Boston Whaler provides the safest, easiest to own, most exciting boats on the water. Since our founding over 60 years ago, we have conceived and built peerless designs that meet boaters’ diverse and changing needs. Only Whaler can bring you a legendary, innovative boat that is engineered for a lifetime of enjoyment and dependability. Only Whaler can bring you the Unsinkable Legend™.
The true legend of a Whaler lies in the possibilities it empowers, the enjoyment it evokes. With a storied history and a forward-looking present, Boston Whaler is in a class all its own. Here’s where Boston Whaler came from and where it’s headed.
Take a tour of the Boston Whaler factory in Edgewater, Florida, for a first-hand look at how Whalers are made, with personal insight from our expert craftsmen.
Boston Whaler has delivered for decades what no other boat can. When boats were expected simply to float, Boston Whaler proved they could be unsinkable. Where most fishing boats lack comfort, and most pleasure boats lack fishing features, Boston Whaler proves you can have both at the most premium level. No matter what initially pulls you to the water – fishing, cruising, or water sports – your Whaler will draw you back over and over again.
Explore our legendary history over 60 years: 1958 - 2024
1957
Before the company officially began, founder Richard “Dick” Fisher filed a series of patents for a foam-injected hull process. The 1957 patent reveals the revolutionary steps taken by Fisher to ensure the durability of his boats through a series of shear braces laid into the hull’s outer shell that would work in tandem with his precise ratio of foams.
1958
The 13’ Whaler makes its debut at the New York Boat Show. Sold under the brand name Boston Whaler and built by the Fisher-Pierce manufacturing company in Braintree, Massachusetts, the boat is met with critical acclaim for its exceptional stability and carrying capacity.
1959
Dick Fisher secures a 20,000-square-foot facility located on Hingham Street in Rockland, Massachusetts, and by 1960 is using the new address in print advertisements for Whaler boats. The space would house operations for the next 25 years.
1961
Fisher’s now-famous photograph appears in Life magazine. The image captures the founder — wearing his preferred tweed jacket, bow tie and hat — seated calmly in the stern of a Whaler as a saw slices through its hull, providing incontrovertible proof of the boat’s unsinkability.
1961
The Boston Whaler Nauset®, the first-ever center console model, is introduced.
1961
Whaler begins producing government and military workboats, some of which are used in the Vietnam War. Demand for commercialized Boston Whaler boats grows steadily.
1964
Boston Whaler’s distribution is expanded coast-to-coast.
1974
The first Montauk® enters the marketplace.
1979
Whalers head farther offshore with the debut of the 1979 Outrage V20.
1980
Whaler celebrates the opening of a new 33,000-square-foot facility in Norwell, Massachusetts.
1983
As government and military use of Boston Whalers continues to grow, a dedicated branch of the business is established to produce boats for the commercial and government sector.
1986
The 27’ Full Cabin is introduced, marking the largest Whaler model to date.
1987
Whaler partners with Volusia County and the state of Florida to open a factory in the coastal community of Edgewater, where it resides fully today. Production of the Whaler 25, 27 and 31 Walkaround models moves to the Florida facility.
1988
The 15’ Mischief is unveiled in time for the company’s 30th anniversary.
1992
The 1992 Rage® kicks off the jet boat craze.
1994
The first Boston Whaler Dauntless® arrives on the scene, offering families a versatile new option for day boating.
1996
Boston Whaler is acquired by parent company Brunswick Corporation for $26.6 million.
1997
The Conquest® family launches, bringing rugged sophistication to new generations of anglers and pleasure boaters.
1999
The new 13’ Sport reignites Whaler’s small boat business.
2001
Demand for commercial and government boats becomes so overwhelming that the business is incorporated as Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP).
2002
A group of owners and Whaler staff members embark on the first annual Bimini Rendezvous, a weeklong excursion to the Bahamas where beach games, conch feasts and island rhythms heighten a shared appreciation for the Whaler life.
2002
Boaters Maria and David Russell and their dog, Joe, embark on The Unsinkable Legend Tour, visiting nearly every boat show on the East Coast in the back half of a 17’ Dauntless. Whaler and the Russells would go on to launch subsequent versions, touring the Midwest in 2004 and the West Coast in 2005.
