Comparing the Ride Quality of the 13-foot and 15-foot Classic Hulls

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Author Topic:   Comparing the Ride Quality of the 13-foot and 15-foot Classic Hulls

Binkster posted 06-21-2011 12:13 PM ET (US)
Having owned several 13-footers over the years, and never have even ridden in a 15-footer, I'd like to know if the 15-footer has a noticeably better ride in a chop than the 13 footer. I know the 15 footer is more tender at rest. I'm not interested in anything bigger that 15 foot. Is it worth my trouble to sell my 13 footer, and buy a 15 foot hull and restore it for the softer ride? Don`t plan to go anywhere in a 15 footer that I wouldn't go in a 13 footer.
Joe 15 SS LTD posted 06-21-2011 12:43 PM ET (US)
Binkster, I was a passenger a few times a long time ago in a 13 and is I think a bit more rough riding than my 15. The 13 seemed to me to have a bit more lateral stability. I could stand on the side of the 13 and it would not lean over as much as the 15. Now it may have been due to the fact I weigh a bit more now about 30 more pounds since i was in the 13.
I am going to try to puy mine in the water for the first time in 18 months the weekend after July 4 in Tampa bay if you care to drop down I would be happy to give you a ride if she runs ok. I cranked her up on the muffs this weekend and she seemed to run fine after the long layup, but who know how she will perform in the water. Going to put new plugs in when I launch after the 4th of July
Joe
JMARTIN posted 06-21-2011 12:59 PM ET (US)
I think the 15 rides better in chop than the 13. The extra weight in the stern smooths it out a bit.

John
Tohsgib posted 06-21-2011 01:27 PM ET (US)
15 is a dream compared to a 13'. 13's will just slap and slam you to death, the 15 actually cuts through the waves much like a 17. I love my 13 but just about EVERY time I ride in it I wish it was a 15'.
andrey320 posted 06-21-2011 01:48 PM ET (US)
Don't know if you are interested in the post-classics, but I think the Dauntless has a smoother ride than the sport....
elenakagan posted 06-21-2011 02:00 PM ET (US)
My 15' Sport is a wave slapping, back hurting, wet spray making fun little toy.
elenakagan posted 06-21-2011 02:02 PM ET (US)
P.S. Rides great in anything less than a 6" chop or wave.
an86carrera posted 06-21-2011 02:12 PM ET (US)
For the cost of a 15' you can find a 17' which is a far nicer boat for most purposes.
But, I agree that the post classic 13' is far better that the classic 13' and maybe even better than the classic 15'
Len
leadsled posted 06-21-2011 02:35 PM ET (US)
Funny thing,the 13' is rated to carry more weight than the 15'. One night at a boatyard party for laughs we put 12 full size people into my early 13' whaler while it was tied up at the dock. It was close to taking water next to the engine where the transom is cut out for 15". That had to be close to 2000 pounds even without the engine. The 15' will ride better but the 13' is more stable dead in the water. I have had 13's, a 15' and 16's and for the same money as a 15' you could get a 16', you won't be sorry. It's much more boat.
adlert posted 06-21-2011 03:01 PM ET (US)
I've heard some say that in relatively light chop the 15 rides as well or better than the classic 17.
Obviously this is the Classic section of CW but I'll second andrey320's comment. I've spent quite a bit of time on my uncle's Dauntless 15. That boat's ability to handle waves is amazing. A real joy to pilot that boat all around.
Binkster posted 06-21-2011 03:50 PM ET (US)
Maybe I should look at a 15' Dauntless or find a 15' Rage and convert it to outboard. Anyone know what they Weigh? I don`t feel like getting a bigger tow vehicle. Actually its my ex-wife/girlfriend Mary Jane, who complains about the rough ride in my 13 footer, she has a bad neck and can't take the jolts.
jcrwshw posted 06-21-2011 04:30 PM ET (US)
I can say with confidence that the 15' whaler is better ride. I've spent thousands of hours running 13',15',17' and 22' whalers while being a fishing guide for April Point in Campbell River. 13's are great tenders for yachts- stable and can carry a good load, 15's are great for lakes and protected oceans - smooth ride and easy to trailer, and can handle a good amount of horsepower, 17's are super stable and can handle the rough stuff but do not handle chop as well as the 15' (15's can be trimmed bow down to cut the chop where 17's are more blunt and pound), 22' are the best for rough weather hands down.
