CONTINUOUSWAVE

Hello all, I have been looking for a Center Console for six months. I wanted to hold off until winter to get a better deal. I live on a lake. I found a 1984 Boston Whaler 15 Sport Center Console near me with a Johnson 70-HP engine. This is a rare 15-footer. Asking price is $5,000, he dropped down to $4500. It seems fairly clean but I haven't seen it in person. I love this interior layout and I have been looking for a 15-footer.

What should I look out for?

Is the price reasonable?.

[The seller] said the price is firm. [I am] not a fan [of older Johnson 70-HP engines,] but I would run the engine until I found a Yamaha 70. My buddy is a Yamaha marine tech, and I prefer Yamaha engines.

[Do any readers have] any input?

Thanks--and looking forward to joining the Boston Whaler family.

mjr119 wrote:[Do any readers have] any input?

Here is my input:

An asking price of $4,500 for a nice condition 1984 Boston Whaler CENTER CONSOLE 15 is reasonable, with the following assumptions:

--the boat is on a trailer, and the trailer is a suitable trailer, in good condition, ready for the road, and does not need any major repair;

--the c.1984 Johnson 70-HP engine is in nice condition, runs well, has been properly maintained, and has electric start and power trim;

--the boat includes a reasonable assortment of accessories, such as a cover, lines, fenders, anchor, working navigation lighting, remote steering and remote engine controls, an engine gauge or two, a battery, and perhaps a bimini top.

Re the preference for a Yamaha engine: the Yamaha two-stroke-power-cycle engine is essentially an exact copy of the Evinrude 70-HP. Both are very nice engines. As a general rule I would not buy a boat-engine combination with the notion of immediately re-powering the boat. That sometime in the future you might get another engine is always a possibility when you buy a boat with an outboard engine that is 34-years-old.

mjr119 wrote:What should I look out for?

For advice on buying a classic Boston Whaler, see my article in the REFERENCE section:

Buying Classic Boston Whaler Boats
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/buying.html

jimh--thanks for the response.

The boat is on a nice, titled trailer.

The Johnson 70-HP engine does have power trim--not sure on electric-start. It is said to be well maintained and runs excellent.

The boat comes with a working depth finder but probably dated. The boat has a nice Bimini top, several gauges, and a battery. It's ready to run according to the seller.

Only caveat is I will not get to water test the boat. He said I can run the engine on earmuffs. He said I can water test the boat but he isn't available to do so for a few weeks. I think someone else will come buy it before then, or I would hold out.

I don't plan to immediately re-power it. I am always looking for deals and would re-power should I come across a nice deal on [another engine]. My buddy is constantly sending me good deals on engines. So I am sure I would eventually throw a four-stroke-power-cycle engine on [the boat] for the right price. I would not buy a new engine.

I also have a compression gauge and might even get my buddy to go with me for a survey.

Sounds like a reasonable deal to me assuming Jim H comments. I ran a 1992 Evinrude 70 on my 15 footer for many years and was happy with the performance. Do I like my Yamaha F70 better, yes, but for that price, I wouldn't hesitate if I were in your position.

The other thing I would look for in the hull is sources for water intrusion. You don't want a wet hull. Good luck!

Looked for the 15 center console for a couple years and they all sold very quick and I consider them to be the holy grail of the Whaler 15 models.

I wouldn't hesitate to purchase the one you've shared if it checks out. The John-Rude motors are great motors and simple, but they tend to be a little loud and unrefined and understand your desire for the Yamaha but they are similar in design only. The 15 Whaler I purchased came with a 60 Evinrude (same as 70 with carb tweaks), but I opted for a Yamaha 70 2 stroke. The Yami is the smallest displacement of the 70 motors on the market, but the carbration is far ahead of the John-Rude motors, electronics are more reliable and the are quieter with a more advanced oil injection system with a tank on the motor, so no extra lines and tanks in the boat.

Looking at your response, I will say that the motor is electric start, without a doubt.

I was able to sell the Evinrude 60 on my boat and purchase a Yamaha 70 for almost no money out of pocket with all controls and tach for $1500.

D-

I owned a pair of c.1987 Yamaha 70-HP two-stroke-power-cycle engines. There were great engines. Around 4,000 to 4,100-RPM their sound changed noticeably, and they really like to sing at that speed. I think the displacement was 850-cc. The battery charging output from the alternator was very modest. The stator coil was fragile. But they make lots of power for their displacement and will accelerate to 6,000-RPM if the propeller is not holding them down.

