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Author Topic:   15 SS LTD Experience

jameso posted 07-02-2003 09:33 AM ET (US)
Two weeks ago I drove to coastal NC and bought a 1989 15 foot SS LTD. This is the 15 with insert having a walkthrough windshield and upholstered seats (see Reference Section).
The boat had seen some salt water in its early life but had been stored (so I was told) for the last 5 or 6 years. Bottom was scaled and covered with barnacles, about a 2-inch gash in the keel through to glass. Upholstery rotted and gel coat faded. The plus side, it was complete original even to the two BW battery boxes. No power.
The Trailer Gods smiled on me, I drove the 400 miles back home praying all the way.
After several days of scraping barnacles, applying ON-OFF and some heavy gel coat care the lady started to show her true heritage. A trip to the upholstery shop and a few bucks lighter solved the upholstery problem.
I located a 1999 50 HP Honda at a dealer here in GA. Last Friday it was installed. Typical dealership BS. The mechanic did not want to raise the engine. He insisted the 50 Honda would only run as good as a 40 2/S. After some tense negotiations the engine was installed ‘tres dedos’, three fingers above the transom. During the time I spent in the shop I found that this engine had been installed on a 13 sport. The owner of the sport was not at all pleased with the performance and complained about the speed and how long it took to put the boat on plane. After hearing this I was getting hesitant about the whole deal and even thought of walking away and forfeiting my binder money. But knowing the reputation of the Honda and also the fact that it only weighs 18X pounds (the same as my beloved OMC 50) I went ahead with the deal. I had asked for a 14-pitch prop as per prop calculator. I was told they only had the 13 stainless and no 14’s because “we never use them”. I agreed to take the 13 if I could swap it out for a 14 later.
The weekend was spent watching it rain and installing tach and generally getting the lady ready for the water. Monday AM two little Whaler crewmen and I launched at Lake Tobesofkee for sea trials. This was a true Whaler Kodak moment as we launched a new Nantucket showed up. We were both admiring the others boat!
Initial runs showed top speed to be 34.7 MPH (GPS) with the WOT RPM’s at 6200. I called the dealer from the lake with my cel phone and ordered the 14 pitch. I don’t think he would have been more surprised if I had told him aliens had invaded. He asked twice what my speed and RPMs were. I told him I thought I could bump the rev-limiter if I wanted and explained I had one large person, two small people cooler and assorted gear in the boat. He is ordering the 14 now.
My over all impression of this rig is really good, I am even beginning to like the yuppie Reebok interior. The Honda should show 38 MPH or so when I re-prop.
I will post some pics as soon as the rain stops.
Thanks for letting me share this, Jim Armstrong

PMUCCIOLO posted 07-02-2003 09:41 AM ET (US)
jameso,
Congratulations!
PM
Jarhead posted 07-02-2003 10:44 AM ET (US)
I never tire of reading an enthusiastic account of a maiden voyage....
Always conjures up a flood of memories for this old salt...
Thanks for sharing and congrats on your [new] Whaler. :) :)
Samars posted 07-02-2003 11:13 AM ET (US)

Nice story...hope you have some pictures.
RMS posted 07-02-2003 03:27 PM ET (US)
Nice story, glad you're enjoying your 'new' boat. However, Reebok had nothing to do with your classic Whaler. Bob
jimh posted 07-02-2003 10:56 PM ET (US)
I think the allusion to Reebok is probably due to the change in ownership for Boston Whaler that occured some time in the 1989-1990 time frame.
When they printed the 1989 catalogue it said "A CML Company" on the back cover. By the 1990 printing, that notice was gone. Whaler had been sold to Reebok.
jameso posted 07-03-2003 08:56 AM ET (US)
Whaler was owned by Reebok at one time. This is the era when they stopped offering a lot of mahogany and teak interiors. Reebok and now Brunswick seem to be looking more at the bottom line than anything else. Granted the design is pure Dougherty but some things changed, for instance I was really suprised to find plastic hinges on the seat cushions. These have now been replaced with stainless.
Jim Armstrong
jameso posted 07-03-2003 08:56 AM ET (US)
Whaler was owned by Reebok at one time. This is the era when they stopped offering a lot of mahogany and teak interiors. Reebok and now Brunswick seem to be looking more at the bottom line than anything else. Granted the design is pure Dougherty but some things changed, for instance I was really suprised to find plastic hinges on the seat cushions. These have now been replaced with stainless.
Jim Armstrong
wayne baker posted 07-03-2003 11:04 AM ET (US)
Nice story jim. Nothing better than the antisipation of the first ride. Glad you shared with us.
wayne

