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I just realized this.

13'=900lbs capacity, 15'=645lbs capacity?

how is this possible?

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I can't remember the formula but if you look at the two boats the 15 is less than 2 foot longer than the 13 and only 3 inches wider. Add to that it carries a larger heavier engine and the boat itself is heavier.

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Doesn't make a lot of sense does it? If you look at the 17 footer capicity it is rated at 885! Go figure
http://www.whalercentral.com/download...p?cat_id=4

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Yeah but! I can tell you that you certainly can put 900 lbs in a 13. I have come close in mine. But you will never get on plane with any motor and the boat will set so deep in the water that anything less than glass smooth water will be a problem. It will allow the load, but you can't do much with it. I find the 13 works best with two adults and equipment or two adults and a child. One adult and three kids work fine too. These are based on typical overweight american humans of course! Yes, I am speaking for myself.

The good point is, it won't sink. I don't know how you would attempt that!

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It's true, The "mighty 13" has a higher rating for wt. cap. than the 15, both models have many different advantages, they do share one "advantage", neither one will sink.

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I've pushed 900 lbs in my 15 a few times and not had any problems. The last time was last summer on Flathead Lake - 3 adults, 4 12-year-old boys (including a "typical" one who must have been pushing 150!), 10 gallons of gas, anchor, etc.

Slow to plane (60 Merc), but handles fine at cruising speed. Makes fun of chop. Plenty of freeboard.

so:
3 adults @ 175 each = 525
4 boys @ 80 each = 320
10 gallons @ 6lbs/gal = 60
anchor, beer, ice, toolkit, . . .

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does that mean a 13' can handle 1200 lbs?

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Well, I grew up in a 13' - adolescence through puberty and into the mid teens. We dreamed every day of filling that boat with bodacious babes, but it never happened! But we always knew the boat could handle it!!

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lol!!

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The Coast Guard sets the formula for the weight capacity of a small boat. It is a very basic approach. How much weight can be placed on a gunnel before the hull becomes unstable in the water? That amount of weight determines the load capacity of the hull.

I have had a classic 13' hull and now have a 15" CC. Beyond a shadow of a doubt the 13 was much more stable to move around in than the 15.

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I could not find it on YouTube anymore but if you want to get a good idea of the capacity and stabiliity of a 13' Whaler search on the web for copies of the video "Tonno Fratelli Fillini Big Tuna 275" . Three large men on a 13 catching and then bringing on board a 275lb Tuna. Simply incredible.

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My friend has a 1969 sport 13, I have a 1976 sport 15, we spent a lot of time in both boat's. If you held a gun to my head, I'd have to say that the 13' is a more stable fishing boat but, the 15 has that great "casting deck", the 13 is easier to handle (especially when painting the bottom in the driveway) but, the 15 is more stable at speed because, the "Hull" design is more like it's bigger brother's, and can punch through a wave much easier (saving your fillings). Both GREAT boats, he has the "Merc" 40 h.p. and I run a "Johnson" 50 hp. We've had both boat's out at the same time and of course many times it was "HIGH NOON" at the O.K. Corral. Highly scientific evidence gathered (from him and I) showed that the 13' flew past the 15' in calm flat conditions, while the 15 could pull away from the 13 in the "Chop", again BOTH great boats with unique advantages.

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Dave is correct, simple federal formulas determine the "maximum person, motor and gear" weight for small boats. The 13 foot Whaler is essentially a more stable vessel than the 15, hence the difference.

For a mid 1980s 13 footer, the capacity is 1200 pounds. For the 15 footer it is 1055 pounds.

Also note the "Persons Capacity" of the 13 footers is 6 persons while it is only 5 persons for most 15 footers.

However, the swamped capacity of the two hulls is in one with what you expect, the larger 15 footer has more buoyancy than the 13 footer. 1610 pounds for the 13 and 1650 pounds for the 15 in 1985.

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I've seen that before. Its pretty unbelievable. I doubt however I would make the 4 hour trek out to the Canyons in NJ to catch a big eye. :P

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I just checked the tag on my 1970 13' sportand it's 1200 # including motor and accessories, and 2400 # for the 16'7". I would imagine the 15' would be somewher in between.

Chris