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Author Topic:   classic 13'

pizano1 posted 07-24-2001 08:13 PM ET (US)

Yes, I am a "squid" who is new to the sport. I'm a first year teacher and am on a tight budget. The bay I live in gets very rough; however, the crabbing and fishing are great and so is the whale watching. I have a '97 Nissan p.u. 2 wheel dr. (that I just paid off) with a tow hitch. 1- Could I safely go out in the bay with a budd on a reasonably calm day w/ a 13' Whaler? 2- Could my 4-cyl. truck pull and launch the boat? My budget is approx. 3k-4k. THANKS!

Tom W Clark posted 07-24-2001 11:12 PM ET (US)
pizano1,
Yes, yes and yes. A 13 will do fine on the Bay and you could even cross the bar on really calm days and go get a salmon or two like the 54 lb. King that was just caught down there: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/134320850_outn22.html
Your p/u will do just fine and your budget is reasonable. Go get one and enjoy it!
pizano1 posted 07-25-2001 01:18 AM ET (US)
Thanks Thomas! It's been a dream of mine since my Coast Guard days. My only prob was I was on an ice breaker and have no small craft experience... so I guess I'm a little "scared". Talking and reading members threads on this sight has me convinced that a Whaler is the way to go. Thanks again! -Pizano1
RobDimel posted 07-25-2001 02:46 AM ET (US)
Pizano,
I towed my 17' whaler with a 4 cyl Toyota pick-up for a few years, and never had any problems. I wouldn't have wanted to take any long trips with a lot of grades involved, but it towed just fine. I did have to put it into 4-wheel low on most launch ramps to recover my boat however. I don't think you will have any problems.
pizano1 posted 07-25-2001 02:56 AM ET (US)
More good news... thanks Rob. -Pizano1
Bigshot posted 07-25-2001 11:02 AM ET (US)
I do not condone this but....I had a 97 Tacoma w/4cyl, 5spd, 4wd. I towed a 24 Baja for 2 years with this truck. Trailer, gas, gear about 6000lbs on a 3500lb bumper hitch. It was not a happy camper(especially with the a/c on)but I would tow it the 2 miles to the ramp and back every weekend. By the time I got up to 35mph or so i was at the ramp. Not very good acceleration with a house behind you. Did not care because it was a lease and with a 3500lb rating, it can handle it.
Moral of the story is That was ok for short, flat trips and it lived. You could tow that 13 around the world and not affect anything but a slight drop in MPG. Step up to a 17 and you will still be great.
Bigshot posted 07-25-2001 11:05 AM ET (US)
My buddy had an identical truck to mine and he towed a 23' seacraft with twin 130's on the highway. I do not like towing ANYTHING above 50mph especially things that weigh more than the tow vehicle. Here in FL it is different. I have seen people pass me at 75mph towing a 30' scarab sport, They are crazy down here.
Mako posted 07-25-2001 11:43 AM ET (US)
Your truck should have a tow rating of 3500lbs. Check with your dealer to make sure--sometimes you need to add a swaybar. The 13 shouldn't weigh much more than 1000lbs on the trailer even with engine, gas, etc. You could probably tow 2 of them!
pizano1 posted 07-25-2001 06:57 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the input. -Pizano1
marc monreal posted 07-26-2001 10:34 PM ET (US)
Pizano 1, I have a 1986 Toyota xtra cab 4x4 4 cyl. with 120,000 mi. I tow my Montauk as well as my 13 sport and dont have any problems. When towing the 13 you hardly even know its their. When towing the 17, its ok as long as their arn't alot of hills. Regards, Marc
pizano1 posted 07-27-2001 01:58 AM ET (US)
Cool!!! Thanks for the info Marc. Now I'm wandering if I should be "content" with a 13' Whaler I can buy now, or save a little longer for a 17' Montauk for nexy year?????
gunnelgrabber posted 07-27-2001 09:40 AM ET (US)
like most all of the folks are saying...get you a 17'...there's a lot more difference there than the 4' or 3' length...then, get the smaller boat later on..(or an outrage?)....then you'll be a bw collector!! personally, i've not convinced my wife that i efficiently use my one bw...good luck..lm
pizano1 posted 07-28-2001 12:59 AM ET (US)
LOL! Sounds like a plan... I just hate having to wait a another whole year to come up with the bones to pay for the bigger boat.
Dr T posted 08-03-2001 02:02 AM ET (US)
I used a 1982 Toyota 4 cyl. to pull my Sport 13 from 1989 until 1992. I would pull it on the average of 3 times a month for distances ranging from 3 to 25 miles.
I certainly agree that the truck can handle the boat.
However, on the older pickups, the clutch is a bit weak. I would burn one up about every 24,000 miles. Not a tremendous expense, but it was still there. I really prefer an automatic for towing.
Good luck on your decision on the boat.

