Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by Peter Kurki on 12/25/09 - 2:15 PM

Santa put a 69 13" sport under the tree for my12yr old son Jensen.
She came with a small bilge in the aft well.
Not having been in a 69 it will be a first time experience for us both. What is to be expected when you sit static, will water fill that well. do we insert plugs and remove when underway. Please advise.
I feel i will never captain my larger center console, with my son again...
Looking forward to a fun time, and Whaler Central support.
Thank you in advance for your response.
Peter

Edited by Peter Kurki on 12/29/09 - 6:27 PM

Posted by kamie on 12/25/09 - 7:13 PM

Congrats on the boat.
First question, have the thru hulls been replaced? If not, you should replace them. Before you decide to put a bilge pump, I would float the boat and see how much water enters the splashwell. The boat will drain when she is moving forward and will self bail at rest. No real need for bilge pumps on a 13 footer.

Posted by MW on 12/26/09 - 5:03 AM

Kamie gave a great suggestion to check the drain tubes, If you trailer the boat, there is really no need for a bilge pump, you might want to add a small 500 gph bilge pump with a manual switch on the helm to get rid of some "Splash over", while "Hot rodding" around.

Posted by CES on 12/26/09 - 4:42 PM

I keep my '66 13' whaler on a trailer however there have been many times I've wished that I had a bildge pump installed like during those times she's beached and a jerk comes by kicking up a large wake sending waves over the transom or when the kids are jumpng off the boat into the lake repeatedly.

Posted by Binkie on 12/26/09 - 6:15 PM

I have a bilge pump on my thirteen footer for the very reason the two just above posts state, The '69 hull has a cutout transom, and with a heavy motor it sometimes will take on water on coming off plane. Just pull the switch and water is gone. Has nothing to do with whether hull is waterlogged.

Posted by Yiddil on 12/26/09 - 6:23 PM

I agree with Kamie again..I have a 64 13' and I have never put a Bildge or beeded a pump..see if she leaks alot, then go with a new plug as they sometimes need adjustments...I belive there are two in my 13...But you should not need a bilge pump. If your having issues with water getting into the foam, thats a differnt brand of beens..and you will need to check the thru hulls, and weigt...The Yiddil

Posted by tom blinstrub on 12/27/09 - 11:23 AM

i leave my 68 13' at the dock without the plug,a small amount of water stays in the back of the boat and if i left town for a month,the same amount of water would be there,self bailing great feature however that is with a 100 lb engine and no other equipment in the boat.stick a 200 lb engine,battery and fuel tank and you would prpbably have 5 inches of water in the back.now take the same boat and put two people in it and you would sit even lower.as long as your engine has a battery a small $25 pump is a good idea if your engine died and you had water in the boat.stay safe buy oars and oarlocks for that boat.it rows easy with a small engine on it.

Posted by Peter Kurki on 12/29/09 - 6:26 PM

Thanks everyone,
We took her out and had a blast! She exceeded expectations. having a 23 Robalo top speed is 25+/-.
This little whaler felt like a rocket...and agile..We took a little water over the stern but nothing to be concerned about. the thru hulls appear to be good and no soft spots or adsorption to foam seen at this time.I think I'm gonna just let my son enjoy her for a while then I'll broach the whole redo desire I have...
There are some small holes that were never filled ie: transducer and original steering mechs, please advise to which produce to use for this..marine tex?
Can't wait for warmer weather..Looking forward to new friends here.
Thanks.

Posted by MW on 12/30/09 - 2:49 AM

I use "Marine tex" for filling holes, some prefer other method's. I have a friend with a 13' (1969) w/a 40 hp Merc, When we slow down to 5mph to go under bridges, some splash catches up, and comes over the transome a little. I gave him a bilge pump, and wired it up, he refuses to put any holes in his boat, so the bilge pump just bounces around the splash well, he also cut the console out, and bolted it on the front bench seat for better "Balance" ( I suggested to just move everything up 6"). I'm far from a Whaler "Purist" but, when we leave the dock in his boat, I always put on my sunglasses, and wrap a towel around my face for fear that someone who know's me, might see me in his boat.