posted 06-15-2012 10:02 AM ET (US)        

Whaler is going to introduce "...a whole new family of Boston Whaler boats".
It looks to be an bow rider style from what I make out it photos.

posted 06-15-2012 07:45 PM ET (US)            

Create a following of younger Boston Whaler aficionados who will segue into the current lineup as they mature.

posted 06-15-2012 11:39 PM ET (US)            

These things are very popular in Florida, yet Whaler chooses not to offer one.

Some folks may ask; what's a "bay boat?"

Think:

Bay Ranger
Bay Bolt
Skeeter
Blackjack
Pathfinder
Young
Action craft
Sheaffer
Yellowfin
Contender
Dorado
Privateer
Shearwater
Blazer bay
Kenner
Champion

The list goes on and on.

Basically a low profile boat with a bow mounted trolling motor and the batteries to run it, and abig live well.

posted 06-16-2012 09:41 AM ET (US)            

Boston Whaler makes fine bay boats.

posted 06-16-2012 01:29 PM ET (US)            

The biggest Montauk they make is only 21 feet, and has one baitwell, fairly large amount of freeboard, little storage space. A great multipurpose vessel, however not a "bay boat"

The bottom line is that the shallow water fishing boats have evolved into the style of craft I listed above, and Whaler doesn't really make a true "Bay Boat."

posted 06-20-2012 05:25 PM ET (US)            

I am taking the Scouts out catfishing this evening and here in Utah I know I will be seeing incoming and outgoing boats constantly with the good weather and 9 out of 10 will be wakeboard boats of some type. Its interesting to see the new Whaler Sports with the option tow tower offered now.

It a big freshwater market with high price tags

I am interested

posted 06-21-2012 12:00 AM ET (US)            

Those who comment about the the pluses of a Montauk- most would agree. But that is not the market that Whaler is making changes in, the suggestion is that they would invest in generic, Whaler branded, family/party/wake/ski boats.

posted 06-21-2012 09:12 AM ET (US)            

Recall that Brunswick dramatically shut down or sold off (at ten cents on the dollar invested) several fiberglass boat brands it acquired during the "fill in the white space" era of Brunswick market share growth through brand acquisition that was the rage about seven years ago. Brunswick no longer has a large collection of fiberglass boat brands. Brunswick may see a market for upscale fiberglass leisure boats with outboard engines. If they had retained a few of the other fiberglass boat brands, they might have built these boats under that brand name. Now they don't have as many brands, and it looks like the Boston Whaler brand will be used to cover this market segment.

posted 06-21-2012 12:01 PM ET (US)            

I also agree with JimH that Brunscwick has far less brands to introduce a new deck boat line and likely to soon announce that it is Boston Whaler. The latest line of Sport 13/15/17 points in that direction as far as marketing. The folding latter off the blunted bow is a give-away tip.

Classic Whaler did have a reputation occasionally for the unconventional. Prior examples include the Mischief, GTX, and the Temptation. The banana hull was labelled "outrageous" for a reason.

posted 06-21-2012 03:11 PM ET (US)            

quote:

---

The moment has finally arrived! The all-new 170 Dauntless is set for delivery to its new home, but before we announce the lucky winner, we'll be sending the prized vessel on a virtual cross-country tour, keeping you guessing as to its final destination the whole way. Could the winner live in sunny southern California? Or on the banks of charming Chesapeake Bay? Could the winner be...YOU?

Check out Boston Whaler's Facebook page every day starting Monday, June 25, to guess where the 170 Dauntless is heading next. We'll be giving away small prizes for those who solve our riddles along the way, and we'll reveal the ultimate winner on Friday, June 29. Don't miss your chance to be a part of the 170 Dauntless' journey home!

---

posted 06-21-2012 06:07 PM ET (US)         

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v429/lgoltz/Outrage%2021/?action=view& current=Scan_Pic0033-1.jpg

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v429/lgoltz/Outrage%2021/?action=view& current=Larrys21BW001.jpg

This may sound like a crazy idea, but if the Marketing VP spent some time with me, he would see the amazing amount of attention this boat gets (because of it's design) on the water, at marinas, at dock n' dine locations, on the trailer, at gas station and restaurant stops. People of all types love the boat, whether they are Whaler owners themselves, other boat owners, non-boat owners, or young folks who weren't even born when the boat was manufactured.

posted 06-22-2012 12:41 AM ET (US)            

quote:

---

why does WHaler insist on sticking such small motors on all their small boats?

