Boston Whalers

[markho]

Why are these expensive? In comparison with another boats i notice that they are more expensive foot for foot than other boats. Why?

 

[steelespike]

Re: Boston Whalers

I can't speak from personal experience but the Whalers have an excellent reputation for quality construction, safety and rugged durability.Early whaler adds pictured a boat cut in half with front and back fully afloat. I think they may have even operated the engine.
I dont think I have seen a Whaler on here with construction problems.I'm sure someone will be along with more details.

 

[markho]

Re: Boston Whalers

I can't speak from personal experience but the Whalers have an excellent reputation for quality construction, safety and rugged durability.Early whaler adds pictured a boat cut in half with front and back fully afloat. I think they may have even operated the engine.
I dont think I have seen a Whaler on here with construction problems.I'm sure someone will be along with more details.

thanks for the info. I already know that they could be sawn in half and still operate. And while its reputation as an unsinkable boat is definitly important to me as anyone, I still find it difficult to comprehend why for instance I would choose a 15' whaler over a 16' center console at the same price. It seems there is alot less room for movement in a whaler than a CC.

 

[Frugal Floater]

Re: Boston Whalers

Same reason a Lexus is $10,000 more than a comparable Ford or Chevy....good overall reliability and track record with a splash of effective marketing. Is it worth paying 10k more?...All depends on your care and luck...There are always a few bad eggs in the bunch.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boston Whalers

the whaler imho is the ultimate in a rough water boat. why is a Rolls Royce, so expensive, the reputation, relability, and a good ride. you can get the same features in a Caddy, or a Benz. the whaler holds it's resale value like a honda, the others hold the resale value like a KIA. they also are smart business people, and don't flood the market. you don't see 75 whalers sitting on the dealers lot.

 

[JB]

Re: Boston Whalers

BW's construction methods are a lot more expensive than a typical boat. The materials and workmanship are a lot more expensive than a typical boat.

They don't sink, they don't rot and they have a cache' shared by only a few other boats. Forty year old well kept Whalers still command premium prices.

I would not trade my 20 year old 15' Boston Whaler for any new 16' center console boat now available.

Most important, I feel safe in any water and I know that in 10 years I could sell it for more than I paid for it.

I could do several chapters on this, but this is enough for now.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Boston Whalers

I have been watching one on ebay just for fun.It is a 1972 model.The last i checked the bid was around 12k,and still going up.
I would love to have one,great boats!

 

[markho]

Re: Boston Whalers

thanks for the replies everyone! your beggining to persuade my wife!!! Keep it up!! The whaler i'm looking at is a 65' 13 footer with a 91 nissan 30hp motor. how fast would i expect this to run? the owner says its in good condition and that the compression in both heads are equal.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boston Whalers

20-30 mph, depending on load, great little fishing boat, and play boat.

 

[markho]

Re: Boston Whalers

20-30 mph, depending on load, great little fishing boat, and play boat.

would you consider this a 1500$ boat? comes with the trailer.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boston Whalers

in a heart beat. but, looks like it's a long shaft engine mounted on a home made jack plate. i would have to question that. see the plate on the back that comes up higher than than the transom. other than that i'd jump on it. as long as the engine runs good. test run it.

 

[JB]

Re: Boston Whalers

$1500 is a bargain price for that boat, Markho. I have no need for another boat right now, but if it were close by I would buy it in a minute.

A good Sport 13 with a good engine on it may bring $2000-$3000. I paid $2500 for the last Sport 13 I had, and it needed work.

 

[markho]

Re: Boston Whalers

is this what your talking about? Does this effect the performance of the boat? Could this damage or have caused damage to the hull?

 

[markho]

Re: Boston Whalers

$1500 is a bargain price for that boat, Markho. I have no need for another boat right now, but if it were close by I would buy it in a minute.

A good Sport 13 with a good engine on it may bring $2000-$3000. I paid $2500 for the last Sport 13 I had, and it needed work.

This forum rules!!! Looks like I'm going to be a member for a while since I'm a click away from being an owner!! I need a drink!! I Gotta think this one through!! What about the "whaler" decal, is that authentic?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Boston Whalers

If it runs and for 1500..Go For It!!

 

[JB]

Re: Boston Whalers

Oh, dear:%

I didn't see that homemade jackplate. AUGH!

Get rid of that and put a short shaft engine (JohnnyRude 25s are great on Sport 13s) on it.

Even so, it is a good price. I would still buy it.

The decal is bogus. You can get authentic decals on eBay for a song.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boston Whalers

make that clik, and be the proud owner of one of the best boats made. if i hadn't blown the next couple of months boat budget, i'd jump on it.

 

[markho]

Re: Boston Whalers

make that clik, and be the proud owner of one of the best boats made. if i hadn't blown the next couple of months boat budget, i'd jump on it.

well I held off on the click. Now I'm leaning on finding a 15' since I saw a couple that were resonably priced. I was late by one day on getting one. However I found this one that looks like its in reasonably good shape and the motor is quite recent. Let me know what you guys think. Its asking price is 4000$

from the pics it looks like the wood needs to be refinished (no prob there) and the hull needs to be cleaned and painted? Am i right on this?
The chines look to be sharp and well preserved. structurally to me it looks like a solid boat with most of its cost going to the outboard. Right? Is this merc tracker a good engine? Its a 40hp. It will be used for the salt.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boston Whalers

looks like she needs a lot of lipstick and eyeliner. but, she's doable. get the serial number of the engine to verify year.

 

[JB]

Re: Boston Whalers

Do not paint it, clean it and polish the gelcoat.

Try him at $3500. I think $4K is just a bit steep, but not out of the market. It is spring.

The 15' is a great boat. Rides better than the 13' or the 17' and is easier to handle. It is also harder to find.

40HP is at the low end of suitable power for the 15. I am repowering my 15 from 48 to 60HP and she will hold 70Hp if it isn't too heavy (over about 275lb is too heavy).

I get 35mph from the 48, so you could expect a top end of under 30 from the 40.