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Since I've come to this site about a year ago, I've heard alot of new whaler owners say things along the line of "I feel like a kid again" and it got me thinking.

When I was 12, I had the opportunity to spends several summers with a friend on the Miles River of the Chesapeake Bay. One of favorite things to do was to take the old flat bottomed wood skiff with a 5 hp and putz around the coves. Man, I was in heaven! However, the only thing I could do was putz. I remember seeing the ads around 1972 for the 13' Sport - the one with the little kid all by himself cruising in a 13' Sport.
From that point forward I wanted to be that kid. I bugged my Dad for one for a couple of years and then the dream sort of faded. When I was 39, I had to opportunity to buy my own piece of heaven on the Bay and in 2007 I bought my first boat - a 1972 Whaler 13' Sport. By the time of purchase, I had totally forgot about those ads with the kid. It wasn't until later when I was surfing the BW sites that I saw a picture of that ad again and I had to smile to myself.
It took 35 years to finally realize a dream that I had forgotten. Was it subliminal? Was it divine intervention? The only thing I know is here I am at 48 years old in a boat that is smaller than I originally wanted but it feels like home. Now when my wife and I go out on the Sport she just laughs at the silly smile that I have on my face. She has said numerous times that "I look like a little kid".

Hmmmmm......

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YMCA Camp Tockwogh, Betterton, MD, Age 9 or 10, in a wild and wet ride in a Montauk (I think, must have been "non-smirked" :)) on a choppy and crisp fall day on the Chesapeake eastern shore. Although mostly dormant, the bug was fueled over the years by occasional Whaler "sightings" around the upper bay and South Jersey shore. That and occasional race committee duties for sailboat races at various locales aboard 13's that ranged in condition from decent to - in one case - absolutely deplorable. It took me almost 40 years after that first exposure though to take matters into my own hands and get my very own.

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I grew up on Long Island. Fished with my dad for tuna, mackerel, shark, cod, blues, sails and marlin. Our boats were all Eltros, a local builder of lapstrake boats (16' and then a 19, and then a 21'). We would keep the boat in a slip in Bay Shore, and we'd pass through the Great South Bay to the Fire Island Inlet, and we'd troll along the ocean side of Fire Island or head offshore (with no marine radio, in the beginning... after one hairy episode, we bought a VHF!) I can remember being 60 miles offshore at times.

When I was 16 (1969), I got a little 16' INBOARD semi-vee that I used for clamming. During those years, from time to time I'd run across a Whaler. The first time I saw a Montauk-sized Whaler, I said to myself "What is THAT?" I thought "a cooler boat, there never was!" And to this day, I still think so. I'm now also a fan of the 18s and 22s.

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For me, it was a few days during a young summer spent in a BW 13' sport that sealed the deal! A friend of mine always rented the same one "Squirt", at first with a 25hp Evinrude, on engine push button start, and dual controls. It was up graded to a Merc 35hp, and after I pulled it off the rocks one summer after a big blow the owners decided to let me use it when it was not rented. Use it I did!

Then during college a couple years ago I took my "book" money and bought a '68 Currituck - its been a learning/financial experience from the get go, and the bare hull sat in my yard for a couple years before I could afford an engine. Now she is my pride and joy, and I can't keep myself from always thinking about what I will do to her next... couldn't be happier!

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For me, I was 9 yrs old, my parent's would not get us kid's a boat, on looking back, I realize that they were just trying to protect us, my brother got a "Summer Job" working for the D.E.C. (checking fish sizes caught, non-enforcement) here on Long Island out of "Captree". They would allow family memeber's to ride on the boat's with employee's as long as they had a "Life Vest" on, and it was a "SATURDAY" ! It was a "Nauset" I think, I just remember the cool raked forward windshield. I fell in love with it, it had an 80 hp on it, we fished for "Blow Fish" and played in the Bay all day. I finally gave up on ever getting a boat, then one day, I bought a house, had some $ left over and grabbed the "Whaler" with some convincing from a "boating" friend, I only wanted a "Whaler", I love my little 15' so much now, funny how thing's turn out later on in life, like mom said "Life's full of funny twist's and turn's". It DOES make you feel like a kid again, I think that's the BEST part !
mw