---

posted 06-22-2012 01:23 AM ET (US)            

U-G-L-Y, it don't have no alibi, its ugly, its ugly...

Where is Brunswick going? In my opinion, in a direction that alienates its core base and attracts who?

posted 06-22-2012 07:40 AM ET (US)            

http://i676.photobucket.com/albums/vv129/bluewaterpirate/4-8. jpg?t=1339176634

http://i676.photobucket.com/albums/vv129/bluewaterpirate/3-9. jpg?t=1339176641

The 150 & 170 Sport is big down in the Wilmington area. If the new boat is a Hurricane deck boat style it will do good in this area. Currently, Grady's best selling boat is their new 25 foot DC.

http://www.gradywhite.com/js/SideSlide/imgs/invisible-button.gif

http://www.gradywhite.com/js/SideSlide/imgs/invisible-button.gif

It's all about location and the preferences folks have.

posted 06-22-2012 11:55 AM ET (US)            

Where are we going with this? Is this place a home for those who love classic Boston Whalers, or will it become another Brunswick Corp/Whaler.com puff page?

Jimh, our moderator (and continued thanks to him for this fine site) himself raises the defining issue for me: Do we really want to see a pontoon boat with a Boston Whaler logo at the next NorCal rendezvous ;-)

posted 06-22-2012 04:03 PM ET (US)            

"It will throw you for a loop"

"whole new family of Whalers"

"completely different from anything you have seen from Boston whaler"

"and their uses will be different too"

"we are pretty sure you will be blown away"

I doubt it will just be another open bow redo. Whalers already done that already with the Ventura line

Probably not a jet anything, they started that market with the Rage line and walked away from it

Probably not a bay boat or flats boat. Its Dauntless line actually fills some of that need.

I am pretty sure "the loop" we are going to experience is a water sports, wake board, tower type of boat. Perhaps even a stern/direct drive. Maybe an outboard.

If its freshwater oriented, they are going to go for the big dollar Wakeboard market, water sports market. An unsinkable wash it out, easy to take care of, big muscle tower with speakers to "blow you away"

I think the hints lean that way. All I ask is that they weld on a few pole holders on the Tower somewhere

posted 06-23-2012 03:21 PM ET (US)            

Tony

posted 06-26-2012 01:18 PM ET (US)         

Did I notice a bit of "snobery" about our pontoon hulled friends?

quote:

---

Do we really want to see a pontoon boat with a Boston Whaler logo at the next NorCal rendezvous ;-)

---

Some time back I was "prejudged" for making comments about our PWC "hooligans" and their antics. :-0

http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/017065.html

You better watchout, fishguts is going to start analyzing your mens mentis praecelsus!

I promise this is all in fun.

posted 06-26-2012 04:45 PM ET (US)            

You may be on to something. It may be something like that. Its interesting, I am getting excited to see what they really do.

Does anyone think this will be a summer offering or do you think its a boat show event?

posted 06-27-2012 02:47 PM ET (US)            

Wondering if it is a summer release or a end of year boat show release

posted 06-27-2012 03:08 PM ET (US)         

http://www.bostonwhaler.com/Page.aspx/pageId/29594/pmid/268448/ 170-Super-Sport.aspx

posted 06-28-2012 06:38 AM ET (US)         

Dom

posted 06-28-2012 12:41 PM ET (US)            

I can't say that the pilot house contributed to the turtling or not, but there was a lot of local talk at the time that it was a factor. That link to the 19 foot Defiance shows a boat, in my non-engineering assessment, that looks top heavy.

posted 06-30-2012 07:59 AM ET (US)            

I don't expect Boston Whaler to introduce a diesel inboard or diesel sterndrive boat. The expertise of Boston Whaler is in outboard-powered boats. In the past when they have designed inboard or sterndrive boats the results have not been as good as their outboard boats.

posted 06-30-2012 12:40 PM ET (US)            

The smaller defiance molds are similar (some lowers are identical) to the Tiderunner boats (now defunct). In fact Defiance bought the Tiderunner molds if my memory serves correct.

I love(d) the 19'/20' Tiderunner, that mold has a solid deep V and behaves bigger than it's length. I spent a lot of time fishing in a 19' (open bow) when I was younger. I would not hesitate to go out on a boat molded after that hull.

