Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Considering an older Boston Whaler

Posted by Sharky1 on 01/04/18 - 6:48 PM
#3

I agree with everything Bill said plus when you're looking at older Whalers you should try and find a virgin, meaning no bottom paint, or painted surfaces that way you don't get any surprises. To many times you peel the old paint back and you find coverups or some poor attempt to fix a problem. I'd rather have spider cracks in the original gelcoat than a bad paint job. However there is an exception to the rule and that is if the boat was professionally restored you should be ok with a good once over. Make sure if you buy an older boat that the title says Whaler not "homemade" like so many of them do. You see when people get older boats sometimes they don't get a title and they register them as homemade which is illegal. You also want to look for interior soft spots. These are where someone mounted something to the floor and the screw wasn't sealed properly and water got in. Under the fiberglass is wood and then foam. If water rots the wood and the foam gets saturated thats "no bueno". Run from that unless you want a major project. I would rather have an old Whaler that hasn't been touched with a POS motor, than a project boat.