BOSTON WHALER 220 DAUNTLESS
A new, hard-to-beat middleweight contender ready to take on inshore and nearshore game.
BOSTON WHALER REVAMPS ITS LINEUP CONTINUALLY. FOR 2021, THE MIDSIZE DAUNTLESS MODELS WERE UPDATED WITH CLEANER, MORE ROOMY LAYOUTS, WITH ADDED STANDARD FEATURES AND OPTIONS. THE 220 NOW BOASTS ADDED FISHABILITY AND COMFORT, OFFERING ANGLERS A VERSATILE, WELLEQUIPPED CENTER-CONSOLE THAT’S FAMILY-FRIENDLY, AND EASY TO RUN, TRAILER AND STORE.
The redesigned Dauntless sports a sleeker and unsinkable hull that takes on moderate chop with confidence, honoring its builder’s seaworthiness tradition. The 18-degree deadrise and increased freeboard (now 22 inches) make leaving protected bay waters to fish a wreck or troll the reef edge a simple decision.
The new 220 is also roomier than its predecessor. The expansive raised deck at the bow provides plenty of casting room and, with cushions, serves as a sizable sun pad. Two large hatches open to a dedicated anchor locker and a large fish box/dry storage compartment with overboard drains, leaving space for an optional trolling motor forward.
The forward console double lounger has been extended for added comfort and greater storage capacity beneath. It includes flip-up armrests and dual drink holders, and houses a passthrough rod rack to stow up to 7-foot sticks, which, added to the flush-mount holders and rocket launchers, amounts to storage for more than a dozen rods.
The aft raised deck also changed in the 2021 model. It’s no longer stepped, but rather level, affording extra space to port and starboard for casting and landing fish, and it incorporates a hatch that hides a telescoping boarding ladder, plus a pair of jump seats that fold flush when not needed. Lifting the seats
provides access to twin compartments where the batteries and shallow-water anchor pump reside, leaving some space to stash gear.
A bench-style pilot seat accommodates two at the helm. It has a locking, double-sided backrest that flips fore and aft to face either direction, and sits over a cooler that can be plumbed as a 32-gallon livewell, the exact setup on our test boat.
Two leaning posts are offered as upgrades: a competition model with an aluminum frame, fold-down armrests, flip-up bolsters, four rod holders and a slide-out 75-quart cooler, or a deluxe model featuring a fiberglass base with a 30-gallon livewell, and holders for cups, a knife, leader spools and four rods.
Our test boat carried the optional T-top with canvas shade, and an aluminum powder-coated frame with a rocket launcher for four rods. A fiberglass hardtop with a rocket launcher and life-jacket storage, and a basic sun top are available options.
The ergonomically designed console has space inside for storage or a removable porta potty accessed via a starboard-side door and incorporates a compass on top and a dash with all the real estate required to mount the indispensable electronics. Protected by an acrylic windshield, the helm includes a Mercury Smartcraft deluxe gauge package, a switch panel with circuit breakers and hydraulic tilt steering, and has room to spare for the optional Fusion stereo head, VHF radio, and a 12-inch MFD or a pair of 9-inch units.
Noteworthy options include a Mercury VesselView engine monitoring system, a removable table for the bow, trim tabs, raw-water washdown, freshwater pull-out shower with 12-gallon tank, 8- or 10-foot Power-pole, anchor roller, and 36-volt Motorguide Xi-5 trolling motor with GPS and battery charger.
Once we finished going over the features and amenities, we took the Dauntless out for ride on the Intracoastal Waterway near the Boston Whaler plant in Edgewater, Florida, where the 220’s agility, pep and responsiveness were instantly on display.
Pushed by a Mercury 250 hp V-8, the boat proved fast on the takeoff, with excellent acceleration throughout its rpm range. It took us less than 4 seconds to jump on plane, went from zero to 30 mph in just 6 seconds, and promptly hit 50 mph at wide-open throttle. Bow rise was never a concern, and fuel consumption brought a smile to our faces—we quickly determined the 220 Dauntless, with its highest power option, let us cruise at over 30 mph while burning less than 10 gph.
In maneuverability and responsiveness, the Whaler gets our thumbs-up as well. It performed S-turns and tight, 180-degree turns with ease, even at speed, tracking faithfully without excessive leaning.
We came away with a great impression, certain that the 220 Dauntless is built to provide years of top performance and help anglers and their families make happy memories.