However I have seen the pilot house version of this boat and it is awkward looking. Not very elegant. I would suggest the "Tiderunner 195 EX".

Back to the original discussion.

posted 09-19-2012 03:25 PM ET (US)            

"There's a new Boston Whaler in town. Brand-new and unprecedented in Whaler history, this boat will change the way you spend time on the water. We can't wait to show you what it's all about! Follow along on Facebook starting Oct. 1 as we unveil details and photos of the new model. Could this be the boat that changes your on-water life?"

It better not be a jet-drive bowrider! I think it will be something along the lines of a high-end dual console/picnic boat. I see many other manufacturers are extending their dual console line to appeal to the "family and occasional fisherman" market (I just made up that segment description). Edgewater and Grady have some really nice dual consoles, as well as Pursuit. Boston Whaler has been absent from the dual console market for two years, maybe this new design was the reason. Anyway, we will soon see!

posted 09-20-2012 10:11 AM ET (US)            

No thanks....

posted 09-21-2012 09:01 AM ET (US)            

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/specifications.html#jets

You will find that in c.1992 to c.1997 Boston Whaler produced a number of new model boats which used jet drives and were targeted to a different customer base than their traditional center console outboard engine boats. I have had a conversation with a former Boston Whaler employee from that period, and I was told that the RAGE sport boats were extremely important to Boston Whaler during that time. I believe the phrase that was used was "the RAGE saved the company." The sport boat models gave Boston Whaler sales a boost at a time when the company was not doing well.

posted 09-21-2012 12:43 PM ET (US)            

I have had 3 used Whalers and the only way I have contributed is buying parts through Sue at Twin Cities. In other words I haven't helped Whaler at all.

Earlier this week I was taking out family, grand kids and as I exited the marina here on Utah Lake I counted boats leaving ahead of me and coming in. 16 boats total and 15 of them all had wakeboard towers of some sort or another. Not even a traditional family open bow with a bimini. Everything with Towers. Interesting. I was the odd duck with our bimni up and fishing poles hanging out the back

I am guessing again, its will be something like that that I was on the water last week. Whaler has to sell new boats to stay around and that seems to be a big market

We will know in a week and a half.

posted 09-24-2012 01:42 PM ET (US)            

quote:

---

There are some participants here who have bought a new Boston Whaler boats, but it was 20 to 30 years ago. Those people are not good prospects for a new boat,

---

A testament to a smart buyer who looks for the highest quality, sees it as good long term value as well, and then lives it. Sadly, a lot of the rich folks around here (southern Cal), who buy everything new, only look at the first half of the equation--they buy the best quality possible alright, and then quickly get bored when the new models come out, or lose faith when the inevitable small things start to go wrong, (alternator stops charging, brakes start sqealing, what have you), and then dump it and buy new again. It's not just cars, I see this with outboards, too (thank goodness, because it's good cheap power for me;))

quote:

---

I think we have to let Boston Whaler make boats that they can sell to buyers of new Boston Whaler boats, even if those boats do not fit into our notion of what a Boston Whaler boat ought to be.

---

Full agreement. We with our strong, versatile classics are prone to a little (appropriate?) arrogance and judgementalism of "other" boating pursuits (bass, wakeboard, etc). If you spend a day out on the lake it doesn't take long to see that we are the ones in the minority. If Boston Whaler sees the same thing, and judging from the looks and marketing of their post classic Sport 130, and Sport 150 they do, then good on them. Business is business. Workers need jobs and shareholders need profits, otherwise what's the point?

-Peter

posted 09-25-2012 01:12 AM ET (US)            

If you look at Boston Whaler advertising over the years, you will see that in the early days, when Boston Whaler made 13-foot boats, the catalogue was full of pictures of young people using the boat by themselves. I remember as a young boy the thrill and fun of being able to take a small boat out by myself and go for a spin around the lake--even if I had to stay in sight of the dock at the cottage. But there is no way a "sport boat" that costs $70,000 will ever be a boat you'd let your young son or daughter take out by themselves. Now when you see youngsters in a Boston Whaler catalogue they're just sitting in the boat, along for the ride, while Dad or Mom are at the helm. That is not as much fun as driving your own boat, by yourself.

posted 09-25-2012 04:09 PM ET (US)         

quote:

---

If you look at Boston Whaler advertising over the years, you will see that in the early days, when Boston Whaler made 13-foot boats, the catalogue was full of pictures of young people using the boat by themselves. I remember as a young boy the thrill and fun of being able to take a small boat out by myself and go for a spin around the lake--even if I had to stay in sight of the dock at the cottage. But there is no way a "sport boat" that costs $70,000 will ever be a boat you'd let your young son or daughter take out by themselves. Now when you see youngsters in a Boston Whaler catalogue they're just sitting in the boat, along for the ride, while Dad or Mom are at the helm. That is not as much fun as driving your own boat, by yourself.

