When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Boston Whaler 110 Tender 2010 and the Boston Whaler 170 Dauntless 2012 are modified vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Boston Whaler 170 Dauntless 2012 measures 17,0 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 5,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Boston Whaler 110 Tender 2010 at 11,3 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Boston Whaler 110 Tender 2010 tips the scales at 424 lbs — 256 lbs more than the Boston Whaler 170 Dauntless 2012 at 168 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 100 hp, the Boston Whaler 170 Dauntless 2012 has a 85-hp advantage over the Boston Whaler 110 Tender 2010's 15-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Boston Whaler 170 Dauntless 2012 carries 35 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Boston Whaler 110 Tender 2010. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Boston Whaler 170 Dauntless 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Boston Whaler 110 Tender 2010 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Boston Whaler 170 Dauntless 2012 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Boston Whaler 170 Dauntless 2012 comes in at 2 lbs per hp versus 28 lbs per hp for the Boston Whaler 110 Tender 2010. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
Bottom line: Choose the Boston Whaler 170 Dauntless 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Boston Whaler 110 Tender 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.