Looking for my 4th Boston Whaler

[JAWallace]

I'm in the market for a fresh 13' with a 4 stroke.

I had my first Whaler in the late 60s, a filling-jarring 1962 hull when I lived in the San Juans. Around 2000 I bought a 13' Dauntless from Captain Kev. In 2007 I bought a new 170 Montauk, but managed to total it last year. Now all I have is insurance money;-)

As much as I loved the Montauk for comfort and for bigger waters, it always felt big to me for fly fishing smaller waters. That's why I'm going back to a 13, maybe a 15, but the 13 has better lateral stability.

We don't see much about Whalers on the fly fishing boards, and I just wanted to throw in my $.02 and recommendation for them. A new 13 with a 40 Merc that will take you 38 mpg and where you can easily run the Delta in decent conditions will run you $12K. Compared to some alternatives that's not a bad deal, and when you resell it you'll get close to if not what you paid. FWIW.

[Blane]

Why go new and pay over 10k for a 13 footer? As you know with a good inspection there is little to go wrong with an older BW hull esp a 13.......

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/boa/1956372179.html

[Mr T]

As a whaler owner I have to agree about the versatility of these hulls for a ot of different waters.

I have a 1969 Nauset and find it to be almost perfect for my needs. I can fish the delta anywhere I want to go, get home in the wind and waves, (a bit sore/wet, but alive), fish the bay, take it out the gate on good days and pull it easily with a jeep cherokee. I got mine for under 5K rigged with a new trailer, and could sell it tomorrow for the same. I feel more safe in that 40 plus year old hull than I do in some new boats that friends have.

[JAWallace]

Blane, what you are paying for, especially in the smaller Whalers, is an updated motor. Not everyone could live with the 18 tiller in your example. Some can make do with a 2 stroke, but 4 stroke is the demand item and those are fairly new. A new 40 HP EFI runs about $5K so repowering an older 13 hull becomes problematic when a new rig with an extended warranty is around $12K. The larger you get the more your save over the cost of a new boat. For cranky inshore waters and offshore, the Outrage is a screaming buy today. You can find a nice one for under $20K.

Mr. T--what a classic rig you have in the Nauset! Good choice.

[Blane]

I get what you are saying but in this market there are deals everywhere and unless your hell bent on a brand spanking new engine...a quick look on craigslist can save you some serious cash.....

http://ventura.craigslist.org/boa/1906203151.html

[JAWallace]

That's why I'm looking for one like that one! Thanks, Blane.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I have been around lots of Boston Whalers. They are famous on both coasts.

You will find them all over the world.

I have been in lots of them and know people who have many of them.

The older ones were 11', 13', 15, 17', 19', 22' and 25'

I think the 11' is a nice one man boat.

13' is good for 1 or 2 people. People use 20 to 40hp on them.

"Doc" Ted Cedar has a 15' which is a little rare because I have only seen a handful in my lifetime. Ted's came with an Evirude 70hp 2 stroke but now he has a Merc 60hp 4 stroke on it.

The 17' Montauk is a great boat that is rated for maybe 90hp?

My friends had 19 and 22 footers over on our cost for small commercial salmon boats.

Pretty cool boats.......

[jjjewett]

I fished a 13 for a while, now I have a 17, not 170

I think a 13 was great size-wise for fishing one or 2, but too small for running around.
Dang it was a harsh ride in anything other than flat water. Of course I had a 1968 13 which required a short shaft motor and wasnt smirked.

A 15 is a good compromise, but I run a 17 with a 50hp motor, and launch and run it myself all the time. My opinion is that a 17 is the best overall. Drafts nothing, easy to handle, etc.

If you do go with a 13, get one that takes a long (20") shaft motor, and get a newer one that is smirked, your back will thank you.

-JJ

[JAWallace]

I would look at a 130, nothing older, because of the room and the ride, as you stated. Those smirkless oldies are too rough.

The 17 Montauk and the 150 are nearly identical in interior room and dry weight. My 170 was too large for small waters, at least it seemed that way. You can generally do better pricewise on the 17s over the 150s for some reason. I'd still look at a 130--for a simple fishing boat they're probably fine for 1 or 2. Beyond that you're fooling yourself if you think you going to get an all purpose Whaler unless you go to a Ventura and that's way too large for small waters. I tried to compromise with the 170 and it's didn't work for the fam.

I'm giving myself until Spring. I know I will find one as I'll travel for the right boat.

[jjjewett]

yeah I waited about a year for mine and traveled 300 miles one way. It was well worth it.

Those 130's are nice boats. Too small for me though. If I see a nice 130 I will post it here on this thread.

-JJ

[huntindog]

we have a 13 and it gets real small real fast, my 9 year old son and i fish it often but throw in even a small cooler, and some gear and it is tight. I want something bigger.

[jjjewett]

I ripped out the seating in my 13, added a small carolina skiff center console and used a cooler as the seat. it worked out pretty well. I miss that boat, but will have another 13 someday.

[KD]

Hey Local....
That was the sweetest little 13' footer. I still to this day wish i never sold it!
That little 13 got me around the Delta from way out west to the north, east and south. I could take that boat anywhere and feel safe about it. It would be probably hard to find one now.

[jjjewett]

nice boat:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/boa/1976650436.html

[OceanSunfish]

Whatever became of the 13' Dauntless pictured by KD?