My winter project, 1965 Whaler

[blkmtrfan]

I spent most of the winter working on the 1965 13' whaler that my son and I got last year. It was actually pretty nice when we got it considering the age, it had be garaged most if its life and is a "dry and lite" hull. However, I wanted to make it a bit nicer and thought it would be a great father and son project.

For the most part it is pretty original (the only totally new things are the rubrail, the "whaler" stickers, and the trailer) the finish is all gelcoat and was the most work of the project. I mostly did small repairs wherever it need it. There were quite a few chunks where metal gas cans were put in without mats, the bottom was pretty rough from beaching, and the transom need some work. We completely derigged the boat and had a local glass shop color match some blue and white. We did the transom sides and inside first when it was still on the old trailer. Then we flipped it onto a dolly and did the bottom. I only found one soft spot and rapaired it with glass and then coated it.

We then filpped it right side up on a new trailer. In the mean time we completely sanded the mahogany and revarnished it with about a dozen or so coats (I actually lost count as I was gettin up at 5 am to do one in the morning, then I would do another at night after work ).

We cleaned and/or polished every fitting and replaced the steering cable.

The old merc is also in pretty good shape other than we were having a overheating problem, even with a new impeller. I ended up pulling off the side case and found about 30 years of gunk causing the water flow problem. I replaced the plugs and fuel lines, cleaned up as much as I could and put it back on.

I also made a little dash panel in the console so I coul mount a kill switch, which was a little tough on the old merc and had to get out the soldering iron

We still have a couple of things to do, like ad navigation lights and such.

I would also really like to fit some sort of motor trim, but don't want to add one of those setback trim deals, so I am still thinking.

here are some pics of what it looks like now:











At the launch with my son:



My son and daughter at the slip:



My boy and his sister crusing:





Me towing the kids on a tube:



The boy and his grandpa pulling up some crab:





Overall this boat is a blast to run, is great for the kids, and honestly one of my favorite boats that I have had.

[gotboostedvr6]

Looks showroom

What size motor is on there?

[NNT]

again thats a sweet looking 13 If only Whaler could make the newer ones look half as good instead of just generic all white hunks of unsinkable foam and glass, they would sell a million of them. Looks like the kids learnin to wheel that rig pretty good too

[jphii]

That's nice!!! I want one.

[Frank Molé]

looks great have fun with it

[blkmtrfan]

Thanks for the positive comments guys

The merc is a 35hp 2 cylinder

Bob, you are right, he is getting pretty good. It is the one thing he actually listens to me about, LOL. Plus he took the coast gaurd class this winter and has his boat operators liscense.

[robert jordan]

man that is really nice!! every kid that grows up around the water has dreamed about having a 13 whaler. i sure did, and still think they are cool boats that will never go out of style. a true clasic!

[blkmtrfan]

Thanks Robert,

Hey how is your pad bottom 15' project coming? You run it yet?

[Scream And Fly]

Scott, that boat is amazing looking. I love the engine too - perfect for it!

[skibrain]

Congrats. Great boats! My dad bought one in about '73, It had the biege interior and the higher transom which required the ugly long-shaft Johnson 40 (not a thru-hub exhaust). My dad found a 2 -blade alum speed prop. I don't know the specs on the prop, but I learned to step-off barefoot behind it the summer I was 14. Must have been at least 35-36 mph.

We probably taught 40 kids to ski behind it

[blkmtrfan]

Thanks Greg, I feel it did turn out pretty nice

However, in all honestly, it probably looks nicer in the pics in in the flesh ...

You know the earily ones weren't real staight to begin with, They kinda got a little wavey when they added the foam

But it does show pretty good and so far we have got alot of positive feedback.

I also love the look of the red stripe merc on there , the only thing that would be cooler would be a 4 cyl 50hp merc, but that may be a little to much for the boy just yet

skibrain thanks for the story. It sure seems that just about everyone who was around one as a kid, has a great memory of it. I hope to continue those kinds of memorys with my kids.

[robert jordan]

Thanks Robert,

Hey how is your pad bottom 15' project coming? You run it yet?

the boat is not mine. it is on a boston whaler web site called www.continuouswave.com , they only talk about whalers on that site. they have a section called whaler performance , thats whare i found it. thought you guys would like to see something different.

[Propster]

Great job Scott, it came out great! Cool project. I would have loved to have that boat when I was a kid. I dreamed of being just like those kids in the show "Flipper". Your son must be very excited.

[Instigator]

One of THE best boats built of all time!

I learned to slalom ski from a deep water start behind a 13' w/a 18 HP Evinrude on it. Probably only boat on planet capable of that.

Grew up playing in Lake Erie and had three friends that all had 13's. ( I had an 8' hydro)

We terrorized the bay by our harbor in those things

We'd see a spec on the horizon miles away knowing it was a huge cabin cruiser and would chase it for miles just to jump it's wake
Normally the owners would come out on the back deck just to watch.

While trying to scare two friends in one in rough water we came offf a wave, hooked it and chucked two of us in the water. (15 or 16 yrs old at time)
Everything came out of the boat including the gas tank!

The boat came down, filled the cockpit to the gunnel with water! The motor kept running while dragging the gas tank behind it (by the fuel line) in the lake

We climbed in the boat, pulled the drain plug, kept the motor WFO till it drained then went sking

I bought an '84 a few yrs back and totally replaced the interior.

Mine had more of a console than yours but I kinda like yours better.

As far as trim for your motor?? If you can't find a trim unit from a motor that will adapt to yours then about your only choice is to add a trim plate.

I wouldn't worry about the set back though. Lots of people ran these boats with 3 banger OMC's with no problem so you'd probably be close to that weight with a plate.

Icing on your story is the fact that you did it with your son.

PERFECT!

Gary

[blkmtrfan]

robert, sorry for the confusion, I saw it on www.continuouswave.com as well but figured it was your project

Thanks David, and I agree the boys on flipper had it made

Gary, awesome story, love the

motor kept running while dragging the gas tank behind it (by the fuel line) in the lake

That is great stuff

I do have a few ideas regarding trim, will start looking for parts, and I am not afraid to custom fabricate, but will probably not make any changes until next winter.