Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by kamie on 11/15/11 - 8:14 AM

Does anyone know when whaler changed from using Kainer wheels to using Attwood wheels? I am guessing the switch happened in the early 1970's

Edited by Tom W Clark on 11/15/11 - 8:17 AM

Posted by Tom W Clark on 11/15/11 - 8:17 AM

The first appearance of the newer style plastic steering wheel on the 13 footer in the 1972 catalog.

Posted by kamie on 11/15/11 - 8:31 AM

Tom,
I was actually wondering if it was earlier than is shown in the catalog?

Here is a 1968, and unless the poster is either wrong about the year or the original kainer wheel was replaced, what is on this boat is an Attwood wheel
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...er_id=6683

here is a 1971, it's not the traditional Kainer style wheel so wondering if it's Attwood or something totally different
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...r_id=22171

Posted by thegage on 11/15/11 - 8:53 AM

Unless you know the history of a boat or know for a fact it is dead-stock original, I don't think the year of a hull can reliably tell you anything about something as interchangeable as a wheel. For example, my first Whaler was a '61 bought used in 1972. The dealer put a new Johnson 25 on it as well as a newer style plastic wheel (as shown in your second link). I still have a picture of that boat, but it doesn't mean the plastic wheel came on '61 hulls.

John K.

Posted by kamie on 11/15/11 - 4:18 PM

John,

i agree that unless you know the history of your whaler, you can never be sure, but that is the point of asking. A lot of whalers do have one or two owners and they do know what was changed over the years. Also there are folks that want to restore their whaler to "factory stock" and for a 13 foot, in the 1970's or later that won't require they find and purchase a Kainer wheel?