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Not a Whaler Fan
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| Binkie |
Posted on 06/15/08 - 11:24 AM
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My ex-brother-in-law and close friend, is not a Classic Whaler fan. His only crisitism of them is because of the shape of the bottom, they need too much power to run competitively with other small boats. Because of this he says they are overrated, and the reason Whaler changed the bottom shape on the newer hulls. He has several boats among which is a 20` flats boat with a 70 Yamaha, that will outrun a classic Montauk with the same power. I tell him the 13` and the 17` Classic whalers are very stable boats, but actually not as stable as his flats boat which has more beam, and draws less water. He has more boating and boat building experience than anyone I know. He is 78 years old, has owned numerous boats and built and rebuilt many boats in his lifetime. He owned and operated his own charter boat, a 38 ft. Mathews Sport Fisherman when he was 19 years old, back in the 1940`s. He knows just about every commercial boat builder personally from Maine to Florida. He is a professional boat carpenter, and has taught me a lot in the 50 years I ve known him. When he usually tell me something about boats I believe its true.
I don`t have an answer to counter his criticism of Classic Whalers. I`ve seen 13 footers with 50hp, 15 footers with 70`s and 17 footers with 115s. This is not a big factor with me, as I believe in overpowering boats anyway, except for the 13 footer.
What do others think about this.
rich
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| arthureld |
Posted on 06/15/08 - 12:05 PM
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Your brother in law could very well be right. 
Now what are we going to do?
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| Binkie |
Posted on 06/15/08 - 12:43 PM
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Well, I told him classic cars burn more gas too, but they`re cooler, and head turners too, like restored Classic Whalers.
Rich
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| CES |
Posted on 06/15/08 - 12:52 PM
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Honestly? Who really cares what your ex-brother in-law thinks about Whalers, to each is own. That's why he is driving other boats. This site is for people who love Whalers.....and want to help out other Whaler owners. If what he says about Whalers is true...so what? What can we do about it now? Classic Whalers are just that, Classic Whalers.
Cliff
1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker |
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| arthureld |
Posted on 06/15/08 - 1:02 PM
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If I'm not mistaken, I think Whalers became so popular was because of lateral stability. Of course there are other hulls that can get better gas milage. But they probably aren't as good for the purpose that most people use classic Whalers for.
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| Grady95 |
Posted on 06/15/08 - 1:38 PM
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Thank your relative for the valuable input. Variety is the spice of life and without controversial discussion, we'd all just end up being exactly alike. Someday, I hope to meet him, share a cigar and a good bourbon and talk about boats. Strong opinion is a gift many wish they had. Sounds like this is a man who was well endowed with it! God bless him.
I also restore automobiles. I have done many British Leyland cars, german cars, and am now into American muscle. There's a 1969 Mustang in the driveway right now with an engine so big, it almost is undrivable! Big time show car, race ready, this thing makes the hair on your neck stand up. A Ford lovers wet dream. I've had Chevy enthusiasts actually badmouth the vehicle, just because it's not "one of theirs." It has taught me to accept summary judgement with restraint. I KNOW what's sitting on those wheels and what purrs under that hood. Acceptance by others is simply not needed or sought out.
I also know that Classic Whalers are a boutique subset of the market, adored by many, ridiculed by some. There is, in fact no universally loved boat any more than there is only one flavor of ice cream. These little Whalers satisfy my personal needs, both functionally and esthetically. In the end, it's just a personal preference. The key to all this is learning to accept the differences among us and respect each other, even in the presence of them. One is never too old or too well informed to hone those skills.
Be Well and Happy Father's Day,
Grady
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| Phil T |
Posted on 06/15/08 - 2:23 PM
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With boats in general, there are design elements/features that some like and others don't. There are elements on the classic designed and newer whalers that I don't prefer. The opposite is also true.
For designer/builders, there is the design perspective as well as the build perspective.
Personally, I look at features some would not consider as important. I like the low weights of the classics versus the new designs. I like the interior dimensions and high sides of the newer designs over the old. I sat in a 210 on Saturday and loved the beam, high sides, room around the console and bow area. I am not a fan of how heavy the boat is.
It's not about right or wrong, an opinion is it's own. 
1992 Outrage 17 I
2019 E-TEC 90, Viper 17 2+
2018 Load Rite Elite 18280096VT |
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| Joe Kriz |
Posted on 06/15/08 - 2:48 PM
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Boston Whaler boats in general aren't for everyone.
Besides what we like about our Whalers, there is one major factor that lead me to purchasing my first 13' Whaler.
Whalers DO NOT sink. You can't sink them. You can cut them into tiny little pieces and you still can't sink them. You can blow them up, shoot them full of holes and they still won't sink.
