Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by ioptfm on 09/22/08 - 5:44 PM

Tom,

In regards to design or ride quality? Non smirked hull, mainly the 16 vs the 17 rode much harder in the chop

Can one look at them and identify smirked or non or is it just a slight hull modification?

Edited by ioptfm on 09/22/08 - 5:45 PM

Posted by Jeff on 09/22/08 - 6:32 PM

Yes, Look at the bow for the down turning lines from the middle of the bow to the outside chines. That is a smirk.

Here are two 16 /17 foot hulls.

The classic 16' hull
nonsmirked
The classic 17' hull with the
smirk

The 13's are the same.

Edited by Jeff on 09/22/08 - 6:39 PM

Posted by CES on 09/22/08 - 6:50 PM

The difference between a smirked and non-smirked is like night and day when it comes to ride quality. I had the pleasure to meet another Whaler Central member DJP this weekend out on Lake Lavon in North Texas. We rode in his Smirked 13 and it rode like a dream compared to my non-smirked 13. Ahhhhhhh, Whaler envy! lol.

[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/ceshaw/CliffandDonswhalers.jpg[/IMG]

My Whaler is "non-smirked" and on the left while Dons is a 1974 "Smirked" 13.

Edited by CES on 09/22/08 - 7:20 PM

Posted by Binkie on 09/22/08 - 7:35 PM

I`m probably wrong, but as far as the 13 footer is concerned, I see less difference in the general bottom shape except for the 3" smirk. Having ridden in both, I don`t notice any difference, except that some say the smirked hulls are dryer. I think the 16 and 17 footers have a lot more differences.

rich

Posted by Tom W Clark on 09/22/08 - 8:14 PM

There is a significant difference in the ride quality between a smirked 16/17 footer and a non-smirker 16/17 footer. The smirked hull is smoother and MUCH dryer.

There is no difference between a smirked and a non-smirked 13 footer. The hull exterior form is the same but for the smirk itself.

Posted by CES on 09/23/08 - 5:50 AM

Tom,

I have to differ from your opinion about the ride quality between the Smirked and non-Smirked 13's. I rode in a Smirked and non-smirked 13 last Sunday within minutes of each other for comparison of ride quality between the two. The wind conditions, sea state and timing during the day was almost exact and I am here to tell you that there IS a difference in the ride quality with the non-smirked hitting the chop harder than the Smirked. The hull is significantly different between the two as well as the smirked has a somewhat sharper V in the front as well as an extra ridge along the front to assist in planing off.

If I didn't do the comparison myself just two days ago, I might be more apt to agree with you do to your experience, expertise and seniority on the Whaler websites.

Posted by Tom W Clark on 09/23/08 - 6:47 AM

#10

Cliff -- Were the motors identical between the two boats?

Were the same personnel aboard each test ride and did all the gear aboard each boat weigh the same and was it equally distributed within each boat boat?

Weight, and its distribution, can have a profound effect on ride quality.

Posted by Binkie on 09/23/08 - 7:54 AM

#11

I`m in agreement with Tom, the setup makes the difference. My `61 hull rides a lot better than my daughters `76, which is completely stock with the fuel tank and the battery in the rear.. In my boat the whole interior is moved forward about 5-6 inches, I have a heavier console, the fuel tank and the batteries are under the rear seat, and the motor sits on a 6" setback bracket. Mine is powered by a Merc. 25 4 stroke, and hers is powered by a Merc 40 2 stroke, and is about 5-7 miles an hour faster, but even at 28-29mph, my top speed, her boat is a real rough ride. thats why I changed things around when I restored my boat, and it paid off.
I think the hulls are basically the same, except for the smirk.

rich

Posted by CES on 09/23/08 - 8:24 AM

#12

Tom W Clark wrote:
Cliff -- Were the motors identical between the two boats?

Were the same personnel aboard each test ride and did all the gear aboard each boat weigh the same and was it equally distributed within each boat boat?

Weight, and its distribution, can have a profound effect on ride quality.

Tom, I had both of my young kids with me in both boats. Also, both boats had a 40 hp Yamaha, though his was 11 years newer than mine (1993 vs 2004). As for equipment on board our boats, I had a small igloo cooler and a kneeboard on board my non smirked boat and I didn't have those items on board Don's Smirked boat.

Binkie, yes the front of the hulls are different if you look at them side by side. There is a significant V on the smirked whereas on my classic there is not.

From what I am gathering, the ride quality is probably more reletaive to the riders threshold of what is rough and what is not. To me, I found the Smirked 13 to ride much smoother in similiar chop compared to my non smirked 13. Since I made runs in both boats within 5 minutes of each other, I felt that my analysis was very accurate. Tom and binkie, you guys probably have more recent seat time in a 13 over the past few years than I have however I am not new to the boating scene. I think that in this thread we can agree to disagree when it comes to the ride qualities of these two fine Boston Whalers.

Posted by DJP on 09/23/08 - 8:58 AM

#13

Hi guys,

I did not get to ride in Cliff's boat, so I can't comment on the differences. With the 2 boats sitting next to each other, my old eyes saw a slightly more pronounced middle V on the newer boat. I suspect that my much newer motor with power trim and tilt had quite a bit to do with the difference that Cliff noticed. We spent a bit of time towing his 6-year old son an a kneeboard with Cliff driving, his 4-year old spotting and me and the dog riding up front taking pictures. I bet that the adult weight distribution also made the boat handle well. At any rate, it was a blast in a 13' boat! You just can't do what we did in a jon boat or any other small boat in my opinion. The fact that Cliff takes 2 small kids and a dog out regularly in his boat is amazing to me. Those kids are going to be some serious water rats as they grow up. Jacob, the 6-year old first grader, can already ride a kneeboard as good or better than most teenagers or adults that I have seen! I don't have them all ready yet, but I'll post a link to photos soon...

Don

Posted by CES on 09/23/08 - 9:33 AM

#14

Hey Don!

Yes, that was a good time. We'll have to start a new thread to talk about that stuff. Thanks for the invite to meet you and Donna and thank you for the ice cream and hot dogs too.

I made my ride comparison when I dropped you off at the loading dock so you could get your truck and trailer to pull your boat out of the water. That's when I went out and opened up the throttle a bit on your 13 and determined that yours rode very well with me and the two kids. After we pulled your boat out and the kids and I left in our Whaler, I really noticed a ride difference.