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Author Topic:   color of your 1972 to 1993 Whaler

Tom W Clark posted 02-22-2002 09:46 PM ET (US)
There is a general habit of referring to the post "blue" Whalers (1972 to 1993) as "Desert Tan" as though these hulls were the same color of gel coat inside and out. But this is not wholly accurate.
The hulls produced in the 1970's and 1980's were Desert Tan on the inside but a lighter shade on the outside. Sometimes this exterior color is referred to as "Outrage Gray" and others refer to it as "Light Gray". I know that in the case of the 1980 to 1983 hulls this was the case. Of the three Whalers I owned that were built in this period, there were two different colors for the two different skins.
I am less sure what color was used for the center consoles of the Montauk and Outrage models though I believe it was the color of the outside skin. Does anybody have more conclusive evidence? The 1989 25 Walk Around WD I looked at in January seemed to be the same color inside and out, but I'm not sure.
I've been thinking about this in terms of ordering a CPD hull. There is an extra cost incurred if your order a gel coat color other than Haze Gray. But would the extra cost double if the inside color and the outside color were different, i.e. different batches of gel coat?
whalernut posted 02-22-2002 10:05 PM ET (US)
Tom, 1972 still had the White Exterior and Blue Interior. Anyway, my 1973 `16 Currituck(first year with Tan) has what I think to be a Dessert Tan Interior and a Dark Cream colored Exterior. Thats to my eyes, maybee others think diferently?? Jack.
reelescape1 posted 02-22-2002 10:36 PM ET (US)
I don't know what the definition of the colors are but, I think my 90 22' OR is desert tan in and out......I guess we could send pics??!!
BillS posted 02-22-2002 10:40 PM ET (US)
The inside of my 1973 13 Sport is Outrage Grey and the outside is white. Bought it new in 73 and it wasn't a special order.
I didn't discover the color difference until I tried to do some repairs using Desert Tan. I finally got a match with the grey.
My theory is that the factory ran out of the tan and decided to keep building boats with what they had on hand.
browning20ga posted 02-23-2002 12:47 AM ET (US)
I feel funny giving "Tom W Clark" any information since I'm a relative newcomer to the site (about 7 months). I have a 1974 13" Whaler and was just gel-coating the transom (inside and out) the last couple of days. I ordered "Desert Tan" from Spectrum Color. As far as I can tell it's an almost perfect match inside and slightly darker than the original outside color but since I stooped at the sides of the transom it's hardly noticeable, hope this helps.
Darrell
kingfish posted 02-23-2002 07:45 AM ET (US)
Tom-
My Outrage 22' is a 1992 model, and the gel coat on both the inside and outside is Desert Tan. I've used Spectrum factory mixed Desert Tan gelcoat patch paste from the same jar on both inside and outside repairs and have enjoyed the same degree of color match with both applications.
John
kingfish posted 02-23-2002 07:49 AM ET (US)
FWIW (it seems I aways remember these sort of things *after* I've submitted my post)- at least as far as Spectrum is concerned, and possibly other firms that offer factory mixed colors as well, a number of apparently different Desert Tans are offered, dependent upon the year of manufacture of the Whaler in question.
Tom W Clark posted 02-23-2002 02:24 PM ET (US)
Jack,
You are correct, the 1973 model year was the first to use the Desert Tan, but these first boats were actually built in the summer of 1972 which is why you will see 1972 listed as both the first year for the Desert Tan AND the last year for the blue.
reelescape1 & kingfish,
Your boats are what interests me. I have owned five Whalers and they all were off white on the outside and Desert Tan on the inside. But I now suspect Whaler changed to a Desert Tan exterior at some point and I'm wondering what year that was.
Visiting the Spectrum web site produces some interesting clues:
Apart from the 1994-1996 Desert Tan and the 1997 Desert Tan, (which were two separate and distinct "Desert Tan"'s from what we are talking about) there is but one Desert tan listed as for Whalers from 1972 to 1993.
However, "Light Gray" is listed as used from 1972 to 1984. Might it be that starting with 1984, Whaler hulls were produced with Desert Tan on both the inside and the outside? There is also a "Haze Gray" listed for 1984 to 1998. Is this something else or a replacement for "Light Gray"?
Remember, when Whaler was sold to Reebok and they introduced the first Peter Van Lancker designs, these new hulls were produced in white. The Montauk at this time was also morphing into its all-plastic form and I think for a period of time you could order a Montauk in either Desert Tan or white.