PERIOD..... They do NOT sink...
Now we have the others that will try and downgrade the above statement by telling us they will still turn over... Duh.... Almost all boats will turn over. We weren't talking about that in the above statement. We said the boat will NOT sink.... Some people just won't accept that fact.
Even if a Whaler flips over, it still floats and you can use the upturned boat as a floating device.
You've all heard my statement and maybe read it on the Boston Whaler E-magazine along with Mike's statement about how we both ended up buying our first Whalers. You can read the article on the Boston Whaler Owners Club site.
There are a lot of other well made boats out there but not a lot of well made boats that won't sink.
I prefer to keep my Whaler in Joe's locker.... NOT Davy Jones' locker....
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| arthureld |
Posted on 06/15/08 - 4:44 PM
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Yea, that too. IT DOESN'T SINK!
Why do I feel like I need to defend my Whaler?
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| Binkie |
Posted on 06/15/08 - 6:12 PM
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Grady, I really like your attitude and general outlook on life. Wish I could be more like you.
rich
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| John Fyke |
Posted on 06/15/08 - 6:25 PM
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Not for nothing, but I have three boats and only one is a whaler at the moment. And I'll work on anything if the money is good. 
John Fyke
Re-Fit or Reef It
1979 15' Sport with Super Sport conversion and 70hp mercury. |
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| Doug V |
Posted on 06/15/08 - 6:38 PM
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Well said Grady, and well said Joe!
It's good that not everyone on earth is a Whaler-phile. There's not enough of them to go around for EVERYONE any way!
That being said, I like certain other boats very much, just not as much as my Whaler.
Doug
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| Davidk |
Posted on 06/15/08 - 7:02 PM
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Grady.......well said.
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| Bob Kemmler JR |
Posted on 06/16/08 - 3:17 PM
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Ask him how many stringers, floors and transoms he plans on putting in his flats boat over the course of 30 years?
On the hunt for a classic 19 or 21 Whaler |
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| Exit Zero |
Posted on 06/16/08 - 3:50 PM
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Opinions are like a certain body part... everyone seems to have one... 
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| Fishmore |
Posted on 06/16/08 - 5:34 PM
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There are a lot of good boats out there and they fit many needs of boaters but, when I needed one boat that could run out in the ocean from San Francisco or go tubing on a big lake with my teen or be just as at home in a small lake fishing with my toddler my thoughts immediatly turned to a classic Montauk. Over many decades it has just proven itself to be an extremely safe, long lasting, versatile and economical boat. Not too many other boats out there that you can say that about.
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| renoduckman |
Posted on 06/16/08 - 5:35 PM
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People who dont like Whalers usually cant afford one! And they probably have a Bayliner with dry rot in the botton!
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| scrimshaw |
Posted on 06/16/08 - 5:44 PM
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I love my Whalers but I'm also a fan of Wilbur,Makenzie and Crosby boats. I pilot my Whaler by choice,my choice everyone has one it's America ! Someday I'll pilot something else but there will be a Whaler in the fleet. Rich,I believe your fleet contains other brands!
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| kikibee |
Posted on 06/16/08 - 5:54 PM
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Anybody who gets to be 78 and still has a boat can say whatever they please! My hubby and I are in the process of rebuilding the console on a 1961 Nauset and this past weekend I myself was "not a whaler fan"! I will say that I would like to see the flats boat that draws a crowd at the boat ramp... For me (and this may be a Mars-Venus thing), it's not the width of the hull or the size of the motor (ha ha!), but the overall aesthetics and pride gained from preserving a little bit of boat-building history.
I'd love to drown some worms with your brother-in-law just hear the stories he must have...
Kirstin Bashara
1961 Nauset
1985 Evinrude V90 sans VRO |
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| Binkie |
Posted on 06/16/08 - 6:16 PM
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Bob K. I don`t think there are any new boats built with wood stringers and floors nowadays, everything is composites. Rotted floors and stringers won`t be an issue in 30 years. Back in the day whaler and everyone else used wood for structural members, because they had no idea fiberglass boats would last 40 years or more. The thing about whalers is they are worth restoring where most others brands are not.
renoduckman, people who own and like Bayliners usually don`t know enough about boats to recognize one brand from another, or have an opinion on any boat. or even how to operate a boat. LOL
Kiki If you want to meet my ex-brother in law to discuss fishing or boats, he is down in the keys for the past two months living on his 25` Albin fishing and taking it easy. I`m sure he would love the company. He says he`s sick of eating dolphin. He wants me to come down and spend a week with him, but it getting hot down there now, and besides I`m not as salty as he is. He catches more fish than anyone I know also. Actually 78 isn`t that old anymore. It just seems old to 40 year old kids.
rich
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