Classic 15-footer Seating

[jimh]

The 15-foot classic Boston Whaler boat is a great hull, but the typical SPORT or SUPER SPORT interior is not very comfortable. To see modifications to the seating in these models is very common. The most common complaint is the thwart seats are too low. In the first models, the thwart seats were located on the molded lip in the hull inwale. Later models installed the thwart seat atop a wooden riser, raising it about 2-inches.

To experiment with alternative seating, remove and preserve the original mahogany or teak 5/4 planks that make the thwart seats. (Nice lumber like those planks will be very expensive to replace today.) Then using some new wood, perhaps some marine plywood, experiment with different seating options. For some ideas, see the REFERENCE section article about the classic 15-footer at

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/15/

Read the several linked articles, including

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/15/models.html

which will show some other seating arrangements.

Then look at the CETACEA collection for further ideas as seen in

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/cetacea/cetaceaPage28.html

and in

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/cetacea/cetaceaPage50.html

[donb43402]

Hey JIm, do you think the 88 15ft SS LTD would be any different than my 88 13ft SS with the wooden seats as far as comfort? I m pretty cramped in the 13. Thanks, Don

[jimh]

A 15-footer will have a very different ride than a classic 13-footer. The 15-footer won’t have as much side-to-side stability as a 13-footer, but its more V-hull shape will be better in waves.

Any seat will be better than the thwart plank low seats.

[dtmackey]

A 15-footer will have a very different ride than a classic 13-footer. The 15-footer won’t have as much side-to-side stability as a 13-footer, but its more V-hull shape will be better in waves.

Any seat will be better than the thwart plank low seats.

Jim nailed it with his comments, the 13 and 15 have very different rides. I've had several of the 13's and 15's over the years and the 13' is a great dingy or smooth water boat, but when there's any wind/waves it returns a buckboard ride. This wasn't a problem when I was 14 years old, but at 50, I'm done with that. The 15' has a softer entry and gives up a little on stability, but what is gained in ride is significant. It excels where the 13' provides a rough ride, but it's still a 15' boat, so there are limits.

As for seating, the seats in both the 13 and 15 are low and sitting on a thwart is not ideal in any boat. In my 15 project, I raised the seats 1.5" and it helped the seating position and I also installed upholstered cushions that made a big difference in comfort according to my butt-o-meter.

D-

[donb43402]

Thanks D. Was looking at an 1989 15ft SS LTD but the guy hasnt called me back. Would really like to move up to the 15.