The Boston Whaler 130 Super Sport Super Sport 2021 vs Boston Whaler 170 Dauntless 2017 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 115 hp, the Boston Whaler 170 Dauntless 2017 has a 75-hp advantage over the Boston Whaler 130 Super Sport Super Sport 2021's 40-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 2017 carries 35 gallons versus 7 gallons in the Boston Whaler 130 Super Sport Super Sport 2021. 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 2017 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Boston Whaler 130 Super Sport Super Sport 2021 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 2017 could be the deciding factor.
The Boston Whaler 130 Super Sport Super Sport 2021 is trailerable — a genuine lifestyle advantage at this size. The Boston Whaler 170 Dauntless 2017 isn't listed as trailerable, which may mean a permanent berth or mooring is required.
Bottom line: Choose the Boston Whaler 170 Dauntless 2017 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Boston Whaler 130 Super Sport Super Sport 2021 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.