I should note that what Spectrum calls these colors may be their own creation. I know that Fiberlay ( http://www.fiberlay.com/ ), the company whose products I prefer, uses slightly different names for some of these colors, specifically, they call the outside hull color “Outrage Gray” which they have broken down into several different versions for the 1972 to 1984 years. I suspect this may have more to do with matching colors up to samples brought in by customers through the years than with following any factory color formulations.
I do know, and have oft repeated here, that matching the color up on an old Whaler is far more difficult than determining the original name of the color used at the time of production. Fading and batch variation is more pronounced than most people realize.
reelescape1 posted 02-23-2002 04:24 PM ET (US)
I'm not sure if this helps or not but I'm going to try and post a picture. The boats at the dealer now getting some new Yammie power. The glass-man did his work last week...he plugged and gelcoated the 8 old mounting holes. I've looked at the transom twice since and it looks good to me. I'll try to find out which color, brand, etc. he used cause it looks like a good match!(Here's a link to pics)
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/reelescape1
lhg posted 02-25-2002 03:58 PM ET (US)
Tom, if it helps, both my '86 and '89 Whalers use the same color both interior and exterior.
Tom W Clark posted 02-25-2002 04:27 PM ET (US)
lhg,
Are you sure? The difference is VERY subtle and not apparent until you try using the same color patch material inside and out.
Now having said that, I suspect you are correct about your boats and this would reinforce my supposition (along with the Spectrum Color chart) that starting in 1984 (perhaps for the 1985 model year), Boston Whaler changed from a two-color scheme to DESERT TAN inside and out.
Like I've said, the last Whaler I owned was a 1983 model and it was definitely two colors. I also believe the console was the color of the outside skin i.e. OUTRAGE GRAY. What color is (are) your console(s), Larry?
lhg posted 02-25-2002 04:50 PM ET (US)
Tom - I am convinced everything is the same color, including the console. I have used Whaler gelcoat for repairs inside and out, and it is a "reasonably" close match. I have found it impossible to make a perfect gelcoat match without custom color blending, which I don't bother to do. But I have lifted out my center floor hatch in the 25, and held it up to the hull side. Same color.
The transom area where the motor mounts would also be a good place to compare colors, since at the transom the inner hull meets the outer, where that polished blue/green glass line is exposed. On my 1986 18 Outrage, the colors are identical.
I would imagine Chuck Bennett at the factory could render some accurate information on this subject.
george nagy posted 02-25-2002 05:03 PM ET (US)
I would sware my 1987 outrage 18' has the same color inside and out (except for obviouse fading), but now that I think bout it I think my old 1982 15' was alot whiter on the outside and I always had triuble with whaler gelcoat matching. If you look at older late 70's early 80's whalers thay do seem whiter and later 80's seem creamier. I always thought it was just fading very interesting indeed!
David Ratusnik posted 02-25-2002 05:35 PM ET (US)
Tom- My '86 22 OR is Desert Tan inside and out. D
whalernut posted 02-25-2002 07:12 PM ET (US)
My 1973 `16 Currituck is deffingately 2 shades of spmething onside and out, what exactly they are called is beyond me??? Tan-Cream,??? Jack.
andygere posted 02-25-2002 07:17 PM ET (US)
Tom,
My '79 Montauk is Desert Tan inside, and a version (I understand there is more than one) of Outrage Grey on the outside. The difference in color is clear, and Spectrum lists 2 seperate colors for my model year. I've used both, with good results on the color match.
Hank posted 02-26-2002 12:03 AM ET (US)
Tom
My '84 Montauk is Desert Tan inside and out.
I must say, however that they are slightly different shades of the same color, due I believe, to varying degreees of exposure to sunlight.The console color is also Desert Tan. The interior , especially horizontal surfaces are lightest (due to exposure to more sunlight).
Hank
Timo posted 02-26-2002 12:43 PM ET (US)
My 1977 15' sport is definitely two colors; a darker shade of tan inside and a very light cream color outside. It is most obvious now that I have the old rub rail off awaiting the new.
27Walk posted 02-26-2002 04:08 PM ET (US)
Our 1992 27' Walkaround is White with the Grey two tone deck. It is not the desert tan. For some reason Whaler Started using the White gel coat on the 27 Walk and offshore a year or two earlier than everything else.