I would recommend the 15' as it can do it all and cost nothing to run,tow, or store for the winter.
pcrussell50 posted 06-21-2011 04:54 PM ET (US)
Seems like the static stability and ride are exactly as expected based on the amount of V in the hull.
-Peter
Peter posted 06-21-2011 05:21 PM ET (US)
I have had both. As other have said, 15 has a much softer ride but its less stable at rest due to the round bottom.
A2J15Sport posted 06-21-2011 08:23 PM ET (US)
13', 15', 16'. None of them ride well compared to a family owned 17' Wellcraft.
But, there is that "unsinkable" thing to think about.
PeteB88 posted 06-21-2011 08:25 PM ET (US)
Len's got it nailed. The 15 is a terrific boat - I have an Outrage 17 (more boat than a Montauk and less versatile than I expected regarding one key point for ME - I can't get into super shallow water like I'd like to for fishing) That's why I have my 13 -mainly for fishing inland lakes and rivers.
jcrwsch got it right too.
I'd be thinkin Montauk if I were you Binks - There's something about that boat man and it does it all. Plus for you and your gal it's a hell of a lot more comfortable. Goin easy you could tow it as flat is it is around there.
dgoodhue posted 06-21-2011 09:50 PM ET (US)
13' Whaler is great 13' boat. The classic 15 is a stable boat, it just isn't as stable as the 13'. It rides much softer in a chop and it is faster with out much of the penalties of being larger boat. It doesnt weight that much more, draw much more water, use that much more gas. The biggest penalty is the price difference and that is because of demand for them.
jimh posted 06-21-2011 10:06 PM ET (US)
One ride in a classic Boston Whaler 15-foot hull is all you will need to be convinced it is the best small boat hull ever made.
A2J15Sport posted 06-21-2011 10:15 PM ET (US)
Jimh said: "One ride in a classic Boston Whaler 15-foot hull is all you will need to be convinced it is the best small boat hull ever made."
I agree, that's why I own one. But, it doesn't ride like a true deep V. It wasn't designed to. There are many other qualities that make up for it.
Jamber posted 06-21-2011 11:35 PM ET (US)
Last year I replaced my 1999 16 Dauntless with a 1993 15 Super Sport.
At first I planned to get 13 in addition to my 16 Dauntless for the days the tides are to low at the mouth of my creek. I found a killer deal on a 15 and jumped on it. After seeing how close the 15's ride in a small chop was to my 16 Dauntless I decided it could replace the 16 and I could run shallower. I have been in 13's and agree the 15 is a smoother ride. I could not be happier with my choice. It was worth it to me for a shallower draft and lighter weight (lower towing capacity vehicle).
The 15 reminds me of my dad's 1988 18 Outrage as for the hull shape and the way it lets you down soft just about every time.
Not the same angle, but you can see the the family resemblance here:
15 Super Sport
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5144/5626996391_d151f2dc28.jpg
18 Outrage
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/2039750558_e9f5abe4f3_z.jpg

dgoodhue posted 06-22-2011 05:53 AM ET (US)
Yeah, I have alway noticed the similarity to the 80's Outrage/Revenge Hulls.
I have wondered why Boston Whaler never updated the 17' foot hull with this design.
cohasett73 posted 06-22-2011 09:15 AM ET (US)
The solution is simple enough Rich. If ex-wife/girlfriend Mary Jane is getting beat up don't go so darn fast. I would think your racing should satisfy your need for speed.
With the lady enjoy a gentle cruise.
Tom from Rubicon, WI
prj posted 06-22-2011 10:14 AM ET (US)
Jamber is correct in pointing out that the proportions and lines of the classic 15 footer more closely resemble an Outrage than any other Whaler. The 13 and 17 footers appear to be of the same family, both a bit shallower in the forefoot and more laterally stable.
pcrussell50 posted 06-22-2011 12:41 PM ET (US)
I view classic Whalers in general as utility boats, but the classc 15's hull bottom looks at least a little like a sport/performance hull. If it were rated for 115hp like a sport hull, I'd probably have one for going fast on the lake. When I decided to move up from my classic 13, I considered the 15. But it was going to be an ocean boat and I went with weight, stability, and dry ride over sharp bow entry... and got a 17.
-Peter
Tohsgib posted 06-22-2011 01:30 PM ET (US)
I have been on 15's with both 90's and 115's and lets just say it is rare you can actually get her up to speed....what a rush though.
