I know these are not high performance rigs, but any of you boating experts care to comment or have experience ?

We just spent three weeks in Florida ( boated one day in Naples and one in Lauderdale ) - saw a ton of Whalers and a few Robalos …

I’ve been looking online and my girlfriend just bought a 2024 BW 15 Montauk - we love it for just rippin’ around on quiet days - just such easy boating - hose it out and go.

Having said that, anyone have any experience in say the 21-25 foot range ? BW makes a 21 Montauk and a 23 & 25 Dauntless. Robalo makes the R23 & R25. Just from the online pictures, the Robalos look a bit fancier ?

MDS

I owned a dauntless 22 for a few years and loved it. Was a great day boat that had decent performance and offshore capabilities. I boat on Lake Michigan 90% of the time and trailered it to LOTO a few times. Just like any boat, it has its pros and cons. Great on fuel, ran mid 50s mph, handled bigger water decently for its size. Easy to clean, trailer, store ect. My only real complaint about the boat would be they lack the comfort in some of the seating. Newer whalers address that a little I think. Also, they are probably a little more $$ up front for a comparable size whaler vs Robalo, but I believe the resale is a bit better as well. All that said, my vote is whaler hands down fwiw.

Whaler, whaler, whaler....

Joe

Yep. Whaler. Proven performance.the Robalos are nice though. There’s a dealer down the street from me. Cool boats for sure.

we picked up an 84 17’ whaler that had been restored. Just needed motor and rigging. Slapped a new merc 90 on it. Get it out of the shop this week hopefully. Loved whalers since I was a kid. Ran on many models over the years. Got this one so our teenage boys can use it and fish off it etc. gonna keep it in the harbor year round.

It`s a bathtub with engines on the back, does it really matter ?

when your out in 15’ seas offshore…yeah, it definitely matters. And I’m not exaggerating. You go out to the islands around here 25 plus miles offshore you can and do get caught in some sh*t. Been there. You want something you know is gonna get you home. My kids running around in it? I’ll take the unsinkable legend all day.

Why in the world are you taking a bathtub with an engine in 15' seas??!!
I`m guessing the OP doesn`t have a death wish and isn`t buying the boat to go out in hurricane weather.
15' waves ? I`m staying at the dock I don`t care if I have a 50' boat.

Kinda wondering the same thing?

the weather may change on you and you can find yourself in 15' waves ,but you would have to be a dumb $$ to go out with 15' waves.

Lake Michigan can go from 1-2 to 4-5' in 20 minutes but if there are 15' waves coming you have ample warning cause that is going to be a huge storm.
I went out in some 10' one time in the 33 OL and the whole family was screaming, I turned around real quick.