2020 Boston Whaler 325 Conquest

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Richard Crowder

With a keel-up redesign of its hull, Boston Whaler’s 325 Conquest offers better planning and stability, plus even more flexibility for family weekending, cruising, and serious fishing.

The 325 is one of nine Conquest models from twenty-eight to forty feet and part of Boston Whaler’s comprehensive fleet of thirty-seven models of tenders, sport, dual consoles and center consoles in seven series from eleven to forty-two feet.

As with all Boston Whaler offerings, the list of standard equipment on the 325 Conquest is as daunting as the list of available options. Base power is a pair of black 300 V8 DTS (Digital Throttle & Shift) Mercury Verado outboards with hydraulic power steering and VesselView 7-inch in-dash engine monitoring display. Factory test results show these engines provide a top speed of 49.5 mph. These engines can be upgraded to white, and have Joystick Piloting and Skyhook/autopilot added. You can also choose twin Mercury 350 or 400 horsepower engines and add any of the above extras.

An unusually high, one-piece full width windshield with a pair of upper section integrated powered opening vents offers a commanding view and comes equipped with a pair of wipers with washers. Windshield side wings of half height may be optionally extended to integrate fully with the hardtop. An aft hardtop drop curtain is also available to fully enclose the helm.

A stainless tilt steering wheel with knob fronts a functional dash with 12-volt receptacle, USB outlet, dual level molded in footrests, and room for a pair of 12-inch screens. Available electronics include a single 12-inch Raymarine Axiom Pro RVX electronics/navigation package to which you can add a 12-inch Axiom Pro S display or alternatively, select the single 16-inch Axiom XL screen. Vessel View Mobile is a standard feature.

You may also want radar, satellite weather and/or radio, RealVison 30 sonar, a VHF radio, Thermal Night Vision, autopilot, and NAUTIC-ON remote connectivity. A Premium Audio Package is also available to upgrade the standard Fusion® AM/FM with CD player, Bluetooth, amplifier, and six JL speakers – two each in the cabin, cockpit, and hardtop.

Opposite the helm on the port side, a unique convertible passenger seat on a sliding base converts to fore or aft-facing seating, as does the double-wide seat behind it. With the forward seatback allowing aft-facing and the seatback of the double-wide behind it allowing forward-facing, the gas-assisted hi-lo pedestal table between them can form a dinette. It can also drop down and with the insert cushion form a fore or aft-facing stretch out lounge. A pullout footrest serves the aft-facing double-wide seat. A double-wide foldaway stern bench seat serves the cockpit. The driver is provided with an adjustable pedestal helm chair with slider and armrests.

On the starboard side immediately aft of the helm chair is a prep centre with sink and storage. Aft of this is the moulded in-hull dive/boarding access door complete with removable stainless ladder. Cockpit storage drawers are provided while two in-floor 40-gallon fishboxes have drains and pumpouts.

A sliding acrylic door leads to the cabin below with its solid hi-gloss folding gas-assist hi-lo table which converts the forward dinette to a V-berth. Hullside windows, the overhead hatch, skylight, and screened portlights provide natural lighting. A mid-cabin berth is double bed size. Wood flooring, a hanging locker, and two USB charging ports are provided. The portside galley features a Corian® countertop, sink, microwave, refrigerator, and cabinetry. The starboard side head compartment has a sink with pullout shower, storage cabinet, and a VacuFlush™ head.

Other notable standard equipment includes a portside in-transom insulated livewell with flow control, raw water washdown, cockpit shower, trim tabs, shore power, battery charger, anchor windlass, hardtop lighting, a total of eleven rod holders, cockpit coaming bolsters and toe rails, and a transom door leading to the swim platform with side extensions and a concealed telescoping boarding ladder.

Notable additional optional equipment includes cabin reverse cycle air conditioning/heating, helm air conditioning, cabin diesel heater in lieu of air conditioning, bow thruster, Active Engine Trim, 7kW Westerbeke generator, Seakeeper gyro stabilizer, cabin comfort package, and a cruising package which includes dockside water, galley electric stove, and water heater.

You may also want a cabin swivel-mounted 19-inch HDTV with DVD, underwater lights, outriggers, cockpit summer kitchen package including a refrigerator and pullout grill, spotlight, portable bow and/or cockpit powered-retracting sunshade, cockpit table, cockpit portside fold-down seat, bow deck sunlounge, hardtop hatches, and windshield defroster. You also may choose from eleven hullside colours.

The Boston Whaler 325 Conquest certainly is designed and equipped to be all things for all boaters.

2020 Boston Whaler 325 Conquest Photo Gallery

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