Boston Whaler 285 Conquest
Boston Whaler's 285 Conquest lives up to the brand's noble, quality-driven reputation.
March 1, 2006
BLUE BLOOD
There's something disarmingly consistent about Boston Whalers. It's more than just the inimitable Whaler look, and the unsinkable hulls. It has something to do with the line's DNA, and traits that have been passed down over the 50-year-plus history of the brand, even though the company's gone through multiple owners.
Maybe it's the sensible features like those you see on the new 285 Conquest - like 28 inches of freeboard in the cockpit, or the beefy stainless-steel hardware on the aft cockpit door that includes not only a latch, but also a door stopper with magnet to hold it open. Maybe it's the fact that there are two fold-up lounges in the cockpit (most sportfishing boats in this category offer only one at the transom), or the 10-inch-wide walkway from the cockpit to the bow (again, many other boats have walkways with four- to six-inch widths - barely enough to slide your boat shoe into). Maybe it's the full-foamed hull that gives the 28-footer its promise of unsinkability. (It has a “swamp” capacity of 3,000 pounds, and Whalers float “level” as opposed to sinking backwards when they're full of water.) Maybe, just maybe, the Whaler line has been so consistent over the years because the company has always placed a premium on quality design and construction.
There's really
no “maybe” about it. The quality's there; the boats are smartly built and designed. The 285
Conquest just looks trustworthy; a boat that doesn't need gimmicks. It sits tall in the water at
the Fishin' Store docks in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, ready for a half-day of winter fishing at
Ponce Inlet. It turns out the redfish aren't biting - or rather, you're not catching anything - at
the mouth of the inlet, but the time on board gives you a good sense of the boat's fishability. The
cockpit measures 98 inches by 84 inches with the two lounges folded up. That gives a feeling of
open space for two, or even three anglers, standing and casting. The cockpit also has
stainless-steel toerails, two in-deck 16-quart insulated fish boxes, and a 20-gallon livewell built
into the transom. There's also a raw-water washdown, as well as optional twin 12-volt outlets
($758) on the back to power electric reels.
The 285 is a nice-sized boat for either fishing off the rocks, as you're doing, or heading offshore. Seven rod holders are built into the cockpit's gunwales and transom, and there are another five built into the hardtop. The cockpit also has a full-feature bait prep station (with sink) behind the helm seat, with good storage. Two sets of matching rod holders run along either side of the cockpit.
The chop is running only about a foot or two at anchor, so the boat isn't swaying too much. But still, it's nice to have the security of the 28-inch-deep cockpit, and it's a space where you wouldn't hesitate having your kids especially with two lounges. The optional portside lounge ($831) measures 40 inches across, and the standard transom lounge is 45 inches - good enough for four adults and a kid or two. Whaler designers also get extra points for the center floor hatch (on twin gas assists) that gives quick access to plumbing and seacocks in the aft bilge compartment.
The 285's a
pleasure to drive, as you discover on the way in and out of the inlet. It tracks well in the minor
chop, and shoulders through waves rather than pounding through them. The test boat is powered with
twin 200-hp Mercury Verado 4-strokes - ideal powerplants for a boat this large. Top end is 45.7
mph, with a sound reading of only 87 decibels. It's an easy boat to drive with the Mercury Digital
Throttle and Shift system, and power steering. Throttle jockeying through the waves is seamless, as
is turning - though having a little bit of torque in the wheel at running speed might not be such a
bad thing in gnarly seas. Still, maneuvering the 285 is a breeze compared to another boat that's
tested a few hours later without the power assist.
Whaler is one of the first Brunswick-owned companies to install electronics at the factory, and the test boat comes with a Northstar 6000i GPS/chartplotter/ fishfinder combo, Northstar 4kW radar and 7200 Navman VHF, all laid out nicely on the helm console. That option is $12,424. (Without the radar, the electronics package would be $6,601.) An extra display to isolate radar and fishfinder is a nice extra at $5,827. Unless you're a diehard fan of one brand of electronics, or you need an unusual configuration, having factory-installed electronics is a real plus - no drilling through the console or retrofitting equipment. Another nice option is the electric windlass ($3,215), which helps us drop the hook in - and out - of the rocks quickly. There was never any cause for alarm, but the windlass prevented hull-scuffing.
The helm seat gets good marks for comfort, with its fold-down thigh rest, and visibility is good. There are twin windshield wipers, with a power vent in the center of the windshield. Twin speakers are positioned overhead, with a grabrail for holding on in rough seas. On the companion side, the Whaler team came up with a nifty swiveling seat that positions forward and aft. In other words, it sits at the rear of the bench, and then pivots around about halfway in the seat, so you can face backwards and use the cockpit step as a foot-rest. The upholstery around the track of the seat might show some wear and tear after prolonged use, but it's a neat idea.