---

These two statements taken from the context of time tell the story. Growing up, we were allowed to take the boat out by ourselves at the ages of 10, 12, 14... whatever! Now, there are distinct laws that in most places prevent this from being allowed by the parent. If I choose to let my very knowledgable 13 year old take out a 13 ft. Whaler by himself, I can be held accountable by the Law for letting this occur. And I'm assuming nothing happens more than him simply getting pulled over and inspected for documentation.

posted 09-25-2012 09:53 PM ET (US)            

Use to be that any age child could drive any boat as long as an adult was on board. But after a fatal accident involving a child driving, MN passed a law that limits kids with a parent on board to engines of 75 horses or less. With this law I cannot teach my 9 year old daughter to drive on my boats until she is twelve and has a permit.

posted 09-26-2012 06:08 PM ET (US)            

Great quote. I think sometimes we are so invested in our Whalers, our models from the past that we forget Whaler ceased production on them. Probably for a good reason. They may not have been great sellers.

We think they are all great, but perhaps for Whaler, sales, profit, some of our boats may not have been.

I know that may be a shock, but its possible some of us that think we have the best boat in the world was a possible loser for Boston Whaler.

Whaler has to make boats that sell to todays market to new customers or they are "sunk" despite being unsinkable and those new models may not reflect what we have.

I never thought a 36 Outrage with triple 300s would ever been a viable option, but I hear it is selling well and thats great.

I am going to try be open minded and postive towards what they offer. Maybe even trade up before I die

posted 09-26-2012 07:52 PM ET (US)            

Look at Corvette sales:
2006 = about 37,000 sold.
2011 = about 13,500 sold.

posted 10-01-2012 10:31 AM ET (US)            

quote:

---

Boston Whaler's new family of boats offers a new view on...COMFORT.

Cutting-edge design manifests in a convertible aft bench thats leading the charge for comfort. Enjoy a taller backrest, greater height off the floor and remarkably easy stowaway capabilities. Go on, take a seat!

---

posted 10-01-2012 07:55 PM ET (US)            

Cant fault them for trying it will be likely powered with the new 150HP Four Stroke (Not Verado) power.

posted 10-02-2012 11:35 PM ET (US)            

Looks like a water sports family type of boat. Interesting with twin outboards. Looks like Whaler is not going back to an I/0 inboard like they did with a few Conquests. They are staying with outboards

posted 10-03-2012 05:21 PM ET (US)            

Perhaps a "cross over" Whaler

posted 10-04-2012 11:44 AM ET (US)         

quote:

---

L H G just left voice-mail on my cellular telephone. He has traded-in WHALE LURE and is getting one of these new boats.

---

posted 10-06-2012 09:42 AM ET (US)            

My preference for utility and economy is to anchor within wading distance of the shore and take an umbrella, a cooler and a small grill ashore for cooking.

posted 10-06-2012 11:02 AM ET (US)            

All the 30 foot plus Grady and Whaler models seem to be going with these grill/refrigerator features.

posted 10-11-2012 04:50 PM ET (US)            

Classic Desert Tan hull side gelcoat accent color (red graphics)

posted 10-11-2012 08:10 PM ET (US)            

Robalo 24'

http://robalo.com/2011/robalo/Robalo-Boat.php?boat_id=13&page=home

Grady White Freedom Models .....

Freedom 225 This one with all the options comes in around $85000

http://gradywhite.com/225/

Freedom 275 This one comes in around $140000

http://gradywhite.com/275/

YouTube Video on the two new models .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zIz10RmXqA&feature=share& list=PL2C32D84E4EF24F7D

There was alot of questions asked of Ventura owners in regards to goods and others of the 210 Ventura and what they wanted to see in a new model of DC's.

posted 10-11-2012 11:45 PM ET (US)            

My point is the boat is NOT offered with twin 150-HP engines. This completely confirms my speculation: twin 150-HP engines are not going to be as prevalent as they once were because we now have 300-HP engines. Whether or not there is anything "standard" about the 300-HP engine is meaningless.

