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Hello fellow THT'ers! I am interested in a the little 13' Whaler as a first small boat. I know of the reputation surrounding BW and esspecially this boat. I know its small but I know it would work great for my gf and I to explore the many waterways of south florida. Just a question (I searched the forum but didnt find much), as the BW 13 has been around for many many years (has it been 40+?) how has it changed over the years? My thought is to pick up a used inexpensive boat and give it a little TLC or even a new (used) motor if needed. Has the boat changed over the years and if so, what are the better years to buy? Are the boats from the say 70s (and say in great shape) just as nice and built just as good as the boats built in the late 90s? Of coarse before I bought anything I would test drive, look over many times and wouldn't hesitate to hire a surveyor even if only on a 13' boat. I'd rather not buying knowing the problems than buying and being suprised. Thank you for your help! I will be checking out continouswave.com but for now I thought I would post here!
We moved up from an aluminum hulled 11'2" rigid last season to a new 130 sport for our dink. What a great little boat. We have a Merc 40hp 4stroke and it's enough for tubing with the kid. I use it for everything from fishing to cruising back waters with my wife, kid, and dog. We have no problem getting on plane with everybody on board. I've been in 4ft storm blown seas in the mouth of the Thames river with this rig, with no problems. Sorry can't comment on the older models.
Check out www.continuouswave.com/whaler there is a wealth of knowledge there. I have had many 13 BW's, you can't go wrong with any. The only thing to look for other then the obvious blemishes would be if the boat is waterlogged.
Here's mine. She is 34 years young. It has been repowered a mess of times (twice by me). I pulled all the mahogany out this winter to re-varnish. I replaced all the mahogany about 5 years ago and this is the first year I have revarnished. I put a few coats of epoxy on the wood before I varnished and it has held up great. We use our walk around more now, but the old girl is still a blast.
DC-3 was the best airplane built of any era....
13' Whaler was the best boat
Any year is good, so no worries there,and they are the toughest most versatile boat in that size range. Excellent 1st small boat, probably no better choice out there. Be smart and look closely at any stress cracks or screw holes for softness from water intrusion, and absolutely check ou the transom for the same thing.........
BUT There are two type of 13 Whaler owners....
1) the kind that beat the livin' crap out of them because they are a Whaler, and they know it will take it.
2) The kind that baby them, because they are a Whaler, and they know it deserves it .
Find the 2nd guy, it will save you alot of headaches
I read somewhere that these are the most successful hull ever made. I have one, a 1965 hull and it's in great shape ! There is clearly something special about driving around in a hull this old.
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I would second Dsaltydog's advice and look for a 15'er if you can afford it. The 13 is a great boat, but the 15 provides just enough boat to keep you from looking for a bigger one next year. The 13 will work with one or two people, but the 15 is needed for 3 or 4. You may want to bring a buddy to join you and your grandfather. We've had ours for 26 years now, and it is just the right size to bottom fish, crab, water ski, and cruise. As has been mentioned look for obvious signs of water intrusion. You'll know real quick at first glance whether a boat has been taken care of, (like Wagon1's beauty), or not. One thing's for sure. No matter which one you choose, the boat will provide many wonderful experiences for you and your grandfather, that will become fond memories you will cherish the rest of your life.
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LISA MARIE
28 SOUTHPORT W/TWIN F250 YAMAHAS
LIL' LISA MARIE
17 FT WHALER W/90HP F90 YAMAHA
I'll throw in another vote for a 15 over a 13. I had a 15 with a 75 johnson. My best friend growing up had a 13 with a 40 mercury on it. The 13 is a great boat, plenty fast with that power but the difference in ride and room compared to my 15 seemed like a lot more than just 2 feet. When you load a 13 down with ski stuff or set out for a day of bottom fishing, it gets crowed pretty quick.
Someone may be able to clarify or disprove my comment, but here goes. I think the older ones are set-up for 15 inch shaft outboards whereas the "newer" ones have 20 inch shaft outboards.
If you were planning on getting an older 13 and then putting a 40 hp E-TEC on it you may have a problem cause I think the E-TEC only comes in 20 inch shafts. Maybe the same for MERC and the others.
I may be wrong on this point, but maybe you can check to be sure. Good Luck.
The 13' footer is the best.I own a 98'Dauntless, excellent boat!! I live in SC and take it to the nearshore reefs (2-7 miles offshore) all the time(been in some pretty bad stuff too!). I trust this boat more than any of my other larger boats (all of which I have now sold)..
Suggestions;
If you get the sport model, get the 15 footer, age not a real issue.
if you get the 13 footer, get the dauntless !! I find these ride better in rough water.
Remember whalers are wet boats!!
AND, planing these boats is awful (doelfin works well))
Dislikes;
When boat has weight in it, it fills with water because the height of the autodrains are level with or below waterline. I have tried many different scuppers and the only thing I have found to work is an elbowed PVC connection point up above the waterline.
Conclusion;
Buy one and keep it!! you will not regret it!!
I grew up in those baots, literally-My dad worked for Dick Fisher in the late 60's as his CFO when Whaler was just getting started, then moved to NH to run the old engine division called Fisher-Pierce/Homelite and we had one on the Cape for as long as I can remember. I'm still pissed at myself for selling the 13 I had 4 years ago...
Yes they are great boats and Yes, they are very different from 1960's till now. I think there are two basic styles. The easiest way to tell them apart is just by looking inside. The older boats have the blue interior, the newer ones have white. (this does not include anything repainted or the "classic 13 that Whaler reproduced in limited numbers on its 40th anniversary of the boat)
The older boats are a classic whaler hull, 3 chine design, almost all equal in length to the front of the boat. Fast to plane, very stable, unsinkable, low transom and tons of fun but still look more like a work boat in fit and finish. The setup was usually flat benches and no backrest or storage except the bow locker.
Newer ones are different. I couldn't tell you the year, but I think it was mid 80's they became more refined. I assume the tender crowd wanted a better looking boat. They colored the insides white. Made the seating much more comfortable by adding backrest. raised the transom a bit and made it a slightly softer riding boat by modifying the hull a bit. ( all whalers seem to have done this). The backrest also added a signifigant amount of storage for life jackets and other gear.
I am not sure, but I also think the max HP rating increased from 40 hp to 50 hp but someone else could confirm that.
Either one is a great boat. I had an older (blue Hull boat) as a kid with a 50 hp and the thing was a rocket! Only problem was that since the wheel was to one side, so was all the weight with one person, when you were going flat out it had a tenancy to chine walk. Pretty scary.
Out boat was a late 60's version that my brothers and I shared for about 10 years. We got rid of it after we were out on a stormy day jumping waves (in the harbor,crazy kids) and literally cracked the hull. Damn thing split on the drivers side from the top of the rail right to the deck and the whole side was flexing open about a half inch. We still drove it home with no problems and sold it to a local clammer for 300$ . He then glassed it up and strapped a 9.9 on the back and hit the mud flats.
I have a 94 in my backyard now that I picked up for 800$. Engine is dead, seats are peeling and the whole thing needs to be stripped, cleaned, fixed, plugged scraped , painted, waxed , varnished...and then re launched. My son is 4 right now. I cant wait to take him out on it.
A Boston Whaler 13 is the BEST way for a kid to get on the water.....although I think well get a 30 hp instead of the 50 for starters.
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13' Boston Whaler
Boston Whaler 13' 
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) and literally cracked the hull. Damn thing split on the drivers side from the top of the rail right to the deck and the whole side was flexing open about a half inch. We still drove it home with no problems and sold it to a local clammer for 300$ . He then glassed it up and strapped a 9.9 on the back and hit the mud flats.
