classic 13' Boston Whaler questions

[xjdriver]

well I looked at the wellcraft today and ended up walking away from it due too the floor bieng rotted out forward of the ski locker. ill be keeping my eye out on craigslist.

 

[high&dry]

I cannot think of two more different boat and for different purposes than a Wellcraft bow rider and a BW 13. Decide what you want and need and then look for it diligently.

 

[xjdriver]

I cannot think of two more different boat and for different purposes than a Wellcraft bow rider and a BW 13. Decide what you want and need and then look for it diligently.

ha, i know. I have my eye on a clean 81' BW 13 foot with a 40hp mariner, bimini and trolling motor. I want to try and check it out this week.

 

[xjdriver]

hey guys I need some advice, I found a 1981 13 footer locally for sale and went to look at it. it has a mariner 40 i think is original and it sounds good. boat looks clean topside but while inspecting the hull I found some things that concern me (pics) to me it looks like alot of gellcoat work for 4000, the lowest they'll take. also on each side of the transom near the top thier are like 4 small stainless bolts and nuts that go through the transom, like they used to hold something on but the owners say they were thier when they bought it. they are above the waterline. I told them that I would let them know in a couple days if im going to buy it. just not sure about the issues with the hull, Im new to fiberglass..

 

[high&dry]

I would pass on that boat I think. The $4000 is the price range and more for a nice boat. Look ridden hard and put away wet. Look for something that has been shown at least a modicum of love and care.

The stainless hook things are the tow bridle, trailer tiedowns I suspect.

 

[xjdriver]

I would pass on that boat I think. The $4000 is the price range and more for a nice boat. Look ridden hard and put away wet. Look for something that has been shown at least a modicum of love and care.

The stainless hook things are the tow bridle, trailer tiedowns I suspect.

thats what im thinking, stay away from that one.

 

[mr 88]

so after some thinking Im not sure if a 13 footer is right for me. i want something that I can comfortably have 4 people on. another thing is that they're expensive, anything later than 60s models in good shape near me are going for $4200 plus.
anyway I might be going to look at this, oh boy... he wants to much $ for it but its near me and I like the 4.3. so I might take a look.

A 13' Whaler is not going to be comfortable for more than 2 adults and its just too small for anything less than bombing around and burning fuel. They are rough rides and your back will thank you for passing on one. No storage room and gear just bounces around until its in your way. Stick with a 17'-20' deep V boat , stop looking at the whalers and concentrate on a hull that your not going to outgrow in 3 weeks. Keep saving your money and don't settle for anything less than what is really going to work for you.

 

[xjdriver]

A 13' Whaler is not going to be comfortable for more than 2 adults and its just too small for anything less than bombing around and burning fuel. They are rough rides and your back will thank you for passing on one. No storage room and gear just bounces around until its in your way. Stick with a 17'-20' deep V boat , stop looking at the whalers and concentrate on a hull that your not going to outgrow in 3 weeks. Keep saving your money and don't settle for anything less than what is really going to work for you.

a 17' to 20' deep v would be ideal, im just not sure how practical it would be bass fishing and using them on the small rivers and lakes in florida where i live. although I mainly would use it in the st johns river ( parents have a house on it) which wouldn't be an issue with a bigger boat. another thing is with alot of boats I see are I/O can an I/O be trimmed all the way up while underway too avoid shallow water and obstacles? (like when bass fishing) one thing i do like about I/Os is the automotive engines since I am a master mechanic, and I would think they would like running at slower speeds alot more than the old 2 stroke outboards im used to.

 

[mr 88]

I/Os can be trimmed up and in theory do not draw any more water than a outboard. Generally there a bit beefier than a outboard but the ventilation plate will be at the same level as a outboard. Just looking at them without measuring I would guess they might stick down a inch or two lower because of fin size vs a 40 hp outboard. Some of the 4 cylinder I/Os do not run very well at slow trolling speeds, hence the trolling plates and trolling bags. The V8's can be idled down more with out getting lumpy.Sometimes to get a slower troll and keep the engine running smooth people will put a lower pitch prop on it ,which works,you just have to be careful of your redline because of that.