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Author	Topic: color of your 1972 to 1993 Whaler
Tom W Clark	posted 02-22-2002 09:46 PM ET (US) There is a general habit of referring to the post "blue" Whalers (1972 to 1993) as "Desert Tan" as though these hulls were the same color of gel coat inside and out. But this is not wholly accurate. The hulls produced in the 1970's and 1980's were Desert Tan on the inside but a lighter shade on the outside. Sometimes this exterior color is referred to as "Outrage Gray" and others refer to it as "Light Gray". I know that in the case of the 1980 to 1983 hulls this was the case. Of the three Whalers I owned that were built in this period, there were two different colors for the two different skins. I am less sure what color was used for the center consoles of the Montauk and Outrage models though I believe it was the color of the outside skin. Does anybody have more conclusive evidence? The 1989 25 Walk Around WD I looked at in January seemed to be the same color inside and out, but I'm not sure. I've been thinking about this in terms of ordering a CPD hull. There is an extra cost incurred if your order a gel coat color other than Haze Gray. But would the extra cost double if the inside color and the outside color were different, i.e. different batches of gel coat?
whalernut	posted 02-22-2002 10:05 PM ET (US) Tom, 1972 still had the White Exterior and Blue Interior. Anyway, my 1973 `16 Currituck(first year with Tan) has what I think to be a Dessert Tan Interior and a Dark Cream colored Exterior. Thats to my eyes, maybee others think diferently?? Jack.
reelescape1	posted 02-22-2002 10:36 PM ET (US) I don't know what the definition of the colors are but, I think my 90 22' OR is desert tan in and out......I guess we could send pics??!!
BillS	posted 02-22-2002 10:40 PM ET (US) The inside of my 1973 13 Sport is Outrage Grey and the outside is white. Bought it new in 73 and it wasn't a special order. I didn't discover the color difference until I tried to do some repairs using Desert Tan. I finally got a match with the grey. My theory is that the factory ran out of the tan and decided to keep building boats with what they had on hand.
browning20ga	posted 02-23-2002 12:47 AM ET (US) I feel funny giving "Tom W Clark" any information since I'm a relative newcomer to the site (about 7 months). I have a 1974 13" Whaler and was just gel-coating the transom (inside and out) the last couple of days. I ordered "Desert Tan" from Spectrum Color. As far as I can tell it's an almost perfect match inside and slightly darker than the original outside color but since I stooped at the sides of the transom it's hardly noticeable, hope this helps. Darrell
kingfish	posted 02-23-2002 07:45 AM ET (US) Tom- My Outrage 22' is a 1992 model, and the gel coat on both the inside and outside is Desert Tan. I've used Spectrum factory mixed Desert Tan gelcoat patch paste from the same jar on both inside and outside repairs and have enjoyed the same degree of color match with both applications. John
kingfish	posted 02-23-2002 07:49 AM ET (US) FWIW (it seems I aways remember these sort of things after I've submitted my post)- at least as far as Spectrum is concerned, and possibly other firms that offer factory mixed colors as well, a number of apparently different Desert Tans are offered, dependent upon the year of manufacture of the Whaler in question.
Tom W Clark	posted 02-23-2002 02:24 PM ET (US) Jack, You are correct, the 1973 model year was the first to use the Desert Tan, but these first boats were actually built in the summer of 1972 which is why you will see 1972 listed as both the first year for the Desert Tan AND the last year for the blue. reelescape1 & kingfish, Your boats are what interests me. I have owned five Whalers and they all were off white on the outside and Desert Tan on the inside. But I now suspect Whaler changed to a Desert Tan exterior at some point and I'm wondering what year that was. Visiting the Spectrum web site produces some interesting clues: Apart from the 1994-1996 Desert Tan and the 1997 Desert Tan, (which were two separate and distinct "Desert Tan"'s from what we are talking about) there is but one Desert tan listed as for Whalers from 1972 to 1993. However, "Light Gray" is listed as used from 1972 to 1984. Might it be that starting with 1984, Whaler hulls were produced with Desert Tan on both the inside and the outside? There is also a "Haze Gray" listed for 1984 to 1998. Is this something else or a replacement for "Light Gray"? Remember, when Whaler was sold to Reebok and they introduced the first Peter Van Lancker designs, these new hulls were produced in white. The Montauk at this time was also morphing into its all-plastic form and I think for a period of time you could order a Montauk in either Desert Tan or white. I should note that what Spectrum calls these colors may be their own creation. I know that Fiberlay ( http://www.fiberlay.com/ ), the company whose products I prefer, uses slightly different names for some of these colors, specifically, they call the outside hull color “Outrage Gray” which they have broken down into several different versions for the 1972 to 1984 years. I suspect this may have more to do with matching colors up to samples brought in by customers through the years than with following any factory color formulations. I do know, and have oft repeated here, that matching the color up on an old Whaler is far more difficult than determining the original name of the color used at the time of production. Fading and batch variation is more pronounced than most people realize.
