Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Boston Whaler 255 Conquest 2007 vs Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless 2023 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Boston Whaler 255 Conquest 2007 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 450 hp, the Boston Whaler 255 Conquest 2007 has a 100-hp advantage over the Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless 2023's 350-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 15 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 255 Conquest 2007 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless 2023 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Boston Whaler 255 Conquest 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Boston Whaler 255 Conquest 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 26,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless 2023 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeBoston Whaler
Makenot available
Model255 Conquest?
Modelnot available
Model Year2007
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 9 in. (2.66 m)
Beam9.00 ft
Beam - Meters2.67
Beam - Meters2.74
Beam - Inches105
Beam - Inches108
Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 3 in. (2.20 m) With Hard Top: 9 ft. 5 in. (2.87 m)
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.87
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches113
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail16 in. (.40 m)
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.41
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches16
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail4,900 lbs. (2,222 kg)
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg2222.6
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.49
Weight - lbs.not available
Height [transom]25 in. d / 30 in. s (.63 m / .76 m)
Height [transom]not available
Length - Meters8.2
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet26
Length - Feet28.8
Length - Inches11
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail26 ft. 11 in. (8.20 m)
Length overall - Detail28.80 ft
Length overall - Meters8.2
Length overall - Meters8.78
Length overall - Inches323
Length overall - Inches346
Draft Minnot available
Draft Min1.60 ft
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standard225 XXL OptiMax? Mercury®
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail150 gal. (567 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters567.81
Fuel tank capacity - Liters605.67
Fuel tank capacity - Gal15
Fuel tank capacity - Gal16
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeoutboard
Engine maxMaximum: 450 hp (335 kW) Minimum: 225 hp (167 kW) Maximum Engine Weight: 1,220 lbs. (553 kg)
Engine maxnot available
Engine makenot available
Engine makeMercury
Engine modelnot available
Engine modelL6 DTS Black Verado
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower350 hp
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 capacity6,100 lbs. (2,766 kg)
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people14
Maximum peoplenot available
Water capacitynot available
Water capacity18
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower