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Dauntless 180 4 Month Review
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| FASTFJR |
Posted on 08/04/09 - 11:12 AM
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Member
Posts: 202
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Joined: 06/02/07
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I took ownership of the Dauntless 180 on April 4th. To date I have 46 hours on the engine. 2007 Dauntless 180 / Verado 150
Overall
The boat and motor (Verado 150) have performed very well. I did run into a glitch on the smart craft gauge. I have been getting the "Check Engine" for no apparent reason. This has been discussed on the Verado Owners Site.
The ride is 100% better than the 2005 Montauk 170 I had. Fuel milage has been very impressive. My season average so far has been 4.3 MPG with an average speed of 21.3. Top end speed was 48MPH with 30 gallons of fuel on board
The Pluses
Smart Craft Gauges, all the info you could ever want and then some. The fuel used page has been dead on.
Ride
Fuel Economy
Storage Room, tons of it compared to the 170
Hole Shot
This boat functions extremely well as both a fishing boat and a family ski / cruising boat.
The Minus
Smart Craft glitch
Storage under rear seat stays pretty damp. I need to remember to raise the seat up at the end of the day
When backing down water comes in live well, I put a plug in and solved that issue.
Bow still riding a little high until boat is on plane even with the Quicksilver "Typhoon" 17. I will be adding trim tabs over the winter
Improvements that I'm going to make
Rig something up to hold the rear seat up when accessing storage under it. I've been bonked on the head one too many times
Options and Improvements I have made.
BEP Battery Switch
(2) Group 31 AGM Batteries
Garmin 498C
Standard Horizon Black Box VHF
AutoTeather
SeaDek Boston Whaler Logo Helm Mat
SeaDek 5mm added to rear deck by swim ladder
Costal Night Lights Under Water LED Lights
Quicksilver "Typhoon" 17
Under Console Red LED lights
Last but not least is the custom RPS seat cushion that was made for me buy Ray Martin. It might look a little goofy but the seat is far more functional and comfortable than the standard cushion. Mine is 9 inches thick, compared to the factory 3.
Pictures of the boat and some of the option I have added can be seen here
http://8140341.phanfare.com/
Edited by FASTFJR on 08/04/09 - 11:30 AM
2007 Dauntless 180-2007 Mercury Verado 150 |
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| moose |
Posted on 08/04/09 - 11:44 AM
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Member
Personal Page
Posts: 543
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Joined: 03/07/07
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Looks great! For the hold open for the rear seat, on my son's Cape Horn there is just a ss spring on the lid. It's bigger that a screen door spring, but about that long. When you open the lid the spring straightens out and the tension holds the lid open. To close it you just tap it with your finger to start a bend in it and then just close the lid. I don't know a source for it.
Mike
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| FASTFJR |
Posted on 08/04/09 - 3:45 PM
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Member
Posts: 202
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Joined: 06/02/07
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Thanks, I'm looking into some type of piston I can mount
2007 Dauntless 180-2007 Mercury Verado 150 |
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| FASTFJR |
Posted on 08/05/09 - 1:49 PM
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Member
Posts: 202
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Joined: 06/02/07
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I forgot to add the dealer replaced the rear seat deck about 6 weeks after I took delivery. We did not see it until the day I picked it up was their was a little dimple on the top side gel coat from the screw under it. It was driven in too far at the factory. Instead of trying to fix it they replaced the deck
2007 Dauntless 180-2007 Mercury Verado 150 |
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| Mark Finkenstaedt |
Posted on 08/05/09 - 7:30 PM
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Member
Personal Page
Posts: 195
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4
Joined: 08/20/08
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Totally envious of the newer 18- and your additions. Still on land as I wait and wait for my re-power. The problem when things go wrong.
2001 18' Dauntless - 150HP 2010 E-TEC |
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| FASTFJR |
Posted on 08/06/09 - 2:01 PM
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Member
Posts: 202
Comments:
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Joined: 06/02/07
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Good luck with the repower
2007 Dauntless 180-2007 Mercury Verado 150 |
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