Mako Vs Whaler

[Link]

Re: Mako Vs Whaler

T I Smith : I have a (serious) question which may or may not have (merit) or to do with your quest for a boat. I will ask JB the question But I would also like to get a second opinion on. Then a quick jab at JerseyJim: Just for fun! <br />JB:<br />I only worked for a few years in the marine field from the mid 80's to 1994, but when in sales one of the first things I was taught, was that when taking in a BW or wanta be in trade .. we had to weigh them first! Because if there were small cracks in the hull the foam would soak up water with noway to release it! By the way in all those years we only took in two BW's in trade and both checked out fine! And BW gives all spec's and weight details down to hand rails! Great company! The company I worked for JB did weigh both boats! Your comments should help T I Smith : And me <br />---------------------------------------------<br />Now JerseyJim <br />You said:<br />------------------------------------------<br /> but you cant mount a 40 horse on an aluminum boat.<br />-------------------------------------------<br /><br />Beg to Differ! I have a 14 foot aluminum boat with a 90HP on it and it works just fine! <br />Oh I forgot to add, it's a custom built river sled with jet drive "/ and when I ordered it they knew what motor was going to be on it! like I said just giving ya a hard time <br />Happy Boating<br />Link

 

[JB]

Re: Mako Vs Whaler

Ahoy, Link.<br /><br />I, too, have heard tales of Whalers with sponge instead of closed-cell foam in them. And I, too, have never seen one.<br /><br />I have dealt with three Whalers that had ample opportunity to soak up water and didn't. <br /><br />I repaired a friend's '68 16' Currituck that had been at his cottage in Canada for the summer and had worn a hole in the keel at the front from being beached on too many gravel beaches. He discovered it when he took her out of the water after three months that way. After a few weeks on the trailer with the tongue on the ground she weighed just under 800#, without the engine.<br /><br />When I bought my last 13 Sport she had a crack about a foot long through the outer hull in the bottom from an encounter with a stump. The seller said he had used the boat for several years that way. Didn't weigh her after the repair, but there was no noticable difference in trim or performance.<br /><br />The Outrage 18 that GEP is now restoring came to me after hanging in the water with the stern on a lift and the bow in the water long enough to grow barnacles. She weighed 1550# with the 300# Yamaha on board. There were no cracks in the hull to let water in.<br /><br />My opinion? The "soaks up water" thing is a myth.<br /><br />Why do you suppose Whalers are by far the first choice when the USCG , Marine Patrols, etc. need a small boat?

 

[BillP]

Re: Mako Vs Whaler

Jb, are you saying you have never seen or heard of a BW with wet foam? No disrespect meant but whaler foam will suck up water like any other boat...maybe slower due to density but it will do it. <br /><br />I spent two years in the Bahamas(Exumas)and ran 13'rental whalers frequently. Several (most) were badly beat up, delaminated, soft spots, had raw foam showing and were even squishy from holding water. They get full of water from cracks and are also in the water 100% of the time. <br /><br />The USCG uses them because they are durable. They use other brand boats too.<br /><br />Just for the record...I've lived on or around the water at Florida's east coast since 1956. The Fl Fish & Wildlife, the Fl Marine Patrol, USCG and numerous city agencies rarely have whalers...they are by far the least used brand here. I'm not blowing smoke.

 

[DJP]

Re: Mako Vs Whaler

Zodiac's from my experience are the preferred "smaller" boat of choice utilized by the Coast Gaurd, I haven't seen a USCG Whaler yet.

 

[skiffer]

Re: Mako Vs Whaler

I was anchored in Nantucket Harbor one evening, nibbling on cheese and crackers, watching the sun go down when I heard a loud buzzing noise coming from up-harbor. As it got closer I could see it was a Zodiak with what looked like a large Merc on the back.<br /><br />As it was buzzing past about 100 yards away, the damn thing suddenly started flying right out of the water and went head over heels in an instant. <br />Seems a gust of wind got under the bow and flipped it right over. It made sort of a loud WHOMP! Then the buzzing stopped.<br /><br />As I was refilling my glass with chablis, I wondered if there would be any survivors. Then after a moment or two I saw a little black head come bobbing to the surface. <br /><br />Luckily the guy flipped the thing in a crowded anchorage rather than off shore somewhere. And luckily, I got to see firsthand what Zodiaks are all about.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Mako Vs Whaler

nice story skif.<br /><br />the u.s. navy uses rhib's on all their ships. we regularly launch, recover, and ride these amazing boats in the worst of seas and in every ocean around the world. maybe nantucket harbor has rougher waters.... or maybe that boat was just driven by idiots.

 

[JB]

Re: Mako Vs Whaler

No, Bill, I am not saying I never heard of a wet Whaler. It is the second thing a Whaler basher crows about (after pounding). I am saying I've never seen one, including the ones I have had with lost outer shell integrity.<br /><br />I suspect that the 13s you mention were in service long after other boats would have been sunk or junk, and got little or no maintenance.<br /><br />I agree that RIBs are great boats for many things, and I take back what I said about Whalers being first choice. They were back in the 70s and 80s, but the new ones don't seem to measure up to the RIBs.

 

[skiffer]

Re: Mako Vs Whaler

mattt-<br /><br />The water was flat, a protected anchorage, light breeze from the west, Zodiak heading north.<br /><br />As I watched from the cockpit of my boat, it did a complete 360 in the air, stem over stern, and came down propellor side up.<br /><br />I guess the moral of the story is if you get a light weight Zodiak going fast enough it will fly, or at least attempt to.<br /><br />skiffer

 

[ob1jeeper]

Re: Mako Vs Whaler

TI & All...<br /><br />Wow... I had NO idea, such a simple question could draw such venomous responses! I just figured we were all just one happy family here, before I read this series of "responses"...<br /><br />JUST KIDDING !!! Everyone PLEASE sit back down and take a deep breath !!!<br /><br />I have not had the pleasure of owning a Whaler, so I can not speak with Anything other than respect for the opinions shared here...<br /><br />I DID however buy a Mako, because I like to boat on a lake, which sees some pretty strong summer storms, and when I got to looking at what the local tow agencies, National Park Service, and Coast Guard guys (and gals) were driving when the weather turned to Poo-Poo... I saw a fleet of 20 to 25 ft Mako's being used, for this service...<br /><br />I was looking, because my "ski & fish" open bow had given me a couple sleepless nights, due to water over the bow, wetting the seats (in more ways than one...) SO... It did not take me long to go looking for a Mako for myself... I've had it nearly two years, and my sole dissapointment has been the powerplant. The Hull has MORE than lived up to my expectations... It handles the roughest waters I ever want to be on, with ease.<br /><br />It is marginally powered for the altitude lakes I regularly play on... BUT... Am hoping "Santa" will be nice enough to bring me a pair of 4-stroke 130 or 140's this X-mas... (sigh... with my 122 gal fuel capacity, I should be able to stay out a day or two, instead of the 2-stroke fuel guzzler I now have... But that's another story SURE to raise the hackles of many...)<br /><br />As for the ride smoothness everyone has chimed in on... My Mako (a 1983, CC, model no. 224) is THE smoothest and driest boat I've ever owned, and can recall ever getting any rides on... But I must also admit to having NEVER hadthe pleasure of taking a ride in a Whaler of similar size...<br /><br />Don't figure my reply will do much to sway you one way or the other... Just adding to the general "blabbering"... If it were me, I'd take them BOTH for a ride in the areas I liked to play in, and then make the decision...<br /><br />Good Luck, Obiwan...