Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2012 vs Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless 2023 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2012 vs Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless 2023 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 350 hp, the Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless 2023 has a 260-hp advantage over the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2012's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 13 gal and 16 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless 2023 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless 2023 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless 2023 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 28,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Boston Whaler 170 Super Sport 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeBoston Whaler
Makenot available
Model170 Super Sport
Modelnot available
Model Year2012
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam6 ft. 10 in. (2.08 m)
Beam9.00 ft
Beam - Meters2.08
Beam - Meters2.74
Beam - Inches82
Beam - Inches108
Bridge clearance - Detail3 ft. 3 in. (1.0 m) 6 ft. 11 in. (2.11 m) with sun top
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.11
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches83
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Deadrise14℃
Deadrisenot available
Draft [max] - Detail9 in. (0.23 m) boat only
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.23
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches9
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail1,150 lbs. (521 kg) no engine
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg521.63
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.115
Weight - lbs.not available
Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)
Height [transom]not available
Length - Feet17
Length - Feet28.8
Length overall - Detail17 ft. (5.18 m)
Length overall - Detail28.80 ft
Length overall - Meters5.18
Length overall - Meters8.78
Length overall - Inches204
Length overall - Inches346
Draft Minnot available
Draft Min1.60 ft
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardMercury? 60 ELPT EFI Bigfoot FourStroke
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail13 gal. (49.2 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters49.21
Fuel tank capacity - Liters605.67
Fuel tank capacity - Gal13
Fuel tank capacity - Gal16
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeoutboard
Horsepower90 hp (67.11 kW) maximum
Horsepower350 hp
Engine makenot available
Engine makeMercury
Engine modelnot available
Engine modelL6 DTS Black Verado
Engine 2 Engine Makenot available
Engine 2 Engine MakeMercury
Engine 2 Engine Modelnot available
Engine 2 Engine ModelL6 DTS Black Verado
Engine 2 Horsepowernot available
Engine 2 Horsepower350 hp
Engine 2 Fuel Typenot available
Engine 2 Fuel TypeGas
Engine 2 Drive Typenot available
Engine 2 Drive Typeoutboard
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,570 lbs. (712 kg) Swamped Capacity: 3,500 lbs. (1,588 kg)
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people7
Maximum peoplenot available
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity18
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower