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Family dinghy?
jamiehd	#1  Posted on 03/01/10 - 9:31 PM
Member Posts: 13 Comments: 0 Joined: 03/01/10	Hello. I was hoping to pick your brains on what you would look for in a Whaler for my family? We have a Cruisers Yacht on Lake Michigan and have a small area in the front of the boat as where to store it. It would have to be a 11 or a 13 as the size permits. We have a Zodiac right now and want a RIB or I want a Whaler to fool around with. I have a 6 and a 9 year old and do a little beach hopping, and marina putting. We would like to have the ability to pull a tube maybe? My wife sees the comfy seats in jet boats and that sells her but, I feel the Whaler is a way better investment than the jet. What would you recommend model wise and HP wise for this? Is a 110 with a 25 HP nice or is a 13 better? Thank you in advance
CES	#2  Posted on 03/02/10 - 1:35 AM
Member Personal Page Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 2681 Comments: 7 Joined: 04/27/07	If it were me, I'd go with as big a boat as you could fit on your yacht. The 13 with a 40hp on the back should suite your needs of pulling a skier, marina putting and beach hopping. Edited by CES on 03/02/10 - 3:37 AM Cliff 1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker
HarleyFXDL	#3  Posted on 03/02/10 - 7:42 AM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 917 Comments: 30 Joined: 07/24/07	I agree with cliff. Do you have a way of lifting the boat? Weight might be a deciding factor as well. A 13' with motor would weigh around 500-600 lbs, so getting the boat up on the deck w/o the use of a hoisting system would be a moot point. Kevin 1988 11' Super Sport, 1987 Johnson 15hp. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance "Vegetarian - old Indian word for bad fisherman."
jamiehd	#4  Posted on 03/06/10 - 10:40 PM
Member Posts: 13 Comments: 0 Joined: 03/01/10	I have Weavers set up for my Zodiac and am just thinking the whaler would float under my bow of my boat. I reall don't plan on hauling it if I go anywhere but just a toy at home. I see a 2004 110 supersport with a 25 nearby but was concerned I would be disappointed with the size and relstive small horsepower. Is a 13 better but all I have seen locallly is older with 28 Horse motors. Should I look for more of the classics or go with the newer models? Is a 13 with a 28 gutless? I'm not looking for a lake racer but don't want to buy morphidite.
HarleyFXDL	#5  Posted on 03/07/10 - 6:52 AM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 917 Comments: 30 Joined: 07/24/07	Style is a matter of taste. Some enjoy the convenience of the newer style while others prefer the classic looks of the older boats. The older boats would require a little bit more maintenence though, but are worth it to many. It sounds like you are looking for another boat to use as recreation. If that is the case, I would go for the 13' over the 11'. Kevin 1988 11' Super Sport, 1987 Johnson 15hp. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance "Vegetarian - old Indian word for bad fisherman."
trionfale	#6  Posted on 03/07/10 - 9:41 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 36 Comments: 2 Joined: 03/27/05	My two boys are able to row and to handle boats very well now. They have been trained for years with a small dinghy which I had on board of my Outrage 18'.
lrak	#7  Posted on 03/09/10 - 10:15 AM
Member Posts: 62 Comments: 0 Joined: 09/08/07	jamiehd wrote: Is a 13 better but all I have seen locallly is older with 28 Horse motors. Should I look for more of the classics or go with the newer models? Is a 13 with a 28 gutless? For two adults and two kids a classic with 28 will be fine. It will pop up on plane and run at up to ~26kts/30mph with that load. While I wouldn't even bother trying to pull an adult on a slalom ski, it will pull an adult on tube or kneeboard no problem. Pulling a kid on two skis, tube, kneeboard, wakeboard should be no issue. Two kids on a two person tube may take a while to get up on plane. You may even have to make a big circle starting off to get the boat up on plane before pulling the tube at full speed, but once the boat is up it will be fine. The only issue with tubing in a classic 13 with 28 is that in a short chop the people in the boat take more of a beating than those in the tube. :-) Edited by lrak on 03/09/10 - 10:16 AM
jamiehd	#8  Posted on 03/28/10 - 9:38 AM
Member Posts: 13 Comments: 0 Joined: 03/01/10	Thank you for all of your input. I am on the hunt and was going to look at a nice little 11 SS with a 15 horse four stroke on it today but was unable. Not many to choose from around the Chicago area right now since spring hasn't sprung yet I guess. Ebay and Craigslist is where I have been looking so the hunt continues.