Re: Do you think this Old Whaler is Worth 700?
Grab it. But see if you can talk him down, or buy it without the trailer for $500. then:
Look inside the front seat well for the serial number--this is an original blue hull, so probably a low 4 digit? My '64 is a 2XXX, I think
Junk the trailer
Get rid of that cod-awful pedestal seat and don't let any more get near it!
give away the motor, maybe to the shop where you buy your replacement--or fix it up if the year matches?
Replace steering cables with plastic coated cable--no problem.
Belt sand the mahagony--it will be fine. Bonus is you have the front seat and the rub rail looks OK.
If he will let you, float test it. with no motor, the sides of the hull in the stern should be just above the water; if not it's waterlogged.
if it's waterlogged, you can't dry it out, and removing the floor isn't worth it. Pass. However, someone on continuous wave pointed out that the most water that could be in the hull can't weigh as much as an additional passenger so don't sweat it.
I recall that the transom is solid glass, not wood coore, but I could be wrong.
But here is an issue to look for: if it's sitting on a roller trailer, the edges of the rollers can crack the fiberglass hull. Luckily yours is a virgin bottom. On whalers, the weight is supposed to sit on the keel alone, with bunks maybe 3' long to steady it.
Put a 25 +/- on it. we always had a 1964 Evinrude 18 until a few years ago and it was fine, but the others on the river growing up had 33's, up to 40's. You want a short shaft.
Great boat for jumping tug boat waves. So I heard....