FISHNFF posted 06-26-2011 06:17 PM ET (US)
15 hands down smoother ride.
13 hands down more stable.
The more sloping bow of the 15 offers less buoyancy for the length compared to a 13, in addition to the deeper V adding less lateral stability.
FISHNFF
renoduckman posted 06-27-2011 12:23 AM ET (US)
I have never been in a 15ft. I have the 16 now and had a 73 13 footer for years. It was a great boat but had that choppy ride. But as a lake fisherman it was excellent.It did not tip much when you were leaning over the side netting fish. Mine was a tiller. But i also learned it rode much better with more weight. A few times i had 3 big men and a Labrador and it rode better then with just me in it!
Jeff posted 06-27-2011 12:28 AM ET (US)
I had a 13 after having a 15 for a few years. My take away was...If I had owned the 13 first it would have been my first and last Whaler. I hated the ride of that 13 hull and just found the 15 to be a better all around boat.
I have to agree with Len as well though. You can likely find a 17 hull for close to, if not the same as a 15. The 17 is a far better boat in so many ways over the 15 (ride, free board, usable space, etc).
pcrussell50 posted 06-27-2011 01:34 AM ET (US)
I had another brand of 13 foot boat that was a stylish 60's runabout. The kind with a blond girl in polka dot bikini, waterskiing behind it with cateye Ray Bans on. It looked just like dozens of other boats of that ilk and era. And I'm here to tell you that in comparison to he Boston Whaler 13, it was a toy. It could not even compare to the seaworthiness of the little Whaler, which as far as I can tell, is the first seriously seaworthy small boat, possibly ever. Sure it rides hard and wet, but it is safe, which my cute runabout was not... at least not in the kind of sea conditions that would be childsplay to the little Whaler. It was my first Whaler and my second boat, and it was sooo very good in comparison to the first, it made me a fan for life.
-Peter
Russ 13 posted 07-01-2011 12:59 AM ET (US)
Jamber just likes to show his bottom.....WHAT??
But you can see the same basic hull design.
...
Owning both a 13' & a 15'.
The 15' has a MUCH smoother ride in a chop than the 13'
But the 13' will pole better than the 15' due to the bottom runners on the 13'.

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Author	Topic: Comparing the Ride Quality of the 13-foot and 15-foot Classic Hulls
Binkster	posted 06-21-2011 12:13 PM ET (US) Having owned several 13-footers over the years, and never have even ridden in a 15-footer, I'd like to know if the 15-footer has a noticeably better ride in a chop than the 13 footer. I know the 15 footer is more tender at rest. I'm not interested in anything bigger that 15 foot. Is it worth my trouble to sell my 13 footer, and buy a 15 foot hull and restore it for the softer ride? Don`t plan to go anywhere in a 15 footer that I wouldn't go in a 13 footer.
Joe 15 SS LTD	posted 06-21-2011 12:43 PM ET (US) Binkster, I was a passenger a few times a long time ago in a 13 and is I think a bit more rough riding than my 15. The 13 seemed to me to have a bit more lateral stability. I could stand on the side of the 13 and it would not lean over as much as the 15. Now it may have been due to the fact I weigh a bit more now about 30 more pounds since i was in the 13. I am going to try to puy mine in the water for the first time in 18 months the weekend after July 4 in Tampa bay if you care to drop down I would be happy to give you a ride if she runs ok. I cranked her up on the muffs this weekend and she seemed to run fine after the long layup, but who know how she will perform in the water. Going to put new plugs in when I launch after the 4th of July Joe
JMARTIN	posted 06-21-2011 12:59 PM ET (US) I think the 15 rides better in chop than the 13. The extra weight in the stern smooths it out a bit. John
Tohsgib	posted 06-21-2011 01:27 PM ET (US) 15 is a dream compared to a 13'. 13's will just slap and slam you to death, the 15 actually cuts through the waves much like a 17. I love my 13 but just about EVERY time I ride in it I wish it was a 15'.
andrey320	posted 06-21-2011 01:48 PM ET (US) Don't know if you are interested in the post-classics, but I think the Dauntless has a smoother ride than the sport....
elenakagan	posted 06-21-2011 02:00 PM ET (US) My 15' Sport is a wave slapping, back hurting, wet spray making fun little toy.
