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So I've been spending the last few weeks really working on the boat so that it was in tip top shape for a big family get-together at my Mother's on the North Shore of Boston--buffing, waxing, fixing some stuff on the trailer that needed attention. It all went well with lots of rides, harbor tours, and even some tubing. I was putting it in the water at the Winter Island launch ramp in Salem when someone who was pulling out looked at my boat and said, "Nice, I didn't know what the new models of Whaler looked like." Needless to say he was surprised when I told him my 16 SL was 21 years old. I'd like to think it was all my hard work that impressed him, not his ignorance of Whalers!

John K.

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I had a similar experience in Gloucester a number of years ago. Heading out the Annisqaum River to the ocean in my restored 1966 13-foot Boston Whaler Sport, people returning in a fairly new 13-foot Sport slowed down to admire it and said, "nice boat, is that a new model?"

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I had a friend on my 1985 montauk yesterday. He asked me how long I had had he boat and I told him since last August. He then proceeded to ask me if I purchased it new or used.

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Yes those comments always make us who have had the long days of dirty clothes, tired bodies in agony love to here and then wonder if the person we are talking with really believe us.
What's funny is I bought a 1990 Sunbird boat, motor and trailer from a co-worker 2 months ago. I bought it for the motor, trailer and whatever stainless or other parts were worth having. I gave him $350 for a rig that was almost 30 yrs newer than mine and I'll bet you in a few years he'll not remember a real valuable detail about that boat.
I guess what I'm trying to say is there are just a few boats (and only a few) that are from well recognized legendary backgrounds, the rest simple float in the water under normal conditions.