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Author	Topic: 15 SS LTD Experience
jameso	posted 07-02-2003 09:33 AM ET (US) Two weeks ago I drove to coastal NC and bought a 1989 15 foot SS LTD. This is the 15 with insert having a walkthrough windshield and upholstered seats (see Reference Section). The boat had seen some salt water in its early life but had been stored (so I was told) for the last 5 or 6 years. Bottom was scaled and covered with barnacles, about a 2-inch gash in the keel through to glass. Upholstery rotted and gel coat faded. The plus side, it was complete original even to the two BW battery boxes. No power. The Trailer Gods smiled on me, I drove the 400 miles back home praying all the way. After several days of scraping barnacles, applying ON-OFF and some heavy gel coat care the lady started to show her true heritage. A trip to the upholstery shop and a few bucks lighter solved the upholstery problem. I located a 1999 50 HP Honda at a dealer here in GA. Last Friday it was installed. Typical dealership BS. The mechanic did not want to raise the engine. He insisted the 50 Honda would only run as good as a 40 2/S. After some tense negotiations the engine was installed ‘tres dedos’, three fingers above the transom. During the time I spent in the shop I found that this engine had been installed on a 13 sport. The owner of the sport was not at all pleased with the performance and complained about the speed and how long it took to put the boat on plane. After hearing this I was getting hesitant about the whole deal and even thought of walking away and forfeiting my binder money. But knowing the reputation of the Honda and also the fact that it only weighs 18X pounds (the same as my beloved OMC 50) I went ahead with the deal. I had asked for a 14-pitch prop as per prop calculator. I was told they only had the 13 stainless and no 14’s because “we never use them”. I agreed to take the 13 if I could swap it out for a 14 later. The weekend was spent watching it rain and installing tach and generally getting the lady ready for the water. Monday AM two little Whaler crewmen and I launched at Lake Tobesofkee for sea trials. This was a true Whaler Kodak moment as we launched a new Nantucket showed up. We were both admiring the others boat! Initial runs showed top speed to be 34.7 MPH (GPS) with the WOT RPM’s at 6200. I called the dealer from the lake with my cel phone and ordered the 14 pitch. I don’t think he would have been more surprised if I had told him aliens had invaded. He asked twice what my speed and RPMs were. I told him I thought I could bump the rev-limiter if I wanted and explained I had one large person, two small people cooler and assorted gear in the boat. He is ordering the 14 now. My over all impression of this rig is really good, I am even beginning to like the yuppie Reebok interior. The Honda should show 38 MPH or so when I re-prop. I will post some pics as soon as the rain stops. Thanks for letting me share this, Jim Armstrong
PMUCCIOLO	posted 07-02-2003 09:41 AM ET (US) jameso, Congratulations! PM
Jarhead	posted 07-02-2003 10:44 AM ET (US) I never tire of reading an enthusiastic account of a maiden voyage.... Always conjures up a flood of memories for this old salt... Thanks for sharing and congrats on your [new] Whaler. :) :)
Samars	posted 07-02-2003 11:13 AM ET (US) Nice story...hope you have some pictures.
RMS	posted 07-02-2003 03:27 PM ET (US) Nice story, glad you're enjoying your 'new' boat. However, Reebok had nothing to do with your classic Whaler. Bob
jimh	posted 07-02-2003 10:56 PM ET (US) I think the allusion to Reebok is probably due to the change in ownership for Boston Whaler that occured some time in the 1989-1990 time frame. When they printed the 1989 catalogue it said "A CML Company" on the back cover. By the 1990 printing, that notice was gone. Whaler had been sold to Reebok.
jameso	posted 07-03-2003 08:56 AM ET (US) Whaler was owned by Reebok at one time. This is the era when they stopped offering a lot of mahogany and teak interiors. Reebok and now Brunswick seem to be looking more at the bottom line than anything else. Granted the design is pure Dougherty but some things changed, for instance I was really suprised to find plastic hinges on the seat cushions. These have now been replaced with stainless. Jim Armstrong
jameso	posted 07-03-2003 08:56 AM ET (US) Whaler was owned by Reebok at one time. This is the era when they stopped offering a lot of mahogany and teak interiors. Reebok and now Brunswick seem to be looking more at the bottom line than anything else. Granted the design is pure Dougherty but some things changed, for instance I was really suprised to find plastic hinges on the seat cushions. These have now been replaced with stainless. Jim Armstrong
wayne baker	posted 07-03-2003 11:04 AM ET (US) Nice story jim. Nothing better than the antisipation of the first ride. Glad you shared with us. wayne