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I've owned my Ventura for ten years and do most of my boating in Cape Cod Bay and in Florida near Jupiter (I truck the boat down to FL for the winter). I'm thinking about a new Whaler and have looked at both the Outrage (22 or 25) and the Dauntless (23). Most of the time I'm fishing and the rest of the time I'm pulling waterskiers or a tube or just cruising.
Here's my questions...
Here on Cape Cod Bay, my boat is on a mooring and sits on the sand at low tide, so I'm always desperate to get out as quick as possible as the tide comes in for better fishing, so less draft is better. But, we also get pretty strong west winds that will kick up 2-3 footers that I have to plow through to get home.
Will the Dauntless handle 2-3 footers as well as the Outrage? And if it gets worse than that, let's say 4-5 footers? Will one boat be drier than the other? The Ventura is a great boat, but I'm usually soaked by the time I get in.
Looking for opinions from Dauntless and Outrage owners.
I ask because of your comment about being soaked by the time you get back. Recent vintage 21 Ventura's are well regarded for the ride and capabilities.
What size Dauntless or Outrage are you considering?
I hope to take both out, but I'd like to take them out in the chop I run into. Ironically, it's been been a beautiful summer so far here on Cape Cod so the most I've seen so far are just rolling 1-2 footers. So I think the challenge will be to get sea trials on days I'm off work and here and the weather cooperates. (As always!) Thanks for your inputs.
I'd love to hear from any Dauntless owners about your boats and have they handle different sea conditions!
I have a Dauntless 15 so it's a very different boat than a 23 would be, but I'll share my impressions since you asked for Dauntless owners.
I'm confident navigating 3-4' seas but it was not made for that, so mother nature dictates the pace. The only spray issues are with a cross wind or following wind which blows spray back into the boat. We stow rain gear for those days.
A 22 outrage being heavier (than my boat) and having more dead rise than a Dauntless, will no doubt, cruise faster and smoother in choppy conditions. I would expect that to result in less blow back into the boat.
I was tempted by the outrage but I did not want to step up to a larger boat. On the rare occasion that I find myself facing real rough water I have plenty of safe harbor options. Once the waves get to 2' it's not much fun to fish anyways because of the wind.
It's funny about the test drive weather. I wanted a nasty day also but ended up with picnic weather.
Edited by Tig on 07/10/10 - 7:01 AM
1995 Dauntless 15, Honda 50
I've driven them both in fairly rough water (Chesapeke Bay chop) and the Outrage definately handles the chop better. But as mentioned above, the hull design is different. More freeboard so it's a little safer for passengers, especially little ones and a steeper deadrise to knife thru the chop. The 23 Dauntless is a super nice boat also and really fast with a 250 Verado on the back and will tow tube and skiers like no tomorrow. It will snap your neck back if you slam the throttles home. On calm water we trimmed it out and were passing 50 mph in what seemed like a few seconds. Actually I think it was. It also has the factory installed option of a ski pylon. If you don't mind blasting from wave top to wave top, It will go in a 2 ft chop. The Dauntless does also draft less but off the top of my head I forget how much.The Outrage is a little drier ride but anyone who tells you any center console in this size range is a dry ride is a salesman, not a boat driver. Either boat will easily take more punishment in the soup than your body can withstand. Believe me, I've done it. And as with any Whaler, it's solid as a rock. No hull thumping and straining like you feel on any other production boats, Bar None.
You've got a tough choice on your hands but either is a good one. i wish I had to make this difficult decision myself right now. I'd probably chose the Outrage for the rough sea handling abilty and for fishing, but there's no doubt I like playing with that sports car speed and acceleration of the Dauntess
Edited by DWinter on 07/10/10 - 4:10 PM
Duane G Winter
1984 BW Sport 15 Center Console
