Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Boston Whaler 230 Vantage

Boston Whaler’s 230 Vantage is luxurious pleasure personified. Whaler engineers and designers created this sport-utility boat for beach bums, board riders and cruise lovers who won’t care to leave the dock unless the luxury, safety and quality that Whaler is known for goes with them. And Whaler achieved this without losing sight of its fishing DNA. The 230 Vantage is the compact but surprisingly roomy sister to the more spacious 270 Vantage.

The 230 clips along faster than 50 mph on a single 300 hp Mercury Verado outboard and posts 2.7 miles per gallon at cruising speed — nice numbers on so versatile a craft. It makes crisp turns for downed-skier recovery or just plain hot-dogging fun. An optional wakeboard tower ($3,358) enhances its sporty look and utility.

It wouldn’t be a Whaler if it didn’t fish, and this one comes standard with four rod holders and offers livewell and fish-box options as well. At anchor, the 230 provides a wide, stable footprint, giving anglers the security needed to move about, and it gives cruisers a steady entertaining platform.

It shines due to its convertible seating features that give comfort to the crew in a variety of configurations. Folding it away clears the deck for battling fish or ferrying a crew to the beach.

The 230 Vantage boasts a transom seat with a perfectly inclined seat back. The seat stows easily, so you’ll use it often.

The passenger console is fixed with a forward, double-wide seat. But it converts five ways and does it as easily as flipping a light switch, thanks to the custom-polished stainless-steel hardware that supports it. Seat positions range from forward-facing leaning post with aft-facing lounge to back-to-back ski observation seats, full-length sun pad and forward lounge.

For beaching, the 230 can be equipped with a bow ladder. You can also opt for an optional through-stem windlass instead ($4,030). For fishing, bow seat cushions stow away.

The 230 can be equipped with a full range of Raymarine electronics, including Sirius weather, or just tooled with a premium stereo system ($2,201) that includes stereo, amp, six speakers and subwoofer.

If you’re a big-boat owner, the 230 Vantage can be equipped with bow towing hardware for tender duty, adding even more versatility.

Comparable model: Pursuit DC 235