Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Boston Whaler 160 Dauntless 2006 vs Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Boston Whaler 160 Dauntless 2006 vs Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2006 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2006 measures 25,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 9,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Boston Whaler 160 Dauntless 2006 at 16,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2006 tips the scales at 373 lbs — 358 lbs less than the Boston Whaler 160 Dauntless 2006 at 15 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 250 hp, the Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2006 has a 135-hp advantage over the Boston Whaler 160 Dauntless 2006's 115-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 235 Conquest 2006 carries 122 gallons versus 45 gallons in the Boston Whaler 160 Dauntless 2006. 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 235 Conquest 2006 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Boston Whaler 160 Dauntless 2006 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2006 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Boston Whaler 235 Conquest 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 25,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Boston Whaler 160 Dauntless 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeBoston Whaler
MakeBoston Whaler
Model160 Dauntless
Model235 Conquest
Model Year2006
Model Year2006
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam7 ft. 1 in. (2.15 m)
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam - Meters2.16
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches85
Beam - Inches102
Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 9 in. (1.44 m) With Sun Top: 7 ft. 1 in. (2.15 m)
Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. 2 in. (1.87 m) With Hard Top: 8 ft. 8 in. (2.64 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.16
Bridge clearance - Meters2.64
Bridge clearance - Inches85
Bridge clearance - Inches104
Draft [max] - Detail11 in. (.27 m)
Draft [max] - Detail15 in. (.38 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.28
Draft [max] - Meters0.38
Draft [max] - Inches11
Draft [max] - Inches15
Weight - Detail1,500 lbs. (680 kg)
Weight - Detail3,730 lbs. (1,691 kg)
Weight - kg680.39
Weight - kg1691.9
Weight - lbs.15
Weight - lbs.373
Height [transom]20 in. (.50 m)
Height [transom]25 in. (.63 m)
Length - Meters4.95
Length - Meters7.67
Length - Feet16
Length - Feet25
Length - Inches3
Length - Inches2
Length overall - Detail16 ft. 3 in. (4.95 m)
Length overall - Detail25 ft. 2 in. (7.67 m)
Length overall - Meters4.95
Length overall - Meters7.67
Length overall - Inches195
Length overall - Inches302
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standard90 ELPT FourStroke Mercury
Engine/s standard225 XXL OptiMax? Mercury
Fuel tank capacity - Detail45 gal. (170 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail122 gal. (461 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters170.34
Fuel tank capacity - Liters461.82
Fuel tank capacity - Gal45
Fuel tank capacity - Gal122
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine maxMaximum: 115 hp (85 kW) Minimum: 50 hp (37 kW) Maximum Engine Weight: 410 lbs. (185 kg)
Engine maxMaximum: 250 hp (186 kW) Minimum: 175 hp (130 kW) Maximum Engine Weight: 700 lbs. (317 kg)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity4,200 lbs. (1,905 kg)
Maximum capacity4,400 lbs. (1,995 kg)
Maximum people6
Maximum people12