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I bet there are more stories like these about BW's than any other boat. I like to think that my father planned all along for me to end up with our 1963 Eastport.There is no way I could known this at the age of twelve when we first got it.Or why he moved and stored it for over ten years. He did this for me and I thank him for it every time I use.I also feel the concept of family and Boston Whalers are one in the same.That's why we all have stories such as these to share.
GhrisG Poughkeepsie New York

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1974 (7 years old)

From my Personal Page: "My dad purchased a used 1967 Currituck soon after he and my mom bought a summer home on Kent Island, MD. I was immediately hooked and have been a die-hard Whaler fan ever since. I have enjoyed countless days on the bay fishing, skiing, or just exploring in the most reliable boat I have ever been in. The memories with friends and family on the boat are irreplaceable. I would never consider buying anything else but a Whaler - call me stubborn. So stubborn that when my wife and I decided to purchase a bigger boat, one that would also accommodate our every growing family, I went to the Boston Whaler web page and told her here were her choices. Next thing I know we are buying a 305 Conquest. Can’t wait for the new memories on both…"

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Fall in the early 90's. My wife and I had taken up fishing (we had both done so as children but hadn't since marriage) but it was strictly shore and piers. We really wanted a boat, any boat, but the dollars were short. We knew it would have to be used, I'd probably spend months restoring and fixing and it would have to be done with money we didn't have. We couldn't wait.

One day I took a short cut thru the Heights (an old, quaint Houston area) going from one business appointment to another. I had never taken this route before and did not know what possessed me to do so. LO AND BEHOLD sitting in a chain linked front yard was a 1963 Eastport with a for sale sign. I was completely smitten by the lines and console. A couple of days and several shifted bills later it was ours. The trailer was close to death, the wiring rotten and the wood, though solid, was going to have to be taken all the way down. WE WERE IN LOVE.

Six months and several other shifted bills later we were on the water.

At first we didn't know what we really had, it was just a beautiful, solid boat and it was ours. Each day our appreciation has grown. Each Summer we try to introduce others to the joy of fishing (or just being on the water) and doing it in a Boston Whaler. Last year it was four; two so far this year.

We can't imagine any other boat giving us all the wonderful memories (past and future).

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Boston Whaler owner's show a "Commitment" to the brand, like no other brand of boat, and the people that buy them, are usually the same kind of people that assist other's in need on the water without being asked... Just my observation, I know that when I "help out", people seem to appreciate the fact that it's a "Whaler" assisting them, and I have the "confidence" to do it as well, these boat's really do save lives ! When we assisted in a bad marine accident, the victim told the police that all he remembered was that a really nice family in a "Boston Whaler" saved him.... That's worth a million bucks to me !
mw

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This may have been the first time I was ever allowed to take the helm...B)
I must have really screwed up, 'cause the old man didn't let me take it again for another forty years...:(
I think he just enjoyed it so much, he didn't want to share...I know how he feels!:D

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We took a trip to north channel with another boating family in our slickcraft when I was around 10. The other family had a hattera's and a 13 foot whaler as a tender, which was made available to us youngsters to explore and generally get into mischief with. Those memories fueled my desire for a whaler as I entered adulthood. I now have my second whaler, the first being a 1966 13 Sport, which I had to sell when my employer went bankrupt several years ago.

Hopefully my two sons will be able to use my current whaler as they grow up and will someday pass the love of boating on to their children.

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My first look at a Boston Whaler was a mid 70's Sport 13 with the bow rail option. The year was probably around 1978. It was owned by a close friend of my future wife's family. He kept the boat at his cabin on the south shore of Hood Canal, WA.

