold-down arm rests and flip-up bolsters. The aft side of the leaning post houses plenty of secure storage space for tackle or other gear.

Plenty of storage on the aft-side of the leaning post accommodates a wide range of tackle and other smaller items, along with multiple drink holders and additional rod holders.

The Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless comes with a Mercury 250 horsepower Verado V6 as standard power, which planes the boat in five seconds, takes it from zero to 30 mph in seven seconds, and hits a top speed of just under 50 mph. Maximum power is 400 horsepower, which delivers similar acceleration and a top speed of a little over 55 mph. Quite honestly, the boat runs so well with the standard engine it’s hard to justify the extra expense for the 400, but it is an option for those who want it.

The standard 250 horsepower Mercury Verado V6 delivers exhillarating performance, including top speeds approaching 50 mph.

Boston Whaler is known around the world for building remarkable boats that over-deliver on quality, safety and value. That’s absolutely true for the all-new Boston Whaler 250 Dauntless, a remarkable all-new boat that raises the bar on the builder’s already enviable heritage.