Make the Most of Your Onboard Space

Space aboard a boat comes at a premium but there are ways to pack in more gear than you think, especially on your Boston Whaler. Keeping gear off a boat’s running surface is important to make sure it doesn’t get underfoot or go overboard. Remember the phrase – “there’s a place for everything and everything in its place” and you’ll have all you need whether you’re diving, towing, entertaining or angling from your boat.

1.      Questions often center on how to store fishing rods and tackle. Most center console boats have ample room. For example, the Dauntless 220 and 250 models have space for seven-foot rods in the lockable forward double lounge seat. The Dauntless 270 also has rod holders in the integrated hardtop when you need your rods close at hand.

2.      Storage for buckets and small gear is often found under seats or in the forward center console compartment. The Dauntless 280 console storage holds five rods, two five-gallon buckets, and optional dive racks, and it’s lockable so your gear stays safe.

3.      Depending on size, typical fish boxes can hold fish and ice, or wet gear and a waterski and because they have drains, there’s not much mess to clean up later.

4.      You can crisscross bungee cords on the headliner of a center console head compartment or on the side of a bulkhead to hold flat items like cutting boards or chart kits.  

5.      Purchase collapsible silicone buckets and bowls that stow in tiny spaces or add mesh pockets with Velcro or suction cups to keep small items like sunscreen and sunglasses from going flying.

6.      Integrated onboard coolers like the one under the pilot seat in the 220 Dauntless can hold ice, beverages, lunch or just about anything both wet and dry.

7.      Don’t forget about the storage built into leaning posts and tucked under aft seating where you can keep lifejackets, towels and extra clothing.

8.      Keep small items such as cell phones, keys and spare glasses in lockable console storage that is featured on nearly the entire Boston Whaler line.

Boat storage space hacks include adding dive tank racks in the center console or under gunnels and finding other uses of onboard livewells. If you’re out for an afternoon party rather than a day of fishing, you can load up your livewell with ice and beverages. You can also store masks and snorkels here or keep the livewell dry and stuff in extra PFDs and towels if you have a crowd aboard.