2004
Boston Whaler earns its first Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Award from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). Since then, the company has received a CSI Award for each consecutive year, the result of scoring 90 percent or higher in independent customer surveys.
2005
The Montauk family grows with the addition of the 150 Montauk.
2007
Further proving its boats’ unsinkability, Boston Whaler conducts a demonstration during which a 19’ Guardian (BCGP model) is shot with 7.62mm rounds from an M60 machine gun. The Guardian stays afloat despite being riddled with holes.
2008
The largest Unibond™ Whaler to date, the 345 Conquest, is introduced. (A future iteration of this offshore champ will go on to earn an Innovation Award from the NMMA for its ingeniously convertible Dynamic Cabin System.) 2008 also marked an Innovation Award win for the 230 Dauntless.
2010
The new 370 Outrage is selected as an Innovation Award winner in the Cruisers category and named 2010 European Powerboat of the Year.
2013
The Vantage family bursts onto the scene, presenting a bold new view on the possible with its user-friendly dual-console layout and best-in-class amenities. One of the two initial models, the 230 Vantage, is chosen as an Innovation Award winner. The family will be joined in 2015 by the 320 Vantage, also a recipient of an Innovation Award.
2014
Boston Whaler unveils the flagship 420 Outrage, a highly capable offshore performer and a brilliant entertaining platform featuring innovations including Mercury® Joystick Piloting and Dynamic Running Surface hull technology. Shortly after its debut, the 420 is named Boating magazine’s Boat of the Year.
2015
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is held to commemorate the addition of nearly 60,000 square feet of under-roof manufacturing space at Whaler’s Edgewater facility. The expansion helps Whaler meet the unprecedented demand for its large-boat models and results in the creation of more than 120 new jobs.
2018
Whaler celebrates 60 years of being a legend and a leader in the marine industry.
2018
With Realm, Boston Whaler launches a new family of boats that deliver all the open-cockpit versatility of a center console and the comfort-minded amenities of a cabin cruiser.
2018
Whaler launches the redesigned Montauk family - a sleek, modern spin on the beloved classic.
2019
Marking a keel-up redesign for Boston Whaler’s popular Super Sport series, the 130 and 160 deliver effortless operation, low-maintenance durability and a smart, spacious layout.
2020
Two new dual console models are introduced to the lineup: the 240 and 280 Vantage
2020
For decades, the Boston Whaler Dauntless series has led the industry in confident performance and multitasking capabilities. Now, from a bold past comes a fearless future: Introducing the 220 and 250 Dauntless.
2021
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is held to commemorate the addition of a nearly 225,000-square-foot facility in Flagler,FL. The expansion helps Whaler meet the unprecedented demand for its models and results in the creation of more than 400 new jobs.
2022
Boston Whaler starts integration with fellow Brunswick brand Simrad in all of its models. This collaboration allows seamless use of GUI at the helm of every Whaler
2023
The 210 Vantage is a boat designed to meet the needs of the widest possible range of boaters—from fun-loving families to hardcore anglers. A dual console cockpit with wraparound windshield provides functional comfort for passengers. Comfortable seating in the bow, cockpit and stern allows for family-sized crews to relax all day. And roomy storage throughout the boat means you can load in all the gear you need for any type of adventure on the water. At a mere 21 feet, it’s easily trailerable, but 250 horsepower on the transom means you can get up and go when you’re ready to ride.
2024
Boston Whaler made waves at the Miami International Boat Show with two of its newest models winning NMMA Innovation Awards. Both the 210 Vantage and the 365 Conquest received top recognition in the bowrider and cabin cruiser categories, respectively. The 365 Conquest debuted at the show giving attendees a first glimpse into the highly adaptable, feature-rich, luxury cruiser.
At Boston Whaler our team members are the key to our success and have helped us earn numerous awards and accolades from all over the world.
Brunswick is defining, creating, and innovating the future of recreational boating. With advanced design, technology and innovation, we will redefine recreational boating.