Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 boat specs
Boston Whaler
Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013
2013
View full specs →
VS
Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 boat specs
Boston Whaler
Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013
2013
View full specs →

Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 vs Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 against a deep vee Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 measures 26,9 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 3,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 at 23,5 feet (2013). At 29 lbs and 52 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 450 hp, the Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 has a 200-hp advantage over the Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013's 250-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 270 Vantage 2013 carries 175 gallons versus 79 gallons in the Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013. 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 270 Vantage 2013 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 26,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeBoston Whaler
MakeBoston Whaler
Model230 Dauntless?
Model270 Vantage
Model Year2013
Model Year2013
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam9 ft. (2.74 m)
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters2.74
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches108
Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. 2 in. (1.88 m) 7 ft. 10 in. (2.39 m) with T-top
Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 7 in. (1.7 m) 9 ft. 1 in. (2.77 m) with hardtop 7 ft. 4 in. (2.24 m) with sun top 8 ft. 4 in. (2.54 m) with water sports tower
Bridge clearance - Meters2.39
Bridge clearance - Meters2.77
Bridge clearance - Inches94
Bridge clearance - Inches109
Deadrise16°
Deadrise20°
Draft [max] - Detail12 in. (0.3 m)
Draft [max] - Detail20 in. (0.51 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.3
Draft [max] - Meters0.51
Draft [max] - Inches12
Draft [max] - Inches2
Weight - Detail2,900 lbs. (1,315 kg) no engine
Weight - Detail5,200 lbs. (2,359 kg) no engine
Weight - kg1315.42
Weight - kg2358.68
Weight - lbs.29
Weight - lbs.52
Height [transom]25 in. (0.63 m)
Height [transom]30 in. (0.76 m) single 25 in. (0.64 m) dual
Length - Feet23.5
Length - Feet26.92
Length overall - Detail23 ft. 6 in. (7.16 m)
Length overall - Detail26 ft. 10 in. (8.18 m)
Length overall - Meters7.16
Length overall - Meters8.18
Length overall - Inches282
Length overall - Inches322
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]28 ft. 3 in. (8.61 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardMercury? Verado? 225 XL DTS FourStroke with hydraulic power steering
Engine/s standardDual Mercury? Verado? 150 CXL L4 DTS FourStroke with power steering
Fuel tank capacity - Detail79 gal. (299 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail175 gal. (622 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters299.05
Fuel tank capacity - Liters662.45
Fuel tank capacity - Gal79
Fuel tank capacity - Gal175
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard - Twin
Engine max250 hp (187 kW) maximum
Engine max450 hp (336 kW) maximum
Operational Info
Maximum capacity3,000 lbs. (1,361 kg) Swamped Capacity: 5,300 lbs. (2,404 kg)
Maximum capacity3,702 lbs. (1,679 kg) Swamped Capacity: 5,000 lbs. (2,268 kg)
Maximum people9
Maximum people12
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity20 gal. (76 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail6 gal. (23 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters22.71
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal6

Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 vs Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 or the Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013?
The Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 is the longer of the two at 26,9 feet overall. The Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 comes in at 23,5 feet, making it roughly 3,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 or the Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013?
For trailering, the Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 has the edge at 29 lbs dry weight versus 52 lbs for the Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 is rated to a maximum of 450 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 tops out at 250 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 230 Dauntless 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 is certified for 12. 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 270 Vantage 2013 measures 108" wide, compared to 102" for the Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013. 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.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 or the Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013?
The Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 has the bigger tank at 175 gallons, versus 79 gallons on the Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013. That 96-gallon difference translates to roughly 288–480 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 and Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Boston Whaler 230 Dauntless 2013 and the Boston Whaler 270 Vantage 2013 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.