Below-decks, the
interior is functional and fairly elaborate for a fishing boat. It's got a soft white/beige
two-tone décor that works well with the rest of the boat. The galley counter measures 17 inches by
46 inches - generous on a boat where the focus is the cockpit. The test boat has the optional
cruising package that includes an Origo single-burner electric stove, Panasonic microwave, and
Norcold fridge for $2,046. There's decent storage space above and below the galley area. The
forward wraparound lounge has a fold-down table on gas-assist shocks that converts into a berth. It
could fit three adults comfortably, though there would be some knee-knocking at meals.
The entertainment system includes a Clarion AM/FM digital stereo with CD player (there are four waterproof speakers outside) and remote control. The test boat doesn't have the optional 17-inch flat screen TV/DVD player ($2,230) or the 7000 BTU air conditioner ($4,069), which might be nice for cruising. But it does have the cabin comfort package of a mid-berth fitted sheet and comforter, two pillow covers and a mid berth privacy curtain, all of which runs a cool $1,893.
The aft-cabin berth is adequate and well-ventilated with a hatch, considering the tight space the designers had to work with, though you have to be something of a contortionist to access the batteries behind a hatch beside the berth. The batteries might've been better positioned elsewhere on the boat. The head compartment has a shower, VacuFlush toilet, and opening porthole. Again, everything is functional and quality-driven, with no frills. Of course, the 285 has plenty of extras that are listed as standard features, like a transom shower, 8-inch cleats, hawse pipes that have adjoining drink holders, and a weather curtain set for the hardtop. At $147,828 base (and $180,354 as tested), it's not an inexpensive boat. But you get what you pay for - and 50 years of quality standing behind it.
THE VERDICT
Another strong contender in the Whaler line. Spacious cockpit, full fishing amenities, and smooth running with the Verados. There are a couple of minor warts - like too little space for checking the batteries in the aft berth - but overall, a well-designed boat.
BOSTON WHALER 285 CONQUEST
LOA 30'2"
Beam 9'8"
Weight 6,200 lbs.
Fuel 207 gal.
Top Speed 45.7 mph
(w/twin 200-hp Mercury Verados)
0-30 mph 9 seconds
Decibels @ Idle 52 dB-A
Decibels @ WOT 87 dB-A
Base Price $147,828
(w/twin 200-hp Mercury Verados)
Price As Tested $180,354
(w/twin 200-hp Mercury Verados)
Hull Warranty 10-year limited
transferable
NMMA Certified? Yes
Boston Whaler Inc.
100 Whaler Way
Edgewater, FL 32141
(386) 428-0057
www.whaler.com
There's something disarmingly consistent about Boston Whalers. It's more than just the inimitable Whaler look, and the unsinkable hulls. It has something to do with the line's DNA, and traits that have been passed down over the 50-year-plus history of the brand, even though the company's gone through multiple owners.
Maybe it's the sensible features like those you see on the new 285 Conquest - like 28 inches of freeboard in the cockpit, or the beefy stainless-steel hardware on the aft cockpit door that includes not only a latch, but also a door stopper with magnet to hold it open. Maybe it's the fact that there are two fold-up lounges in the cockpit (most sportfishing boats in this category offer only one at the transom), or the 10-inch-wide walkway from the cockpit to the bow (again, many other boats have walkways with four- to six-inch widths - barely enough to slide your boat shoe into). Maybe it's the full-foamed hull that gives the 28-footer its promise of unsinkability. (It has a “swamp” capacity of 3,000 pounds, and Whalers float “level” as opposed to sinking backwards when they're full of water.) Maybe, just maybe, the Whaler line has been so consistent over the years because the company has always placed a premium on quality design and construction.
There's really
no “maybe” about it. The quality's there; the boats are smartly built and designed. The 285
Conquest just looks trustworthy; a boat that doesn't need gimmicks. It sits tall in the water at
the Fishin' Store docks in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, ready for a half-day of winter fishing at
Ponce Inlet. It turns out the redfish aren't biting - or rather, you're not catching anything - at
the mouth of the inlet, but the time on board gives you a good sense of the boat's fishability. The
cockpit measures 98 inches by 84 inches with the two lounges folded up. That gives a feeling of
open space for two, or even three anglers, standing and casting. The cockpit also has
stainless-steel toerails, two in-deck 16-quart insulated fish boxes, and a 20-gallon livewell built
into the transom. There's also a raw-water washdown, as well as optional twin 12-volt outlets
($758) on the back to power electric reels.
The 285 is a nice-sized boat for either fishing off the rocks, as you're doing, or heading offshore. Seven rod holders are built into the cockpit's gunwales and transom, and there are another five built into the hardtop. The cockpit also has a full-feature bait prep station (with sink) behind the helm seat, with good storage. Two sets of matching rod holders run along either side of the cockpit.
