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Hi Guys,

First and foremost, this is a great site.
You make it a great site. Huge amounts of information here.
I am hoping you can help with my situation.

Our home is at the very end of a canal that has tidal waterfront. Local zoning laws will not let me put any dock of any type there, so my only option is having a boat that will sit on the bottom everyday. I can secure it without any problem with lines from any direction, so when the tide comes up, we have 4-5 feet. But when it is out, there is only mud.

I don't want to get a RIB because I know the headaches involved there.

This would be a boat to use from home to run around for a few hours at a time. To pull a tube or a skier is a plus, but not mandatory.

From the reseach I have done all over the web, it seems to be the ticket could be a 13 or 15 foot super sport. I don't want a flats boat, because I have a 3 year old and 1 year old that I like the idea of having (or installing) a wrap around railing system.

Here are my questions:

What Whaler truly draws the least amount of water? Any model, any year.
Can I comfortably fit in one of these things? (I know it just takes sitting in one, but looking for owners experiences. Forget super sports and look for center consoles?)

I am 6'2" and 240 LBS.
The 3 year old is 45 LBS and growing.
The 3 year old Yellow Lab is 100 LBS and never is left on land.

We kayak and windsurf (paddle out) from home, but I am tired of seeing the tide come in and out everyday and not have a boat to go out in here. Plus, this would be a boat the kids get as they get older.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

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Honestly,

My father is 6'2" and 220lbs and growing up he hated driving our 15SS because he felt to cramped and had to slump to far over to really drive the boat. I would say the 13 would be the same. We ended up selling the 15 for a 17 Montauk and never looked back. The 17 will only draw a tiny bit more water than a 15 but it gives you A LOT MORE ROOM. It also gives you a greater range because the boat can handle a fair amount of large open water.

Growing up in my later years we still had the Montauk and I continued to use the family's boat till I bought my own 22' Outrage. I owned the 22 for about 4.5 years and I just sold it last year because of a new baby. I knew that with a young boy my boating over the next 2-3 years would be much less and I could not justify having that huge boat just sit there. Also, the open layout of a Large Center Console is not the best for having little kids run around. So, after I sold the boat I was out looking for a 17. I would have bought our family's Montauk had my father had sold it to get his own 22' Guardian. I spent a lot of time looking for a Montauk but, I kept running across an ad day after day for 1976 Newport in Ohio that I knew was a cherry boat. I finally caved and contacted the owner. After talking to him and getting more photos I decided to put a deposit on it and later inspected it and bought it. For less than a Montauk would have cost also. I never really thought I would have been after a Newport but, once I stopped and thought about it, it made perfect sense for the family. It still has the same great hull as the Montauk. It has all kinds of extra storage space in the gunwales for kids toys that a Montauk does not have. It has a lot more railings, and they are much lower than a Montauk to hold the kids in. The large gunwales help as well. Finally I like the lower console so I can teach the boy how to drive at a younger age. The console is low enough that by 2 or 3 he should be able to stand behind it and see the bow. With a Montauk it would be 6 or so before he would see over the console. Also, the console is not to lower for me. At 6' even I can stand behind the wheel and still hold the wheel and controls without hunching over.

So in a round about way I will say look for a good Newport. It will hold the kids, handle big water and provide you plenty of space for everything.

Here is my boat after I brought it home for the first time. I bought it early Dec 07 and had to drive it through rain an snow storms to get it back here in Detroit so it is a bit dirty in the pictures.

1976 Newport

I would hate though to see any boat just sit in mud all day. It might be different if it was a semi hard or hard bottom. Either way the boat will need a good bottom paint on it.

BTW Where are you located.?

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I have a young crew also, 5 and 7 , we're alone together so when I go they go. From the beginning we started with an old 13 that was in the family,I found the kids loved it,but it was small,I'm 6'7" and 250. Next came a 17,more time on the water,more room and more safety. Then it happened,I would come home from work to find kids waiting with PFD's on. What was one to do ? Go out on the boat ! They demanded we go farther, longer, sites like this one made me ponder but only breifly,Striken with an instant need to get a bigger and older Whaler turned my blood to a Desert Tan at first, soon after would awaken with plans,dreams of canvas and outboards,the kids got Christmas presents like new bow lights and GPS stystems,old boats showed up in the driveway,names like Mills and Twin Cities Sue were tossed around the dinner table.What emerged from this are fond memories,a childhood for my children that I didn't have.Welcome to the site be careful of the affliction,if stricken all you need is here.My current Whaler draws 9 inches,has a 200 mile range and can do what we need in any weather.I cannot think of one you would want to leave in the mud.

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Here's my Dad in 1964, standing on the clam flats near Rye Beach, NH...He's ankle deep, but the boat's still floatin'!
45 years later...that boat still gets "beached" on a regular basis...
And she still floats.....

