Boston Whaler or ???

Fly'n Family

Fly'n Family

Active Member
Sep 19, 2013
812
TX / CO
Boat Info
2008 Meridian 341
2004 Boston Whaler Sport 130 w/40 hp Merc
Engines
6.2's
Kids are outgrowing their dinghy and want to be able to do some tubing. Looking for something non-tiller operated with 40+ hp outboard. Friend had a whaler when younger and thought it was an excellent little unit, so am looking for something along those lines. Looking for 13 to 16 feet.......any suggestions? Wanting to spend no more than $7500. Looking for something open like a Whaler...

Thanks for any suggestions.
 
This may also get you a mid to late 90s vintage 14' Dauntless. I just bought a 2002 160 Dauntless with a 115 HP four stroke for a little more than your budget. Dauntless models have built in fuel tanks. Mine holds 45 gallons. Yes that's right, 45 gallons
 
There is a 13' Whaler with 40 Horse Mercury 4 stroke and trailer, 2003 at Lake of the Ozarks on Craigslist. Rather far away but in your price range.
 
We have two 13' Whalers, a restored 1981 and a 2010. The 1981 has a 40hp, 2-stroke Evinrude and the 2010 a 40hp Merc 4-stroke. I bought the 1981 in AZ to keep down there and picked it up for $5K. It's much lighter than the 2010, not as cushy a ride but a LOT of fun to run around in on the lakes down there.
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I don't think you can go wrong with whatever Whaler you end up with. They're great boats and sturdy as can be.
 
I just sold my 2002 Boston Whaler Dauntless. These boats are better in the chop than other whaler models. They are hard to find because people seldom sell them.
21degree deep v is a great ride. Watch early 2002 four stroke mercury engines. They have carb which do not like the new ethanol gas. Every two years I needed to
have the carbs rebuilt and that was running with Merc approved gas additive.

Good Luck!
 
pgeiser said:
There is a 13' Whaler with 40 Horse Mercury 4 stroke and trailer, 2003 at Lake of the Ozarks on Craigslist. Rather far away but in your price range.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up, it's now sitting in our garage. :smt038

Decided to go for it after talking to the gentleman, seeing pics and hearing of the condition - especially compared to others out there - and my Son and I just returned from a hardcore Father/Son road trip. 37 hours - 5 of which were sleep and 3 going through the Whaler, son test driving.....the rest driving.

It was worth the trip for many reasons, and the Whaler is in outstanding condition and very loaded. Son is in 7th heaven going from his Baltic 310 to a mint whaler with a 40 Merc 4 stroke.

Thanks again
 
Couple of quick pics from the last day and a half...

Heading from Northern Colorado to Lake of the Ozarks
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First view upon arriving

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Son's thrilled to go from a 2 Stroke early 90's 15 hp to an 03' low hour Merc 40 hp 4 stroke

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Son's perspective at our first chow stop post purchase

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Last edited:
This story and adventure can not be topped......has to be the best thread I have read all year. There are volumes and volumes of remembrances here and your son will be the richer for it. I do believe I see my replacement in training right now. You tell him to learn to be master and commander of that, top of the line, nautical machine and I will do my part to inform all of the Brunswick Boat group, there is a new Boston Whaler & Sea Ray Captain in the making.

Capt. Rusty

PM'ing you, I need more of this.
 
Man ... that Whaler is mint!
Excellent find, I would imagine that he will work hard to keep it that way too.
 
Very nice. Great times I'm sure.

I'm also impressed with the right hand drive SUV or your ability to take a pic that good in the rear view mirror. :smt038
 
I would have never stopped except for fuel if I had that boat at that age! I had a Hutchison Nautisport inflatable with wood floor and a 5.5 hp Elgin (sometimes also a 7.5 hp Sears) and thought I was on top of the world at 14 or 15. Great memories that are worth more than you spent on the Whaler! It's almost like getting the boat for free!!!!!!
 
That's a fine looking boat! I love a good family story, you're a lucky man.
 
Nice find on that Whaler. Looking at the pics I see a few things different from our 2010. Just curious about what model and year yours is.

Also, I'll send you a PM with some info.
 
Capt. Rusty Higgins said:
This story and adventure can not be topped......has to be the best thread I have read all year. There are volumes and volumes of remembrances here and your son will be the richer for it. I do believe I see my replacement in training right now. You tell him to learn to be master and commander of that, top of the line, nautical machine and I will do my part to inform all of the Brunswick Boat group, there is a new Boston Whaler & Sea Ray Captain in the making.

Capt. Rusty

PM'ing you, I need more of this.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the kind words Captain, pm responded to...
 
Great story! I'm very happy for you & your son! Best of luck with your new toy!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
All's Well said:
Man ... that Whaler is mint!
Excellent find, I would imagine that he will work hard to keep it that way too.
Click to expand...

I have no doubt he will. We got home at 1:30 a.m., and at 5:30 a.m. he woke me up to move it to where a hose would reach. Grudgingly got my achy butt up and moved it, couldn't fall back to sleep so went out front to see what he was doing...here's what I saw - needless to say, very pleased. :smt001

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Gofirstclass said:
Nice find on that Whaler. Looking at the pics I see a few things different from our 2010. Just curious about what model and year yours is.

Also, I'll send you a PM with some info.
Click to expand...

Our is a 2003.

I've always admired yours when you post pics, love how clean it is. Thank you VERY much for the pm and the links, a ton of info and I sincerely appreciate it.
 
dpmulvey said:
Very nice. Great times I'm sure.

I'm also impressed with the right hand drive SUV or your ability to take a pic that good in the rear view mirror. :smt038
Click to expand...

I wondered about the right hand drive, too.

As everyone is saying, what a great adventure for you and your son. One of the greatest joys as parents is to be able to put that kind of smile on a kid's face. When my daughter was a newborn and my dad was still alive, he told me that one of the best things about being a parent is being able to do things that spoil your kids. He used to say "it's OK to spoil your kids, but spoil them well, don't spoil them rotten".

Congratulations on the new boat, and thanks for sharing.
 
Nice story and congrats.

I think you forgot this part......

Dad, dad, can we take it to the lake after I finish washing it, can we, can we?
 
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