Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021 boat specs
Boston Whaler
Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021
2021
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VS
Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012 boat specs
Boston Whaler
Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012
2012
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Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021 vs Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021 vs Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012 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 900 hp, the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012 has a 750-hp advantage over the Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 35,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.
Measurements / Dimensions
Length overall - Detail18.10 ft
Length overall - Detail35 ft. 11 in. (10.95 m) with pulpit
Length - Feet18.1
Length - Feet35.92
Length overall - Meters5.52
Length overall - Meters10.95
Length overall - Inches217
Length overall - Inches431
Beam8.10 ft
Beam11 ft. 8 in. (3.56 m)
Beam - Meters2.47
Beam - Meters3.56
Beam - Inches97
Beam - Inches14
Draft [max] - Detail12.00 ft
Draft [max] - Detail22 in. (0.56 m) boat only
Draft [max] - Meters3.66
Draft [max] - Meters0.56
Draft [max] - Inches144
Draft [max] - Inches22
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Detail10 ft. (3.05 m) with hardtop 11 ft. 1 in. (3.38 m) with radar 17 ft. (5.18 m) with upper station 23 ft. (7 m) with upper station and outriggers
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters7.01
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches276
Deadrisenot available
Deadrise20°
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - Detail28 in. (0.71 m)
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Centimeters71.12
Depth - Inchesnot available
Depth - Inches28
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail14,200 lbs. (6,441 kg) no engine
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg6441.01
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.142
Height [transom]not available
Height [transom]30 in. (0.76 m)
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makenot available
Horsepower150 hp
Horsepower900 hp (672 kW) maximum
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeoutboard
Drive typeOutboard - Twin
Engine/s standardnot available
Engine/s standardDual Mercury? Verado? 300 CXL DTS FourStroke with SmartCraft VesselView Display and hydraulic tilt power steering (91 octane fuel recommended)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail421 gal. (1,594 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1593.66
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal421
Operational Info
TrailerableYes
Trailerablenot available
Boat typePower
Boat typenot available
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity45 gal. (170.3 l)
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum capacity5,580 lbs. (2,531 kg) Swamped Capacity: 4,900 lbs. (2,222 kg)
Maximum peoplenot available
Maximum people14
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail20 gal. (75.71 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters75.71
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal2
General Boat Info
Makenot available
MakeBoston Whaler
Modelnot available
Model345 Conquest? Open
Model Yearnot available
Model Year2012
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typenot available
Hull typeDeep Vee

Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021 vs Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021 or the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012?
The Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012 is the longer of the two at 35,9 feet overall. The Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021 comes in at 18,1 feet, making it roughly 17,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012 is rated to a maximum of 900 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021 tops out at 150 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012 is certified for 14. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021 measures 97" wide, compared to 14" for the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Are the Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021 and Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Boston Whaler 180 Dauntless 2021 and the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest Open 2012 are built by Boston Whaler. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.