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I am making a decision about either repowering my 2004 Dauntless 160 or buying a pristine (20 hrs on it) 2014 170 for $25K. The repower includes new rigging and a few other repairs which comes to $12K. When all is said and done I will be in for about $25k with my old boat, including purchase price. The new one is in brand new showroom mint condition, it has a $1,500 Garmin, $500 stereo, hydraulic steering, Bimini, two batteries with switch, new trailer that has not been used. It's a sweet boat. It has a 90 Merc 4st on it. It's in dry storage and not painted.
I want to know if there are any knowledgable folks here who know these models. Is the 2004 a better hull and design? Have they cheaped out on the 2014.? Is there anything that should make me want to keep my old one vs the new one?
I am essentially getting a brand new boat ( at a great price)for the same as my old will cost and to me it's a no brainier. How ever I am not a Whaler expert, and I'd hate to find out I made a poor choice the hard way.
Thanks
I forgot to add that my 2004 has a 90 Merc 2-stroke. Which is plenty of power for me. I do realize that the 2014 is heavier, but I'm not looking to win any races. The reviews I've read of the 2014 with the 90 seem to be very good.
I do want to clarify a couple of things. First off the good reviews of the 2014, are of the entire boat as a whole. However, I have not read too many good things about the Mercurys, and that is the one part of this that has me concerned. Do I get a virtually brand new boat with a motor that seems to have a bad rep, regardless if it new or not?
Or do I repower with the Yamaha 115 which I hear nothing but good things about (and get a 6 yr warranty)? On the coast of RI, I see that the market is dominated by about 70% Yamaha.
So it looks like a trade off either way. Get a pristine boat at a price that is near impossible to find, and cross my fingers that I get one of the non-lemon Mercs. Or stick with my 2004, with its dents and dings and other small repairs, but have a new rock solid power plant with a good warranty.
The 170 Dauntless with a 90HP Mercury four stroke will be woefully low powered, IMO. After owing a Dauntless 16 with a 115HP two stroke I can tell you the difference in high and low speed performance is almost unbelievable.
The 16 is such a sweet boat that I would repower to a 115. The value will be in the use of the boat more than how much you have spent.