Guess I will post some pics. Guy is out of town for the weekend and I am supposed to have first shot at seeing the boat early next week.

dtmackey wrote:Looked for the 15 center console for a couple years and they all sold very quick and I consider them to be the holy grail of the Whaler 15 models.

I wouldn't hesitate to purchase the one you've shared if it checks out. The John-Rude motors are great motors and simple, but they tend to be a little loud and unrefined and understand your desire for the Yamaha but they are similar in design only. The 15 Whaler I purchased came with a 60 Evinrude (same as 70 with carb tweaks), but I opted for a Yamaha 70 2 stroke. The Yami is the smallest displacement of the 70 motors on the market, but the carbration is far ahead of the John-Rude motors, electronics are more reliable and the are quieter with a more advanced oil injection system with a tank on the motor, so no extra lines and tanks in the boat.

Looking at your response, I will say that the motor is electric start, without a doubt.

I was able to sell the Evinrude 60 on my boat and purchase a Yamaha 70 for almost no money out of pocket with all controls and tach for $1500.

D-

I agree about the rarity of the 15 CC and this draws me to it even more.

Engine noise isn't at the top of my priority list, so I am sure I would run the Johnson for a while. My goal would be to find a deal on a Yamaha, and sell the Johnson, and net out for pretty low cost, like you mentioned. My close friend is a Yamaha marine tech, he has customers upgrading engines all the time and sometimes they let the old engines go super cheap. He recommends the Yamaha's over other brands. He is also a Evinrude/BRP tech and he hates those engines haha. But I am sure I would be happy with the Johnson as long as it is reliable.

Thanks for the response!

Another question I was thinking about.

Is there any way to add value to this boat?

Obviously repowering. But other than that? I would do the basic TLC and maybe redo the wood. I want to add a bow cushion and possibly upgrade the electronics.

What would make it a top dollar unit? What is top dollar for this model? Due to the rarity, I would want to make some improvements to it. AKA I wouldn't mind spending money on value-added improvements.

I am a sucker for nostalgia though, so originality is also important to me.

mjr119 wrote:Another question I was thinking about.

Is there any way to add value to this boat?

Due to the rarity, I would want to make some improvements to it. AKA I wouldn't mind spending money on value-added improvements.

I am a sucker for nostalgia though, so originality is also important to me.

If originality is important why put newer power on? Old depth finder etc. would be original. You keep mentioning it is a rarity. Is it?
It is not a one of a kind so others can be found.

Are you looking to turn key this boat as the price is reasonable.
All I could say a safe, good trailer could add value but for the rest it is in the eye of the beholder. i.e. a classic boat is only worth what the next buyer will pay for her.

By original I mean no changes to the console, seating, etc. I would change the engine and electronics. Those are minor updates really. Not changing the overall boat. To clarify, I wouldn't want to add or remove seating, change the console, add/remove railing. Stuff like that. I want it to still be a classic whaler.

Yes, according to you guys (the BW experts), this model was made from 82-88 and is the rarest 15. I think it would be more desirable to have a center console over the side console. The CC fishing boat market is booming right now. Plus I like it better.

Also, I see all kinds of POS for sale for 2-6k. So I figured a nice running, not waterlogged BW will be worth it and hold it's value, maybe even increase in value with some TLC and minor updates.

Thanks guys!

Making it look like new is where you will increase value. As for changes to the boat, I made changes to the woodwork and based on feedback from others, it made the boat more desirable/valuable to some (yes, I've been offered far more than book value to sell it). I refused $12K for my 32 year old boat.



D-

Thanks for the replies. I am hopefully looking at it tomorrow evening. Will report back with my findings.

I had the same boat. It was a blast, one of my favorites.

I did a lot to the boat. Don't know if it added value, but it certainly added value to me.

New outboard (kind of forced to do that)
New trailer
Custom made 28 gallon fuel tank
Raised the seat about 2" and repositioned the back rest to a more vertical position, huge improvement in seating.

With the over powered 85HP mercury that was on it when I bought the boat the fun factor was very high.
45 knots in a small craft four foot sea. Very stable, very nice ride.

Blew that engine up. Put . a4 stroke 50 Honda on it. That was under powered, but a tank of fuel lasted all season.
Only sold it because I wanted something bigger, if I could have at the time I would have kept it.

Seems photobucket might have given up taking hostage of our photos. Try this link for some pics of my 15

http://s96.photobucket.com/user/porthol ... t=9&page=1

You will see that I am not a fan of teak


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