elenakagan	posted 06-21-2011 02:02 PM ET (US) P.S. Rides great in anything less than a 6" chop or wave.
an86carrera	posted 06-21-2011 02:12 PM ET (US) For the cost of a 15' you can find a 17' which is a far nicer boat for most purposes. But, I agree that the post classic 13' is far better that the classic 13' and maybe even better than the classic 15' Len
leadsled	posted 06-21-2011 02:35 PM ET (US) Funny thing,the 13' is rated to carry more weight than the 15'. One night at a boatyard party for laughs we put 12 full size people into my early 13' whaler while it was tied up at the dock. It was close to taking water next to the engine where the transom is cut out for 15". That had to be close to 2000 pounds even without the engine. The 15' will ride better but the 13' is more stable dead in the water. I have had 13's, a 15' and 16's and for the same money as a 15' you could get a 16', you won't be sorry. It's much more boat.
adlert	posted 06-21-2011 03:01 PM ET (US) I've heard some say that in relatively light chop the 15 rides as well or better than the classic 17. Obviously this is the Classic section of CW but I'll second andrey320's comment. I've spent quite a bit of time on my uncle's Dauntless 15. That boat's ability to handle waves is amazing. A real joy to pilot that boat all around.
Binkster	posted 06-21-2011 03:50 PM ET (US) Maybe I should look at a 15' Dauntless or find a 15' Rage and convert it to outboard. Anyone know what they Weigh? I don`t feel like getting a bigger tow vehicle. Actually its my ex-wife/girlfriend Mary Jane, who complains about the rough ride in my 13 footer, she has a bad neck and can't take the jolts.
jcrwshw	posted 06-21-2011 04:30 PM ET (US) I can say with confidence that the 15' whaler is better ride. I've spent thousands of hours running 13',15',17' and 22' whalers while being a fishing guide for April Point in Campbell River. 13's are great tenders for yachts- stable and can carry a good load, 15's are great for lakes and protected oceans - smooth ride and easy to trailer, and can handle a good amount of horsepower, 17's are super stable and can handle the rough stuff but do not handle chop as well as the 15' (15's can be trimmed bow down to cut the chop where 17's are more blunt and pound), 22' are the best for rough weather hands down. I would recommend the 15' as it can do it all and cost nothing to run,tow, or store for the winter.
pcrussell50	posted 06-21-2011 04:54 PM ET (US) Seems like the static stability and ride are exactly as expected based on the amount of V in the hull. -Peter
Peter	posted 06-21-2011 05:21 PM ET (US) I have had both. As other have said, 15 has a much softer ride but its less stable at rest due to the round bottom.
A2J15Sport	posted 06-21-2011 08:23 PM ET (US) 13', 15', 16'. None of them ride well compared to a family owned 17' Wellcraft. But, there is that "unsinkable" thing to think about.
PeteB88	posted 06-21-2011 08:25 PM ET (US) Len's got it nailed. The 15 is a terrific boat - I have an Outrage 17 (more boat than a Montauk and less versatile than I expected regarding one key point for ME - I can't get into super shallow water like I'd like to for fishing) That's why I have my 13 -mainly for fishing inland lakes and rivers. jcrwsch got it right too. I'd be thinkin Montauk if I were you Binks - There's something about that boat man and it does it all. Plus for you and your gal it's a hell of a lot more comfortable. Goin easy you could tow it as flat is it is around there.
dgoodhue	posted 06-21-2011 09:50 PM ET (US) 13' Whaler is great 13' boat. The classic 15 is a stable boat, it just isn't as stable as the 13'. It rides much softer in a chop and it is faster with out much of the penalties of being larger boat. It doesnt weight that much more, draw much more water, use that much more gas. The biggest penalty is the price difference and that is because of demand for them.
jimh	posted 06-21-2011 10:06 PM ET (US) One ride in a classic Boston Whaler 15-foot hull is all you will need to be convinced it is the best small boat hull ever made.
A2J15Sport	posted 06-21-2011 10:15 PM ET (US) Jimh said: "One ride in a classic Boston Whaler 15-foot hull is all you will need to be convinced it is the best small boat hull ever made." I agree, that's why I own one. But, it doesn't ride like a true deep V. It wasn't designed to. There are many other qualities that make up for it.
