Sport Fishing USA — January 2018

SPORTFISHINGMAG.COM 33

jack-of-all-trades,” says Spencer
Traynom, program manager for Boston
Whaler, who oversaw the team effort to
create this fishing-centric 2018 model,
which, by the way, helps commemo-
rate Boston Whaler’s 60th anniversary.
“The 240 Dauntless Pro is definitely
the ‘fishiest’ model in the Dauntless
line,” Traynom points out.
To see just how fishy this model
can be, Traynom and I headed out on
a mid-August morning into Florida’s
Sarasota Bay from the marina at the
Hyatt Regency Sarasota. Joining us
was local guide Capt. James Goodwin,
of Go Florida Fishing, to help us target
redfish and seatrout, and Sport Fishing
videographer Christopher Balogh.
Before we started fishing, however,
we jetted out into the Gulf through
New Pass to cast-net for pilchards
along the beaches of Longboat Key.
The expansive, stable forward casting
platform — measuring 86 inches long
by 65  inches wide — proved invaluable
as Goodwin scanned for bait schools
from the bow while cradling the net.

INSHORE ORIENTED

“This is primarily a bay boat,” Traynom
said, pointing to the 1-foot-2-inch draft,
as well as the optional jack plate, trolling
motor and Power-Pole as examples of
key inshore-fishing features.
In the next breath, Traynom alluded
to the fact that he has taken his own 240

Dauntless as far as 40 miles into the

Atlantic Ocean off New Smyrna Beach,

Florida, in pursuit of mahi and tuna.

While Traynom’s 240 is not the new

Pro edition, both boats ride on the same

24-foot-8-inch hull. Our tester sliced

smoothly through the 2-foot rollers at

the inlet — about the roughest water we

encountered on this Fish Trial.

Back to bait catching. Goodwin

quickly spotted a dense school of

pilchards in the clear shallows and

unfurled the cast net. With one haul, he

was able to plug the 38-gallon livewell

under the aft casting platform. He

stowed his net in a five-gallon bucket

in the huge central locker under the

foredeck, flanked by two equally cav-

ernous lockers. A secondary livewell is

located under the forward console seat.

REDESIGNED

AFT DECK

The aft deck represents another

distinctive feature of the 240 Dauntless

Pro. It dispenses with the aft ridge found

on the regular 240, effectively expanding

the deck and eliminating a possible trip-

ping point while fishing. Trays on both

sides provide places to stash loose tackle

items like hooks and sinkers. Seat cush-

ions and backrests can fit on the aft

deck to create a pair of seats.

We headed back into the bay and

north to fish a spot known as Long

Bar that Goodwin believed would hold

redfish and trout. The single Mercury

350 Verado outboard loped along at

PERFORMANCE
POWER .................................. Mercury 350 Verado
LOAD ................................... 80 gal. fuel, four crew
TOP SPEED ............................48 mph @ 6,200 rpm
TIME TO 30 MPH ........................................ 12 sec.
BEST MPG .................. 2.2 @ 25.5 mph (4,000 rpm)

HULL
LOA ......................................................... 24 ft. 8 in.
BEAM .........................................................8 ft. 6 in.
DEADRISE ................................................... 16 deg.
DRY WEIGHT .......................3,300 lb. (w/o engine)
DRAFT ........................................................1 ft. 2 in.
FUEL ..............................................................90 gal.
MAX POWER ............................................... 350 hp

MSRP....................................... $113,433 base boat
(w/ Mercury Verado 225)

BOSTON WHALER
Edgewater, Florida
386-428-0057
bostonwhaler.com

JANUARY 2018 / VOL 33 — ISSUE 1

THE 240 DAUNTLESS

PRO IS DEFINITELY THE

“FISHIEST” MODEL IN

THE DAUNTLESS LINE.

Whaler designed a new center console for the

240 Dauntless Pro that seamlessly integrates

the hardtop and tower. A secondary livewell

resides under the forward seat.