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First time boat owner...and it's a 1974 13' Sport!
I'm new to posting on the forum, but I've been lurking for a while and know how generous and supportive this community is. For many years I've wanted a little boat that I could use to explore the harbors and bays of Long Island. I've always had my eyes on Whalers, so when I had an opportunity two weeks ago to buy a 1974 13' Sport, I took it. It's a little bit of a dream come true.
I paid $2,800 for the boat, 2012 Sea Lion trailer, 1998 Tomatsu 40hp motor, and some accessories like a cover and anchor. The boat is in great shape and ready to go in the water as-is.
Since we only have a month or two left on our boating season, I plan to use it as-is to get some experience on the water and then perhaps make some cosmetic repairs in the off-season if my family and I decide that we like boating and will use it often next year. I have no desire to do a complete restore to its 1974 glory - I don't have the time and too many modifications have already been made - but some of the things I'd like to fix include:
- Fixing the bow and stern lights, which I'm told is not a big deal. It's either the console switch or the units themselves. Worst case scenario, it's the wiring.
- Sanding and re-varnishing the mahogany. There are a few spots that look like bubbles burst, so I'd like to fix those. That said, some of the wood looks like it's splitting near the screws, so I need to be careful about taking it apart.
- painting or stripping the inside paint. As I understand it, BW used tan for the interior color in 1974, but a prior owner painted white over the tan. The white is now chipping away and you can see that the tan looks like it's in good shape. I'd love to revert to the tan, but I'm not sure how easy it will be to remove the white (especially from the non-skid floor areas).
- Repaint the bottom. This is low on the priority list since the boat will be trailered and the existing bottom paint is in good shape.
I am so proud to own a BW and I look forward to learning from everyone on WC. I promise to limit my stupid questions as much as possible.
I bought my 1977 13' Whaler a few years ago now and still love it as much as the first time I had it out. Mine has seen better days but is still very serviceable. Over the last few years, I've put a newer and much more reliable outboard on the stern and made some safety upgrades along the way. Even if I were to do something stupid and smash the boat somehow, I'm not out much.
There's a long list of improvements I could make to ol' Naval Lint (that what I call her) as time and budget allow but like yours, mine has had some imperfect work done over the years. If you aren't in the restoration camp, don't be afraid to try some stuff and learn some skills on and off the water. There isn't anything you could do that will remove fun from the equation. The worst thing that can happen is that you will gain some pride in your boat!
And Phosphoruem - I'm so glad you mentioned about not being afraid to try some stuff. I've been on the fence about whether I should avoid making further changes to the boat, but as I use it, I think I'm going to want to play around a bit. So thanks for the encouragement.
My neighbor Bob got his Whaler years before me ... his is an older model 13 Sport, too. He and his wife absolutely love it, take it out on Lake Erie quite often, and they're not interested in "just a little bit bigger". They can manhandle the small boat at the ramp, they feel safe in the boat despite Lake Erie's fickle ways, and she really likes that she can dangle her feet over and into the water. They love the water, don't want to be insulated from it. The 13 Sport (and the 17 Montauk) are, in my opinion, the classic Whalers that made the reputation for the whole line. Nice choice, and smooth sailing to you!
ClevelandBill Ferry
m/v SHRUG
2015 150 Super Sport 60hp Merc