The chop is running only about a foot or two at anchor, so the boat isn't swaying too much. But still, it's nice to have the security of the 28-inch-deep cockpit, and it's a space where you wouldn't hesitate having your kids especially with two lounges. The optional portside lounge ($831) measures 40 inches across, and the standard transom lounge is 45 inches - good enough for four adults and a kid or two. Whaler designers also get extra points for the center floor hatch (on twin gas assists) that gives quick access to plumbing and seacocks in the aft bilge compartment.
The 285's a
pleasure to drive, as you discover on the way in and out of the inlet. It tracks well in the minor
chop, and shoulders through waves rather than pounding through them. The test boat is powered with
twin 200-hp Mercury Verado 4-strokes - ideal powerplants for a boat this large. Top end is 45.7
mph, with a sound reading of only 87 decibels. It's an easy boat to drive with the Mercury Digital
Throttle and Shift system, and power steering. Throttle jockeying through the waves is seamless, as
is turning - though having a little bit of torque in the wheel at running speed might not be such a
bad thing in gnarly seas. Still, maneuvering the 285 is a breeze compared to another boat that's
tested a few hours later without the power assist.
Whaler is one of the first Brunswick-owned companies to install electronics at the factory, and the test boat comes with a Northstar 6000i GPS/chartplotter/ fishfinder combo, Northstar 4kW radar and 7200 Navman VHF, all laid out nicely on the helm console. That option is $12,424. (Without the radar, the electronics package would be $6,601.) An extra display to isolate radar and fishfinder is a nice extra at $5,827. Unless you're a diehard fan of one brand of electronics, or you need an unusual configuration, having factory-installed electronics is a real plus - no drilling through the console or retrofitting equipment. Another nice option is the electric windlass ($3,215), which helps us drop the hook in - and out - of the rocks quickly. There was never any cause for alarm, but the windlass prevented hull-scuffing.
The helm seat gets good marks for comfort, with its fold-down thigh rest, and visibility is good. There are twin windshield wipers, with a power vent in the center of the windshield. Twin speakers are positioned overhead, with a grabrail for holding on in rough seas. On the companion side, the Whaler team came up with a nifty swiveling seat that positions forward and aft. In other words, it sits at the rear of the bench, and then pivots around about halfway in the seat, so you can face backwards and use the cockpit step as a foot-rest. The upholstery around the track of the seat might show some wear and tear after prolonged use, but it's a neat idea.
Below-decks, the
interior is functional and fairly elaborate for a fishing boat. It's got a soft white/beige
two-tone décor that works well with the rest of the boat. The galley counter measures 17 inches by
46 inches - generous on a boat where the focus is the cockpit. The test boat has the optional
cruising package that includes an Origo single-burner electric stove, Panasonic microwave, and
Norcold fridge for $2,046. There's decent storage space above and below the galley area. The
forward wraparound lounge has a fold-down table on gas-assist shocks that converts into a berth. It
could fit three adults comfortably, though there would be some knee-knocking at meals.
The entertainment system includes a Clarion AM/FM digital stereo with CD player (there are four waterproof speakers outside) and remote control. The test boat doesn't have the optional 17-inch flat screen TV/DVD player ($2,230) or the 7000 BTU air conditioner ($4,069), which might be nice for cruising. But it does have the cabin comfort package of a mid-berth fitted sheet and comforter, two pillow covers and a mid berth privacy curtain, all of which runs a cool $1,893.
The aft-cabin berth is adequate and well-ventilated with a hatch, considering the tight space the designers had to work with, though you have to be something of a contortionist to access the batteries behind a hatch beside the berth. The batteries might've been better positioned elsewhere on the boat. The head compartment has a shower, VacuFlush toilet, and opening porthole. Again, everything is functional and quality-driven, with no frills. Of course, the 285 has plenty of extras that are listed as standard features, like a transom shower, 8-inch cleats, hawse pipes that have adjoining drink holders, and a weather curtain set for the hardtop. At $147,828 base (and $180,354 as tested), it's not an inexpensive boat. But you get what you pay for - and 50 years of quality standing behind it.
THE VERDICT
Another strong contender in the Whaler line. Spacious cockpit, full fishing amenities, and smooth running with the Verados. There are a couple of minor warts - like too little space for checking the batteries in the aft berth - but overall, a well-designed boat.
BOSTON WHALER 285 CONQUEST
LOA 30'2"
Beam 9'8"
Weight 6,200 lbs.
Fuel 207 gal.
Top Speed 45.7 mph
(w/twin 200-hp Mercury Verados)
0-30 mph 9 seconds
Decibels @ Idle 52 dB-A
Decibels @ WOT 87 dB-A
Base Price $147,828
(w/twin 200-hp Mercury Verados)
Price As Tested $180,354
(w/twin 200-hp Mercury Verados)
Hull Warranty 10-year limited
transferable
NMMA Certified? Yes
Boston Whaler Inc.
100 Whaler Way
Edgewater, FL 32141
(386) 428-0057
www.whaler.com
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Boston Whaler 285 Conquest: Boston Whaler's 285 Conquest lives up to the brand's noble, quality-driven reputation.