 

[high&dry]

If you live in Florida there ought to be a s-load of Boston Whaler boats and huge variety of other nice saltwater capable boats aside from some on stern drive with carpet covered plyboard interior. If you want a Whaler you will either have to pony up the cash for a nice one or be willing to put some sweat equity into a beater. A 13 foot BW is an icon boat, you will pay for one if it is nice.

The water in the foam thing is way overblown.There is no rrason for there to be any significat water in the hull unless the boat has been severely abused. I would look for a trailered boat and no bottom coatings and that no matter what boat type you buy.

You clearly have no idea the purpose of the boat you want, only that you want a boat. You say bass fishing. I fish for bass using kayaks. A boat with high sides and safety rails and no trolling motor or an old stern drive for that matter is not going to be a very good bass boat. They need extremely low sides, casting decks and a big trolling motor.

If you plan on offshore then you want an outboard powered center console or dual console. There are two design trends in such boats, 1) those that are designed to shed water fast (Boston Whaler types) with lower sides, notched or open transoms and foam everywhere and those meant to keep water out (Grady types) with higher sides, closed transoms and sealed decks. All will be self bailing or nearly all are so. I would not buy a boat for ocean use that is not self bailing and does not have a sealed deck that is above waterline at rest, is not outboard and is not built to live in the salt.

My bass boat:



If you want a lake boat to pull people around on those tube things, then the plyboard and carpet stern drives are indeed nice for that sort of thing, if that is your thing.

H&D

 

[JimS123]

A 13' Whaler is not going to be comfortable for more than 2 adults and its just too small for anything less than bombing around and burning fuel. They are rough rides and your back will thank you for passing on one. No storage room and gear just bounces around until its in your way. Stick with a 17'-20' deep V boat , stop looking at the whalers and concentrate on a hull that your not going to outgrow in 3 weeks. Keep saving your money and don't settle for anything less than what is really going to work for you.

Yeah, we all should have the best. My buddy has 2 footitis and Trades frequently. He now has a 38 footer and its not big enough since when his wife steps on the gunnel the boat tips.....LOL....(shes a big girl).

Anywhoot, I don't know about Whaler 13s, but last year I bought a brand new 15 foot Montauk. OMG, the best boat I ever had in 60 years of boating.

My 19 footer stays in the garage most days now, because we much prefer the Whaler. Rides like a charm, only sips gas and the ultimate fishing platform. My wife now says it will be our forever vacation boat. Plenty of storage and soooo comfortable. Sure, a 2 person boat, but the son, DIL and Grandson have come along and it fits the 5 of us just perfect.

Everybody has their own desires I guess.....

 

[high&dry]

Mr. Jim, sound like you have a nice BW 15, NICE! I have owned a 13, a 17 and now my 19 Nantucket/Outrage 190. Loved each one. Miss the 13 badly. Boston Whalers get bashed a lot on the www because they cost more than seems possible (then do not buy one), claim to be unsinkable (and they are) and have no storage (because every nook and cranny from stem to stern and keel to gunwale cap is filled with foam) and because they are alleged to water log (largely urban legend and pure fabrication) and ride rough (compared to what?).

I got intercepted in the Destin pass a few years ago by a CG boat skippered by a person who knew nothing much it seemed about boats. What caught their attention was we had on no life jackets, just my wife and I. I was asked why I did not have them on. I told them flat out because I did not want to. It was a flat calm day I explained. What if you hit something and your boat sinks? I respond it is unsinkable. He comes back with all boats can sink and I retort, not this one. He claims to have seen a sunken BW. I inquire, it seems it was upside down instead I discover by further conversation. Then I had to explain to him the difference between sinking and capsizing and one was unlikely in flat calm seas and the other was impossible in a BW boat. At this point they went off to make somebody else safe for democracy finding nothing they could ding me for. Whatever. My readily accessible jackets and throwables on either side port and starboard:



H&D