Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless Review

Boston Whaler enjoys a long and well-deserved reputation for building top-quality boats that offer all the latest technology and refinement. That’s been particularly true over the past few years as advanced electronics and connectivity features have enabled boats to do more with greater ease. Perhaps no model in the lineup demonstrates these advanced capabilities like the company’s all-new Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless, which made its global debut in New York last month.

More than a replacement for the outgoing 270 Dauntless, the new 280 model showcases Boston Whaler’s approach to boat building in a unique way, seamlessly integrating cutting edge high-tech with the marque’s legendary craftsmanship and unsinkable hull.

The 280 Dauntless replaces the previous 270 Dauntless model, bringing entirely new levels of comfort, luxury and performance to the class.

Stretching 28 feet, 8 inches in length and riding on a generous nine-foot beam, the Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless is a much larger boat than the previous 270 model in spite of only being a couple of inches longer. Part of that comes from its hull form, which maintains the boat’s full 9-foot beam far, far forward – ahead of the console face seat, in fact. Combined with sheer gunnels that preserve foot space, the result is a boat that feels far more spacious and open than anything else in its class. The added space contributes to the new 280’s versatility, and makes it an almost irresistible family day boat.

Cockpit access is through a starboard-side walk-through, where a transom shower makes short work of any sand, weeds or other debris that finds its way on deck.

Boston Whaler has poured a ton of new, innovative features into the 280 in order to really raise the bar with this model, and that becomes quickly apparent as you step aboard and look around. The easiest boarding is via the stern swim platform, which has a retractable boarding ladder on its starboard side, and entering the boat through a starboard-side pass-through. Once in the cockpit you can’t help but notice the forward-facing bench seat at the transom, which folds flat to create an elevated casting deck. A removable, pedestal-mount table can be installed ahead of this seat to create a delightful lunch spot, if desired.

A retractable bench seat across the transom folds flat when not in use to create a substantial elevated casting deck. The removable pedestal mount table transforms the space into an appealing lunch spot.

A rectangular fiberglass lid to the port side of the transom seat opens to reveal a 19-gallon aerated live well.

The main cockpit is spacious and fully self-draining, so that any spray or rain simply runs down the deck, through the drains and out over the side with no need for electric pumps that could fail. The arrangement also makes end-of-day cleanups a whole lot easier, by simply using the boat’s transom shower to spray down the deck and flush any sand, fish scales or other debris out the drains.

As one expects from a Boston Whaler, the gunnels are high and wide, making it easy to mount downriggers, rod holders, or other fishing accessories. The Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless comes with a surprise though, in the form of a port-side gunnel that lowers on twin gas rams to provide a dive platform. Boston Whaler calls this a swim patio, and it’s a wonderful optional upgrade that really contributes to the boat’s incredible versatility.

The available cockpit patio is rock solid when deployed thanks to two beefy gas rams that hold it in place.

The standard helm seat in the Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless is an electrically actuated power seat that, at the push of a button, converts from a standard two-wide, forward-facing helm seat with storage drawers for gear in its rear face, to a two-wide aft-facing seat abutting a twin forward-facing bolster at the helm. It’s an incredibly slick arrangement that works very, very well.

The standard helm seat folds rearward on an electric actuator to offer either forward-facing or stern-facing seating.

Buyers can also select an optional leaning post with a fixed back, with the aft side housing a countertop, a sink, a faucet, beverage holders and rod holders. This can be further upgraded to house a second live well, or a Seakeeper gyroscopic stabilizer.

Deep storage drawers in the helm seat base keep small items safely stowed, but quickly and easily accessible.

The helm is simple but neatly designed, with plenty of room for the buyer’s choice of flush-mount electronics.

The helm is clean, uncluttered, and offers tons of space for the buyer’s choice of flush-mounted electronics.

The starboard face of the console offers a wide entry door that provides access to the head. A marine toilet with pump-out comes standard, with a Vacuflush upgrade available

The available electric sun shade is a popular option. Pressing a helm-mounted button extends the shade to protect the entire cockpit.

Overhead, a standard fiberglass T-top includes a tow point for watersports. One popular option is an available SureShade power sunscreen that shades the entire cockpit at the push of a button.

Bow seating consists of a spacious, double-side lounge on the console face, and twin forward-facing lounges with adjustable back rests that can lay flat at rest.

Up front in the bow, the Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless offers a double-wide console-face seat with pull-down arm rests and beverage holders, with a huge storage compartment beneath – including a dedicated spot for the removable cockpit table.

Under-seat storage spaces in the 280 Dauntless are both plentiful and cavernous. Note the stainless gas ram to hold the lid open, and rubber gasket to protect contents from spray.

Facing this are twin forward-facing lounge seats with fold-down back rests. Each of these seats also provides storage space in their base, and is served by a low profile bow rail with integrated drink holders. Between the seats, the floor houses a large, insulated fish box with a drain. Tabs located on the sides of the seats allow the cockpit table to be installed flush and, with a filler cushion, convert the entire bow into a large sun pad.

An in-floor fish box keeps the catch of the day fresh.

Far forward, a deck-mounted hatch opens to reveal not just a windlass for the anchor, but a bow-mounted boarding ladder as well, which is a real convenience when beaching the boat.

Rated to handle up to 600 horsepower, the 280 Dauntless performs best with twin 300s, which provide a top speed approaching 60 mph.

The Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless is rated to handle up to 600 horsepower. The vast majority of these boats will come equipped with twin Mercury 300s in order to benefit from the available joystick piloting feature. With twin 300s, Boston Whaler says the boat will plane in about four seconds and reach top speeds approaching 60 mph at wide-open throttle.

Families in search of a well-made, feature-rich day boat that’s safe, fun to drive and exceptionally versatile will have a hard time finding fault with the Boston Whaler Dauntless 280. Where the previous 270 model was considered top of its class, the new 280 raises the bar again to an entirely new level.