Boston Whaler 13ft, inshore capable?

[BoatFisho]

Ive been eying up a mint whaler with a 30hp on the back.

I want to fish some islands which are approximately 3km off the mainland. I usually wont go out in anything above 1m total sea and definitely not in anything passed 20knot winds.

Is this little vessel capable for this kind of work or is the freeboard just too low?

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Boston Whaler 13ft, inshore capable?

that is a tough question to answer. 13ft Whalers are great. can't answer.

 

[BoatFisho]

Re: Boston Whaler 13ft, inshore capable?

i know, we dont see them down under that often. but well aware of their capabilities.

is it possible to retrofit scuppers to handle water and obviously hand rails would be "handy"

 

[BoatFisho]

Re: Boston Whaler 13ft, inshore capable?

i forgot to say i think its a super sport model, not sure how to tell?

also what does smirk mean?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boston Whaler 13ft, inshore capable?

I grew up in one. They are very seaworthy and stable for their size.

do not add scuppers. If you have a battery, add a bilge pump and lfloat switch. Mine didn't have a battery so we just ran the water out by pulling the plug.

you can handle 1m swells just fine unless they are breaking. You better not go out in 1m chop. I hope you know the difference. and you better not go out in 20k winds and hope you don't get caught in it.

even though the boat can handle a lot, the captain's skills are more important. also depends on how loaded you are; in bad conditions you want to be solo.

I have had mine out in crazy conditions and jumped massive tugboat wakes. Being 3KM from shore isn't the real factor; it's conditions as sometimes it's worse close in. And a lot depends on if you are running out of a tight inlet or open mouth--I've done both in mine.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Boston Whaler 13ft, inshore capable?

As "Home Cookin" said, the skill and ability of the operator are far more importand than the boat. That being said, Yes, a 13ft Whaler is a very capable boat for its size and probably better than most 13 ft boats (and even some larger ones) for what you have in mind. No need for a bilge pump, once you are doing more than about 7 - 8 knots you simply pull the transom plug and the water will run right out (even if you are sitting still in the water with the plug out only a couple of inches of water will accumulate back by the transom).
The low freeboard of a Whaler is really not much of a problem, and can be an advantage because it provides less windage. Because they are "unsinkable", some greenwater coming over the side really isn't a safety issue. But they can also be rather 'wet' and hard riding boats.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boston Whaler 13ft, inshore capable?

So where in Oz are you? I've been on several of your coasts. But you're right, you don't see them but when you do they are a head-turner!

I saw an old blue-hull whlaer inthe canals of Venice!

 

[cjjjdeck]

Re: Boston Whaler 13ft, inshore capable?

Not sure of the freeboard and transome height on this model, but you may also want to install a reboarding ladder accessible from the water on the back if it doesn't already have one.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boston Whaler 13ft, inshore capable?

Not sure of the freeboard and transome height on this model, but you may also want to install a reboarding ladder accessible from the water on the back if it doesn't already have one.

this is a small boat; you can climb over the side