Jamber	posted 06-21-2011 11:35 PM ET (US) Last year I replaced my 1999 16 Dauntless with a 1993 15 Super Sport. At first I planned to get 13 in addition to my 16 Dauntless for the days the tides are to low at the mouth of my creek. I found a killer deal on a 15 and jumped on it. After seeing how close the 15's ride in a small chop was to my 16 Dauntless I decided it could replace the 16 and I could run shallower. I have been in 13's and agree the 15 is a smoother ride. I could not be happier with my choice. It was worth it to me for a shallower draft and lighter weight (lower towing capacity vehicle). The 15 reminds me of my dad's 1988 18 Outrage as for the hull shape and the way it lets you down soft just about every time. Not the same angle, but you can see the the family resemblance here: 15 Super Sport http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5144/5626996391_d151f2dc28.jpg 18 Outrage http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/2039750558_e9f5abe4f3_z.jpg
dgoodhue	posted 06-22-2011 05:53 AM ET (US) Yeah, I have alway noticed the similarity to the 80's Outrage/Revenge Hulls. I have wondered why Boston Whaler never updated the 17' foot hull with this design.
cohasett73	posted 06-22-2011 09:15 AM ET (US) The solution is simple enough Rich. If ex-wife/girlfriend Mary Jane is getting beat up don't go so darn fast. I would think your racing should satisfy your need for speed. With the lady enjoy a gentle cruise. Tom from Rubicon, WI
prj	posted 06-22-2011 10:14 AM ET (US) Jamber is correct in pointing out that the proportions and lines of the classic 15 footer more closely resemble an Outrage than any other Whaler. The 13 and 17 footers appear to be of the same family, both a bit shallower in the forefoot and more laterally stable.
pcrussell50	posted 06-22-2011 12:41 PM ET (US) I view classic Whalers in general as utility boats, but the classc 15's hull bottom looks at least a little like a sport/performance hull. If it were rated for 115hp like a sport hull, I'd probably have one for going fast on the lake. When I decided to move up from my classic 13, I considered the 15. But it was going to be an ocean boat and I went with weight, stability, and dry ride over sharp bow entry... and got a 17. -Peter
Tohsgib	posted 06-22-2011 01:30 PM ET (US) I have been on 15's with both 90's and 115's and lets just say it is rare you can actually get her up to speed....what a rush though.
FISHNFF	posted 06-26-2011 06:17 PM ET (US) 15 hands down smoother ride. 13 hands down more stable. The more sloping bow of the 15 offers less buoyancy for the length compared to a 13, in addition to the deeper V adding less lateral stability. FISHNFF
renoduckman	posted 06-27-2011 12:23 AM ET (US) I have never been in a 15ft. I have the 16 now and had a 73 13 footer for years. It was a great boat but had that choppy ride. But as a lake fisherman it was excellent.It did not tip much when you were leaning over the side netting fish. Mine was a tiller. But i also learned it rode much better with more weight. A few times i had 3 big men and a Labrador and it rode better then with just me in it!
Jeff	posted 06-27-2011 12:28 AM ET (US) I had a 13 after having a 15 for a few years. My take away was...If I had owned the 13 first it would have been my first and last Whaler. I hated the ride of that 13 hull and just found the 15 to be a better all around boat. I have to agree with Len as well though. You can likely find a 17 hull for close to, if not the same as a 15. The 17 is a far better boat in so many ways over the 15 (ride, free board, usable space, etc).
pcrussell50	posted 06-27-2011 01:34 AM ET (US) I had another brand of 13 foot boat that was a stylish 60's runabout. The kind with a blond girl in polka dot bikini, waterskiing behind it with cateye Ray Bans on. It looked just like dozens of other boats of that ilk and era. And I'm here to tell you that in comparison to he Boston Whaler 13, it was a toy. It could not even compare to the seaworthiness of the little Whaler, which as far as I can tell, is the first seriously seaworthy small boat, possibly ever. Sure it rides hard and wet, but it is safe, which my cute runabout was not... at least not in the kind of sea conditions that would be childsplay to the little Whaler. It was my first Whaler and my second boat, and it was sooo very good in comparison to the first, it made me a fan for life. -Peter
Russ 13	posted 07-01-2011 12:59 AM ET (US) Jamber just likes to show his bottom.....WHAT?? But you can see the same basic hull design. ... Owning both a 13' & a 15'. The 15' has a MUCH smoother ride in a chop than the 13' But the 13' will pole better than the 15' due to the bottom runners on the 13'.