buy engineless whaler?

[pcrussell50]

i don't know for sure if i'll ever do this or not, but does anybody know if you can buy a new boston whaler, smaller model, like a super sport 130, [13 footer], without a motor. since, well? i already have a motor for it.

i've never bought a new boat, in fact, a year ago, i'd never even owned a boat of any kind. but any kind of new boat i've ever seen comes as part of a package deal. so i don't even know if it's possible to buy a new boat, even a small one like a 13 foot whaler, without the whole package.

i'm nervous about contacting them because i don't want to be contacted by some high pressure dealer, and they don't seem to have an email address for questions like i have.

anyone know?

-peter

 

[chicknwing]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

I don't see why a dealer would not sell a boat without a motor. I know that small jon boats are a little different but the local shop here sells boats constantly with or without power.

TC

 

[pcrussell50]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

the actual answer? NO

not only do they rely on high pressure salesmen, but they WILL NOT sell a hull without a motor, trailer, and full rigging, period, end of story. just got off the phone with them. yep, AND TRAILER.

just thought i would follow up, in case anyone was interested.

-peter

 

[dodgeramsst2003]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

I'd try a different dealer. Most will do whatever it takes to make a sale. Yes they will make more selling a complete package, but they will still make a profit selling just the hull.

 

[pcrussell50]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

i should have specified... i bypassed the dealer and went straight to boston whaler itself. it was the boston whaler customer service person himself i spoke on the phone with. they will not only not sell a 13 foot hull without a motor, but they won't even sell it without a galvanized trailer.

it's almost like a pyramid scheme designed for maximum extraction of people's money, with minimum information, like buying amsoil or amway stuff, or "living air" air filters.

i learned a lot dealing with boston whaler. they don't have a means of contacting them other than snail mail or phone. the only thing remotely email related they have is one of those online forms you fill out, but it turns out that is only for tech or parts questions. they had a problem with their web site one day, [the spec sheet for the super sport 150 was "error 404"], and there was no way to email them about it.

i like their product, but damn...they are far from the mainstream in terms of their customer relations policies.

-peter

 

[cribber]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

Shop around for a newer hull of choice... there are plenty of hulls out there for sale without the OB attached where someone upgraded and took their motor with them or they blew their motor. I hate to say it... but Craig's List is full of them. Just ensure it meets your expectations and don't compromise on quality and condition. Patience is key here!!!

 

[pcrussell50]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

Shop around for a newer hull of choice... there are plenty of hulls out there for sale without the OB attached where someone upgraded and took their motor with them or they blew their motor. I hate to say it... but Craig's List is full of them. Just ensure it meets your expectations and don't compromise on quality and condition. Patience is key here!!!

weird...i just got off craigslist, searched the entire west coast from san diego to seattle, including all the small subsections of southern california, like orange county, ventura, and santa barbara, and i didn't see a single engineless whaler, and only a couple with the newer hull style that i like, both had engines and a near-new asking price. in fact, people with 5 year old packages are asking about $9500'ish. my local dealer in san diego wanted about $11,500 for a brand new, 2009 setup.

maybe should be looking elsewhere than the WESTERN seaboard?

-peter

 

[David Greer]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a used hull, esp. a whaler of any age. Not much could be wrong with it. Be sure to match your shaft size to the transom. Also steering and controls vary unless you are going tiller.

(BTW I recently put a new motor on my 1964 blue hull 13' when its original Evinrude Fastwin 18 motor died. I got a 1972 merc 200.)

 

[pine island fred]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

Have noticed that people who have wahlers expect to get a high price and probably do. Recommend you look for something else and dont pay for the name. Lots of boats out there and reasonably priced. Am sure it is not a sellers market out there on the other coast. FRED

 

[pcrussell50]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

Have noticed that people who have wahlers expect to get a high price and probably do. Recommend you look for something else and dont pay for the name. Lots of boats out there and reasonably priced. Am sure it is not a sellers market out there on the other coast. FRED

i'm looking for hulls that are 13.5', of the same concept as a whaler: self-draining, dual-hull construction, and most importantly, 20" transom strong enough to take weight of a 4-stroke 40hp. suggestions?

and i don't mind an older design, either, but i've had trouble finding hulls that short with 20" transoms strong enough to hold a heavy 4-stroke 40, or a lighter 50, from the old horsepower era where it's not as powerful as a "modern" 50hp. i could probably get away with 14', but 15' is too long.

-peter

 

[David Greer]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

40 is pretty big for a 13' whaler type boat. I'd say look at Carolina Skiff but you'd be overpowered. See if Parker or Proline make one that small but with enough weight to justify the big engine. A Lowe 14' wide would be good (but still overpowered) if you want tin.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

If you are set on a Whaler, and it's only $2000 more than a used one, why not sell your engine on Craigslist and buy the packaged boat?

 

[pcrussell50]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

If you are set on a Whaler, and it's only $2000 more than a used one, why not sell your engine on Craigslist and buy the packaged boat?

i'm not set on a whaler. in fact, i'm kind of pi**ed off at them about their way of doing business. but i don't hold their high resale value against them though. if you own one, and you want to sell it high, more power to you. you just won't sell it to me if you're asking only a stone's throw from new. i'm just set on some of the features they have. i also don't know if i'm into boats enough yet to drop nearly 12 grand on a boat...any boat...even if it's a brand new whaler.

Dave Greer sez:
40 is pretty big for a 13' whaler type boat. I'd say look at Carolina Skiff but you'd be overpowered. See if Parker or Proline make one that small but with enough weight to justify the big engine. A Lowe 14' wide would be good (but still overpowered) if you want tin.

thanks dave. i'll look into those brands. i'm new to boating, and both boats i own were suuuper cheap, and no longer made. thus, i've not really heard of the brands you listed. no problem. i'm no whaler snob, just attracted to some of their features. as for 40hp on a 13.5' boat, that's the _standard_ motor for the whaler super sport 130, [which is really 13.5']. the optional motor is the smaller, 25hp. maybe whalers are a little heavy? so that 40hp is not outrageous? their web site says, dry weight, no engine is 640lbs. that sounds heavy to me, but again, i'm new to boats, under a year.

-peter

 

[pcrussell50]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

(BTW I recently put a new motor on my 1964 blue hull 13' when its original Evinrude Fastwin 18 motor died. I got a 1972 merc 200.)

hey, you were also in the thread i started where i was asking if it's ok to hang a light 50 on a 13.5 foot sport or super sport!

all i have to say is, GULP! if i read your posts right:

in both threads you mentioned a '72 merc 200. is that 20 hp or 200 hp? i've heard of a few guys who put huge power on small boats but there were EXTREMELY knowledgeable types and still they were crazy, if you ask me.

-peter

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

we got a 13 whaler 25 years ago with a 40 hp Johnson, the engines die but the boat is still solid as a rock!

 

[David Greer]

Re: buy engineless whaler?

Because Whalers are heavy they can handle a 40, and they have a proven hull bottom design. OTOH a Carolina skiff or a typical aluminum of the same size is slick flat on the bottom (Sliiiiiiiiiiddeee!) and way lighter. So that's why I can run a 50 on my 19' Carolina skiff but a 70 on a 17' Key West.

As to the Merc 200--that's just to see who's paying attention. Back in the day, they called the 20 hp a "200" and may have added a zero or left off a decimal for other smaller motors. So it's a 20 hp on a 13.5 whaler.