reelescape1	posted 02-23-2002 04:24 PM ET (US) I'm not sure if this helps or not but I'm going to try and post a picture. The boats at the dealer now getting some new Yammie power. The glass-man did his work last week...he plugged and gelcoated the 8 old mounting holes. I've looked at the transom twice since and it looks good to me. I'll try to find out which color, brand, etc. he used cause it looks like a good match!(Here's a link to pics) http://briefcase.yahoo.com/reelescape1
lhg	posted 02-25-2002 03:58 PM ET (US) Tom, if it helps, both my '86 and '89 Whalers use the same color both interior and exterior.
Tom W Clark	posted 02-25-2002 04:27 PM ET (US) lhg, Are you sure? The difference is VERY subtle and not apparent until you try using the same color patch material inside and out. Now having said that, I suspect you are correct about your boats and this would reinforce my supposition (along with the Spectrum Color chart) that starting in 1984 (perhaps for the 1985 model year), Boston Whaler changed from a two-color scheme to DESERT TAN inside and out. Like I've said, the last Whaler I owned was a 1983 model and it was definitely two colors. I also believe the console was the color of the outside skin i.e. OUTRAGE GRAY. What color is (are) your console(s), Larry?
lhg	posted 02-25-2002 04:50 PM ET (US) Tom - I am convinced everything is the same color, including the console. I have used Whaler gelcoat for repairs inside and out, and it is a "reasonably" close match. I have found it impossible to make a perfect gelcoat match without custom color blending, which I don't bother to do. But I have lifted out my center floor hatch in the 25, and held it up to the hull side. Same color. The transom area where the motor mounts would also be a good place to compare colors, since at the transom the inner hull meets the outer, where that polished blue/green glass line is exposed. On my 1986 18 Outrage, the colors are identical. I would imagine Chuck Bennett at the factory could render some accurate information on this subject.
george nagy	posted 02-25-2002 05:03 PM ET (US) I would sware my 1987 outrage 18' has the same color inside and out (except for obviouse fading), but now that I think bout it I think my old 1982 15' was alot whiter on the outside and I always had triuble with whaler gelcoat matching. If you look at older late 70's early 80's whalers thay do seem whiter and later 80's seem creamier. I always thought it was just fading very interesting indeed!
David Ratusnik	posted 02-25-2002 05:35 PM ET (US) Tom- My '86 22 OR is Desert Tan inside and out. D
whalernut	posted 02-25-2002 07:12 PM ET (US) My 1973 `16 Currituck is deffingately 2 shades of spmething onside and out, what exactly they are called is beyond me??? Tan-Cream,??? Jack.
andygere	posted 02-25-2002 07:17 PM ET (US) Tom, My '79 Montauk is Desert Tan inside, and a version (I understand there is more than one) of Outrage Grey on the outside. The difference in color is clear, and Spectrum lists 2 seperate colors for my model year. I've used both, with good results on the color match.
Hank	posted 02-26-2002 12:03 AM ET (US) Tom My '84 Montauk is Desert Tan inside and out. I must say, however that they are slightly different shades of the same color, due I believe, to varying degreees of exposure to sunlight.The console color is also Desert Tan. The interior , especially horizontal surfaces are lightest (due to exposure to more sunlight). Hank
Timo	posted 02-26-2002 12:43 PM ET (US) My 1977 15' sport is definitely two colors; a darker shade of tan inside and a very light cream color outside. It is most obvious now that I have the old rub rail off awaiting the new.
27Walk	posted 02-26-2002 04:08 PM ET (US) Our 1992 27' Walkaround is White with the Grey two tone deck. It is not the desert tan. For some reason Whaler Started using the White gel coat on the 27 Walk and offshore a year or two earlier than everything else.