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console position on a Whaler 13
Boatingnut	#1  Posted on 01/31/09 - 7:02 AM
Member Posts: 24 Comments: 2 Joined: 08/24/08	OK, I did something stupid. I took the seats and console out of my 13 without first measuring their position. I thought I also read here that some felt moving the console 4" forward improved performance. Please advise at to standard location of seat clamps and the reasons for moving them forward. I'll take the measurements however you want to describe them.
Eri	#2  Posted on 01/31/09 - 7:02 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 157 Comments: 4 Joined: 10/09/08	i think if you move them forward u r going to get beat up in the chop. My 72 13 Soupuss had a great ride in rear seat but the front seat was harsh. Moving forward could only make that worse. I had 40 merc t stroke and it did 42. I dont think u want to go much faster than that. Not sure of the measurements.
kamie	#3  Posted on 01/31/09 - 7:10 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 2975 Comments: 3 Joined: 11/04/05	I believe the distance between the transom and the back of the thwart seat is 42 1/2 inches. That is, if you move it forward 4-6 inches from standard. The reason to move the seats forward is to reduce the tendency to porpoise and pound
CES	#4  Posted on 01/31/09 - 7:28 PM
Member Personal Page Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 2681 Comments: 7 Joined: 04/27/07	I moved my console/bench seat set up forward about 4 inches and it improved the ride tremendously. Kamies measurements are spot on. Cliff 1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker
Eri	#5  Posted on 01/31/09 - 8:17 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 157 Comments: 4 Joined: 10/09/08	Usually getting as much hull out of the water is what makes u go faster once planed out. I moved my 18 Newport seat up and the boat rode nicer but that hull with the big V helped that out. Not sure of the same affect in choppy water on a 13. In clean water it probably rides more level. Our river was often 1-2 foot chop and it was rough in the 13 at speed
Binkie	#6  Posted on 02/01/09 - 4:42 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 2012 Comments: 0 Joined: 12/19/05	Moving the interior of the 13 footer forward 4-6" helps all the way around. Reduces or eliminates porpoising and pounding in chop. This is a theory, no more. I believe that I might be the person that first did this back in `06, when I first restored my 13 footer. One of the reasons for doing so was to balance the weight with my heavier and larger mahogany side console, but it has worked in every aspect, and others have done the same with good results. It looks like the interiors of the new 13 footers ae more forward also. Also the exterior room behind the rear thwart, is more useful and the less amount of room forward isn`t a concern. I have a 25hp 4 stroke, and can run wide open in a 1 foot chop, and the boat "feels" like it just slides along the top of the chop. no pounding at all. Of course it`s still only a 13 foot boat, and wet in rough water but not more so. Rich
MW	#7  Posted on 02/01/09 - 6:22 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1827 Comments: 10 Joined: 01/08/06	In '93 my friend moved his console on top of the front bench seat to improve the handling of the boat. I stood there speechless, I then went behind the garage to cry.
chrepp	#8  Posted on 02/01/09 - 6:28 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 80 Comments: 4 Joined: 06/02/08	I believe that most of the people who have moved their seats forward did so because of the heavier 4 stroke motors that they put on their boats(which caused some porpoising and moving the seats forward fixed). Also, on the 15" transoms it would lessen the amount of backwash coming over the transom from being on plane(with the heavier motors. It still happens if you aren't paying attention even with a lighter motor but not to the same degree). Just from what I've read on this site. Let me know if I'm wrong.
mumbojumbo	#9  Posted on 02/01/09 - 3:08 PM
Member Posts: 2 Comments: 0 Joined: 10/04/05	I moved my console and rear seat (no front seat) forward six inches. It improved the ride, without a doubt. All my friends with 13' Whalers have done the same. The improvement in the ride is dramatic
CES	#10  Posted on 02/02/09 - 11:47 AM
Member Personal Page Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 2681 Comments: 7 Joined: 04/27/07	MW wrote: In '93 my friend moved his console on top of the front bench seat to improve the handling of the boat. I stood there speechless, I then went behind the garage to cry. Binkie wrote: I believe that I might be the person that first did this back in `06, when I first restored my 13 footer. All right guys, something is fishy here. Who was the first? Edited by CES on 02/02/09 - 11:49 AM Cliff 1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker
theo	#11  Posted on 02/02/09 - 1:08 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 252 Comments: 0 Joined: 08/26/08	In 1968 we put the fat kid in the bow to get on plane faster. Does that count?
Binkie	#12  Posted on 02/02/09 - 3:40 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 2012 Comments: 0 Joined: 12/19/05	Well, I may not be the first one in the whole country to move their 13` interior forward 4-6 inches, but for sure, I was the first in my neighborhood. Here is a picture of my front yard outside my apartment. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia...Bronx2.jpg Rich
pirate	#13  Posted on 02/02/09 - 6:01 PM
Member Posts: 41 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/04/07	I am currently restoring my sport 13(paint stage) and will be making the console a little bit wider and plan on purchasing a new Honda 40 that weighs in at 214 lbs. So which is the best measurement for moving seating forward, 4,5 or 6 inches?I also plan on installing an underseat gas tank under rear seat and battery will be located aft of rear seat on port side.Any feedback on those proposed items would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks!
kamie	#14  Posted on 02/02/09 - 7:58 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 2975 Comments: 3 Joined: 11/04/05	Pirate, any chance you can locate the gas under the forward thwart seat? Would help balance out the weight of the engine and the battery.
Binkie	#15  Posted on 02/02/09 - 7:59 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 2012 Comments: 0 Joined: 12/19/05	My 25 Merc weighs 157lbs, and my rear trolling motor weighs 35-40 lbs. That Honda is a heavy engine. I would move the interior forward 5-6 inches. Hopefully you haven`t bought your steering cable yet. If you mount your rear thwart on top of the seat clamps you can fit the original 6 gallon tank under it, along with battery(s) as I did. You should make the console about 4 inches taller also, so you won`t have to crouch if you raise the rear thwart seat. http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c19...rmerc3.jpg Rich
pirate	#16  Posted on 02/03/09 - 7:44 AM
Member Posts: 41 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/04/07	Thanks for all your input. I'm not married to the Honda, it is my first choice allthough I'm getting mixed numbers on its actual weight of 205lbs to 214lbs. I have not purchased my steering cable yet. I also have not purchased my new tank. What was the size of the original tank? Maybe I could put 2 tanks on either side with battery in middle under aft seat and raise it as suggested to to of seat risers. This is why this forum board is so great. All this valuable input. Many thanks!