Boston Whaler Boats for Sale

Boston Whaler Boats: what to know

Boston Whaler build their hulls around a foam core, which is where the unsinkable reputation comes from: cut one in half and both halves float. They are saltwater boats first, they cost more than most of what sits next to them, and they hold their value better than almost anything else on the water.

What to check before you buy

• The foam that makes them unsinkable also soaks up water if the hull has been holed and badly repaired. Ask about any repair below the rubrail.
• Know the lines: Montauk is the simple centre console, Dauntless the family-friendly one, Outrage the offshore boat, Vantage the dual console for people who want both.
• The outboards are most of the value. Get hours, service records and a compression test.
• On a saltwater boat look as hard at the trailer as the boat. It rusts first.

Common questions

Are Boston Whalers really unsinkable?

The hull is filled with closed-cell foam, so a swamped or holed Whaler floats rather than going down. That is a real and tested property of the boat, not marketing, though it does not make it safe to go out in any weather.

Why do Boston Whalers cost so much?

Build quality, the foam hull construction, and demand. They also lose value slowly, so the gap between what you pay and what you get back is often smaller than it looks on the sticker.

Which Boston Whaler is right for a family?

A Dauntless or a Vantage. The Montauk is wonderful and spare but short on seating and shade; the Outrage is built to go offshore and priced accordingly.