The first thing I can remeber was how impressed I was with the interior glossy gelcoat and the great non-skid deck surface. The next thing that impressed me was the incredible stability while hand pulling crab pots. At this time I knew nothing about the unsinkable qualities of Whalers.

A few years later the owner of the boat passed away. The cabin and the boat was inherited by his younger brother. I ended up buying the boat from him in 1985. I did a refinish job on the mahogany and fished out of the boat for a few years until I bought my next Whaler, a 1980 15' Striper. I could go on, but let's just say, I have not owned any boat but a Whaler since I owned that 13.

Doug

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my first whaler was a 13 1962, I just got it 3 days ago and cleaned her up, i havent taken her out yet but i am falling in love with it just sitting in the garage (i am only 13 and this is my first boat, i had to save up all my money for it but, it was worth it) it is very clean( except some chips in the gel coat) probably repainting it this winter to be ready for february, i only paid $1400 for it! :D

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My father purchase a brand new 13 whaler for me and my brothers in 1962, Though it was the greatest thing since slice bread. And I still own the whaler till this day....How's that for love

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cool! that must have been great

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Growing up in cohasset, ma, whalers were a part of my childhood. If our parents even knew what we did all day in the summer they would be horrified. My 1972 Katama never let us down. Skied and knee boarded for ten years without ever Missing a beat. Ok, the console came loose a few times going airborne from lobster boat wakes but.....

In fact, The original Life magazine picture with Dick Fisher floating in the Gulf River with his boat cut in three pieces was my parents back yard. Not back then but in the 90's.

My 1989 20 outrage was proudly built in Rockland, Ma and to this day gets comments from people stating what a classic she is. They just don't make em like they used to.

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I was 15 and digging a septic pit at our tiny camp when I heard an outboard at full song coming up the barrow pit. It was late afternoon with the sun behind me when I saw a glistening 15' Sport with a white Evinrude trimmed out with just the last foot zipping across glass water.

At that instant I thought it was the most beautiful boat I had ever seen and vowed to have one one day.

15 years later, and for the next 17 years after, we enjoyed a beautiful 15' Sport pushed by a white 70hp Evinrude that fit our family perfectly. Lots of memories.

Sold the Sport 5 years ago. Made sense at the time. Now my wife and I are looking for the second most beautiful hull I saw shortly after my first encounter: An early Revenge...

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I fell in love with Boston Whalers when I was really young. I have early artwork from me drawing a 13' whaler with 40 hp mercury motor. My father says I was lucky to have survived because of my black motor and Boston Whaler phase when I was 3, i apparently almost drove my parents crazy. I have an almost 2 year old son, my dad keeps saying waiting until he hits the phase ( as he snickers).

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it was love at first site..but at sea trial ..it was true love...then after they cleaned it up..and we launched it ..it just kept getting better..exceeding expecatations consistently..never in my wildest dreams did i ever think i'd float a boat of this calibre
thanks for the topic

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I'm one of the very lucky ones, My father was able to purchase us back in 1962 brand new a 13 Whaler (trailer, engine, and Bimini top) for me and my brothers to use in South Fla, and the Keys. I was 10 years old back then and I will be 60 on 12/12/12.... On my second marriage 20 years in April, Gone through at least 5 trucks, 3 motorcycles, 5 homes, Have grown kids and I still have and use the same 1962 13 Whaler... how's that for love...

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My father's owned many boston whaler's and his favorite was a early 80s montauk. We found a 87 that had been sitting in someones barn its whole life with no motor for dirt cheap. Bought it and in 2004 we completely restored it and put a brand new 90hp yamaha 2stoke on it with hydraulic steering . From 2004 to today every year I spend about a month on this boat to make it look "show room" condition. I buff and wax every square inch of this boat and remove all of the teak to clean and oil it. I use this boat a lot in the summers and am not afraid to get it dirty. By fall the boat looks horribly only to be totally redone in the spring. Im only 19 and the boat is one of my pride and joys along with a completely restored 76 scout traveler :)