With twin 300-hp Mercs, our speed topped out at 58.5 mph. So, the key performance differences between the two engine configurations are top speed – over 10 mph faster with the twins, and best cruise at 3500 RPM with the Twins rather than 5000 RPM with the single. With the twin 300s and 16” x 20” (40.64 cm x 50.8 cm) props, the speed topped out at 58.5 mph. Best cruise was recorded at 3500 rpm and 33.8 mph. Now the 15.8 gph fuel burn meant 2.1 mpg and 308 miles total. As for acceleration, the twins are quicker off the line with planing speed coming in at 3.4 seconds, 20 mph in 4.4 and 30 mph in 6.4.īoth results take into account holding back a 10% reserve of the boat’s 160-gal (605.6L) total fuel capacity. In acceleration testing, she came up on plane in an average 4.3 seconds, cruised through 20 mph in 7.6 and 30 in 12.2. At that speed, the 15.4 gph worked out to be 2.2 mpg and a range of 313 statute miles. With the single 400 turning a 15” x 15” (38.1 cm x 38.1 cm) prop and run up to 6500 rpm, our speed topped out at 47.4 mph. Best cruise was reached at 5000 rpm and 33.5 mph. First with a single 400-hp Merc and then with twin 300’s with JPO (Joystick Piloting for Outboards). Both have impressive sales requests, so we tested it both ways. The 280 Dauntless is offered in single- and twin-engine packages. This is the performance data when we tested the 280 Dauntless with twin 300-hp Mercury outboards. These increases in size pale in comparison to the new features that the 280 offers. It’d be a shame to compare this boat to other center consoles on the market because she brings much more versatility and luxury to the design when seen next to others in class. She has a bit less fuel capacity than competitors, but remember this boat isn’t intended to do a lot of offshore work. The 280 is simply much more boat than the old 270. One only needs to compare the specs of the old 270 Dauntless with the new boat to see the tremendous strides Whaler has made in improving a product. What Whaler has, which is abundantly obvious from the 280 Dauntless, is one of the best engineering departments in the business.
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