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Author	Topic: classic 13'
pizano1	posted 07-24-2001 08:13 PM ET (US) Yes, I am a "squid" who is new to the sport. I'm a first year teacher and am on a tight budget. The bay I live in gets very rough; however, the crabbing and fishing are great and so is the whale watching. I have a '97 Nissan p.u. 2 wheel dr. (that I just paid off) with a tow hitch. 1- Could I safely go out in the bay with a budd on a reasonably calm day w/ a 13' Whaler? 2- Could my 4-cyl. truck pull and launch the boat? My budget is approx. 3k-4k. THANKS!
Tom W Clark	posted 07-24-2001 11:12 PM ET (US) pizano1, Yes, yes and yes. A 13 will do fine on the Bay and you could even cross the bar on really calm days and go get a salmon or two like the 54 lb. King that was just caught down there: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/134320850_outn22.html Your p/u will do just fine and your budget is reasonable. Go get one and enjoy it!
pizano1	posted 07-25-2001 01:18 AM ET (US) Thanks Thomas! It's been a dream of mine since my Coast Guard days. My only prob was I was on an ice breaker and have no small craft experience... so I guess I'm a little "scared". Talking and reading members threads on this sight has me convinced that a Whaler is the way to go. Thanks again! -Pizano1
RobDimel	posted 07-25-2001 02:46 AM ET (US) Pizano, I towed my 17' whaler with a 4 cyl Toyota pick-up for a few years, and never had any problems. I wouldn't have wanted to take any long trips with a lot of grades involved, but it towed just fine. I did have to put it into 4-wheel low on most launch ramps to recover my boat however. I don't think you will have any problems.
pizano1	posted 07-25-2001 02:56 AM ET (US) More good news... thanks Rob. -Pizano1
Bigshot	posted 07-25-2001 11:02 AM ET (US) I do not condone this but....I had a 97 Tacoma w/4cyl, 5spd, 4wd. I towed a 24 Baja for 2 years with this truck. Trailer, gas, gear about 6000lbs on a 3500lb bumper hitch. It was not a happy camper(especially with the a/c on)but I would tow it the 2 miles to the ramp and back every weekend. By the time I got up to 35mph or so i was at the ramp. Not very good acceleration with a house behind you. Did not care because it was a lease and with a 3500lb rating, it can handle it. Moral of the story is That was ok for short, flat trips and it lived. You could tow that 13 around the world and not affect anything but a slight drop in MPG. Step up to a 17 and you will still be great.
Bigshot	posted 07-25-2001 11:05 AM ET (US) My buddy had an identical truck to mine and he towed a 23' seacraft with twin 130's on the highway. I do not like towing ANYTHING above 50mph especially things that weigh more than the tow vehicle. Here in FL it is different. I have seen people pass me at 75mph towing a 30' scarab sport, They are crazy down here.
Mako	posted 07-25-2001 11:43 AM ET (US) Your truck should have a tow rating of 3500lbs. Check with your dealer to make sure--sometimes you need to add a swaybar. The 13 shouldn't weigh much more than 1000lbs on the trailer even with engine, gas, etc. You could probably tow 2 of them!
pizano1	posted 07-25-2001 06:57 PM ET (US) Thanks for the input. -Pizano1
marc monreal	posted 07-26-2001 10:34 PM ET (US) Pizano 1, I have a 1986 Toyota xtra cab 4x4 4 cyl. with 120,000 mi. I tow my Montauk as well as my 13 sport and dont have any problems. When towing the 13 you hardly even know its their. When towing the 17, its ok as long as their arn't alot of hills. Regards, Marc
pizano1	posted 07-27-2001 01:58 AM ET (US) Cool!!! Thanks for the info Marc. Now I'm wandering if I should be "content" with a 13' Whaler I can buy now, or save a little longer for a 17' Montauk for nexy year?????
gunnelgrabber	posted 07-27-2001 09:40 AM ET (US) like most all of the folks are saying...get you a 17'...there's a lot more difference there than the 4' or 3' length...then, get the smaller boat later on..(or an outrage?)....then you'll be a bw collector!! personally, i've not convinced my wife that i efficiently use my one bw...good luck..lm
pizano1	posted 07-28-2001 12:59 AM ET (US) LOL! Sounds like a plan... I just hate having to wait a another whole year to come up with the bones to pay for the bigger boat.
Dr T	posted 08-03-2001 02:02 AM ET (US) I used a 1982 Toyota 4 cyl. to pull my Sport 13 from 1989 until 1992. I would pull it on the average of 3 times a month for distances ranging from 3 to 25 miles. I certainly agree that the truck can handle the boat. However, on the older pickups, the clutch is a bit weak. I would burn one up about every 24,000 miles. Not a tremendous expense, but it was still there. I really prefer an automatic for towing. Good luck on your decision on the boat.