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Same boat...2006...Westport, MA
They like to "belly up", to the "sand" bar.....
I understand about your "tidal" schedule....sometimes you've got no choice....
Just take her out at high tide and wash the bottom.....;)

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My Buddy Fred's got a place on Vinalhaven...12' tides....
Years ago, somebody dug this little berth for their Lobsta Boat..just off his little place...he's going to park his 15' sport here for the season...she'll sit at low, and rise with the tide.....;)

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When I first bought my 15' sport I kept it at a marina here in NY on "Beach 2nd st." in "Far Rockaway". It was the same situation, mostly a mud creek with "Some" water in it at high tide. Boating was a bit difficult because, you were always "Boating with the tide", to complicate matter's, there was a bridge that was so low to the water at "High Tide" that you could'nt get into the marina. Did you ever see the profile of a 15' sport ? it's about 9" above the water line it and still could'nt get under the bridge. I too have a growing "CREW", and a 17' Montauk is probably in the future. You might want to start out with a 13' Whaler for it's lower cost, and ease of Maint., The 15' sport fit's me well as I am not that big (5'9" 140 lbs, after wt. loss), if you are just going out for a quick ride, the smaller model's of Whaler will work fine, if you are looking for all day comfort, go with a 17' model. You'll need "PFD's" (Life vest's for you and the crew), "Power tilt" on the engine (or a 2x4 to raise the motor if no power tilt), the smaller model's will also be easier to move if you have to get out and push (it's happened), you will also need "Bottom Paint" on the Hull, or you will have a rapidly growing family on the bottom of the Hull that won't want to leave, unless you wash the bottom after every outing, I would start "Small", if you need a larger boat you'll have no trouble getting rid of a 13' or 15' Whaler, and re-couping most, (if not ALL) of your investment back to purchase a larger model. Good luck to you and your crew, and remember to show the kids "NO PFD ON= NO BOAT RIDE".
mw

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At his last price of $3600 I would definitely consider this one....

Whalernuts Currituck

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I think you have some really good advice. I would also recommend a 16' foot model, Newport or Montauk.

I go over to an island (family summer home) and park on an outhaul in a small cove. Average tide here is 9-10 feet. At 0.00 or -.5, the boat is on the grass,sand,mud.

With my prior boat, a 80's Montauk, it was easy to get her out into more water. My Outrage 17 is not as easy due to the V hull and more weight.

One thing I considered for my Montauk, but didn't do, was installing keel guard material on the keel and the outer chines. Having protection on the edges would help alot in preventing damage. I plan on adding keel guard to the keel of my Outrage as soon as it warms up.

Have you considered an outhaul type anchor setup? This may give you more flexibility with the tide and more use of the boat. If you are not familiar with the setup, think of an anchor with chain, a swivel shackle and add a long loop of rope (75-100ft). The "loose" end goes to shore. You attach the boat to one side of the loop. Pull the opposite rope to draw the boat out. To retrieve, pull the side of the rope your boat is on.

Good luck

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Guys thank you all for the advice ---and please keep them coming.

So I guess the new question is what 16/17 models draw the least amount of water?

It is a modified outhaul situation. Spring lines on each side of the stern to stay centered in the canal and static line from the bow.

The Rye pics are great and local. We are in Kittery Point Maine.

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Damdonzi

With or without a boat, maybe you can join us on one of our Seacoast group gatherings this summer. See Seacoast Gatherings thread

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Ah HAH! .....I knew it!.......
We'd often take that boat from Great Bay, NH, and cruise to Chauncey Creek for lobsta....and back....7 of us.....the whole fan dambly!
But that was back in the '60's....
Here's GreatNephew Hugo contemplatin' his first 2 pounda...last year at CC....
Talk about sittin' on your bottom!:D
Welcome aboard!

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That's a classic picture. It was the strangest thing how many people we found knew this area thanks to Chauncey's Lobster Pound.

Thank you for the invitation to the gathering. Hopefully we can find a Whaler to fit our needs this Spring to join you guys. Grew up every Summer on Winnipesaukee and still have family and friends there.

Back to the matters at hand.....real world draft of rigged 16/17 models.

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9" at most with the motor up.

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Are you sure we didn't go to school together...?
Here's 16 of us on Governor's Island Beach 1964....
...I'm the fifth toehead from the left, back row....
....spent a lotta time on Winnipausaukee....Dockham Shore....
It's my experience, and firm belief....that these classic hulls will provide all the required necessities, to ensure several lifetimes, of fun, safe boating .....
Fully rigged?....9 inches....maybe 8....

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Ah,Chauncey Creek ! Been there done that, great boating in that area expect to see some time on the water in that area this summer,launch in Stratham, my sister has some moorings just below the I-95 bridge in Kittery.

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Scrim...yer killin' me!......
Grew up in Exeter....the old Stratham Stomping grounds!....
I believe this picture might have been taken at the Stratham launch.....
But it might have been on The Exeter River...opposite Swayze Parkway!:)

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Another great picture. I know that beach and the area very well.
Thanks for the input.