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Just looking for a professional opinion here...any chance this is a Boston Whaler.
If yes any guess of the year and model. I'm told it is a 14 ft 1997-1999?

I didn't think there were 14' Boston Whalers .

Thanks in advance for your opinions and discussion!!
Ian

For more pictures click on my profile then on "pp"

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I think we need to see more of the boat. Especially the inside.

Do you have any numbers from the inside or outside of the transom?

The old saying, if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it must be a duck doesn't apply to Whalers. There were several copy cats of Whalers so you can't always tell from one photo..

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Hi Joe, Thanks for replying:

I wasn't able to attach more than one photo so i'll try again. I've added some photo's in my profile under the"pp" link.

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Apparently some custom work was done the the inside of the boat?

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Thanks for all your comments!!

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With the stern and forward deck I am going to say it is not. My guess is a McKee Craft. Is there a Hull Number on the outside of the transom? The First three letters of the HIN # will tell you what you have.

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No, that is not a Whaler as clearly evidenced by the smirk on the bow. Note the smirk nearly touches the rub rail at the apex of the bow. On a 13 foot Whaler there is about five inches at that point.

It is not uncommon for the 13 foot Whaler to be called a 14 foot. In fact when the first Whaler was introduced in the late 1950s, Whaler called it a 14 footer.

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It is also not uncommon for anything with a tri - hull around 13' to be sold as a whaler. I bet there are as many 13' whaler clones listed for sale as whalers as there are real ones. This is why you need a HIN# and or Stencil# to authenticate the hull. If there is none you need to know what a real whaler looks like and be able to spot the fake from a distance. It saddens me every time I see an over the moon newbie to whalers show up and post pictures of there new prised whaler only to have their happiness turn to disdain.

BTW did you notice the tunnel in the bottom of the hull right under the transom. I am now unsure of who really made this hull.

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Hi Jeff,

Actually I haven't purchased this boat yet, but with my limited experience with whalers and from what I have learned on the web I was unsure of the authenticity of this boat. The current owner is calling it a 14 ft whaler with lots of modifications to the seating area. I guess I'll have to take a drive and look at the HIN to see what I am dealing with!!

Thanks for your input
Ian

"Just another over the moon newbie"

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Ian,

I did not mean any in a negative way. Do not take anything a seller is telling you about a boat as fact. Unless you can cross check and verify it in person or through documentation or images assume the worst. You are doing the right thing by doing your homework and you are asking the right group of people.

If you want something to use while looking at whalers here is where you can download my Whaler inspection check list.

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Here are images of a McKee Craft I looked at when I was in the Keys this time last year. It was being sold as a 13 whaler. No HIN# or stencil number on the hull was the first give away then when I looked inside the splash well was another give away. I knew it was not a whaler but I had no idea what it really was till I posted images and asked.
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There was a real whaler in the same yard though it has seen better days. The owner said "Some guy low balled me for that boat last week. He offered 9 thousand. That boat is worth well over 16!"

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Jeff,
That Mckee looks exactly like one I saw over Thanksgiving. I was driving and saw it on the side of the road, I knew it wasn't a whaler but couldn't tell what it was. On my way home on Sunday it was still light enough to pull over and take a look. Still had the Mckee plate on the stern corner.
Lots of clones out there, stencil # and / HIN required for proof positive.

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Jeff,

I checked out your check list. I was curious about the checking how low the transom is in the water as a way of checking the amount of water in the hull. Do you have a formula or guideline to follow?

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Jane,

If you look at any of the Whaler Owners Manuals through the years you will find what whaler specs as the water line on different hulls for painting. So long as the boat falls into those specs is should be fine. Also I most single engine (2stroke) whalers if not water logged should sit with their rear chine just barely under water. Some of the smaller 13 - 17 hulls should have the entire rear chine out of the water while at rest.