It is particularly problematic for Boston Whaler to offer twin 150-HP engines with their VERADO engines because the smaller VERADO four-cylinder engines are just not as nice as the six-cylinder engines. I have been out on several test drives and driven Boston Whaler boats with the four-cylinder VERADO engines, including a boat with twin four-cylinder VERADO engines, and my impression of them is they're not as quiet, not as smooth, and not as vibration-free as the six-cylinder VERADO. Because of this there is not likely to be much preference for twin VERADO four-cylinder engines at 150-HP in place of a single 300-HP VERADO, unless you really want twin engines for redundancy. I'd much rather have the smoother six-cylinder VERADO.

The cost of a single 300-HP engine is likely to be less than twin 150-HP engines. too. This will help to keep the cost down, although on these boats, cost seems like it was not given much consideration. They are already very expensive boats.

The larger boat is 28-feet LOA and warrants twin engines. My speculation has always been that the twin 150-HP set-up would be replaced by a single large engine in the boats in the 24-foot and under range. Again, this new 230 VANTAGE completely affirms my speculation.

posted 10-11-2012 11:54 PM ET (US)            

"If the new boat models from Boston Whaler are 23-foot and 27-foot boats, they'll be priced around $70,000 and $115,000. They will be expensive boats."

I can't find the list price data on the Boston Whaler website, but above it is mentioned that the list prices of the 230 VANTAGE is $95,233. That is about $25,000 more than I expected. The base boat must include a lot of standard equipment to push its price to this level. It is hard for me to comprehend the notion that a 23-foot outboard boat will cost over $100,000 by the time you buy it, pay the taxes, and tow it off the dealer's lot.

posted 10-12-2012 08:18 AM ET (US)            

I'm not keen on the look of the offset center windshield. I realize they have to do it that way because the pass through to the bow is offset from the centerline. I'd have to get in the boat to see more precisely but I think the windshield on the 270 Vantage might be too low. It looks like the captain is looking throught the top of the frame when seated. I think it might have looked better if they used a taller windshield with less rake, much like the Pursuit 265 DC.

I used their configurator to build the 230 Vantage with the options that you can readily see in the pictures from the model with the wake board holders that is beached. Without trailer it came to over $125,000. With trailer, over $134,000. Wow! Whaler appears to be quite proud of the trailer that almost $9,000! The street price for an aluminum trailer for a 23 foot boat is not far from $3,000.

They are also proud of their electronics work -- $5,000 for a Raymarine e97 installed? The Raymarine e97 with a transducer can be acquired for about $2,800. So one is paying approximately $2,200 to have it and the transducer installed. Wow! Even if you paid MSRP for the e97 there would be about $1800 worth of installation cost. There is almost nothing to the installation. The e97 has a built in GPS receiver so all they need to do is cut a hole in the dash, wire it to the power supply, mount the sonar transducer and run the wire and plug in the sonar transducer wire to the back of the e97, Couldn't take more than 2 hours, if that. Also, the difference in the price they charge between the c97 and e97 option is absurd. The difference in the MSRP between the two units (the e97 has the hybrid-touch interface, the c97 does not) is $1,000, not almost $1,700 dollars. The pricing absurdity grows more significant when you move up to the 12 inch e127 units. There is a $500 difference in the MSRP from Raymarine between the 9 inch e97 and the 12 inch e127, yet Whaler is charging almost $$4,600 more! Do people actually buy the electronics from Whaler? I assume they price them absurdly and then use that as some kind of negotiating give away -- if you buy now, we will throw in the electronics package for free, up to a $10,000 value, kind of thing. They must think that customers who are willing to spend over $100,000 on a 23 foot boat are fools with their money.

I wonder how long this product line will live -- 5 years?

posted 10-12-2012 11:49 AM ET (US)            

This boat appears to me to be Whaler's version of a Moomba ski boat. Refer to following link: http://www.moomba.com

posted 10-13-2012 09:09 AM ET (US)            

Second item I noticed is the optional bimini top mount to the activity arch looks like an after thought. The right way to mount a bimini top is how Everglades does it with their dual console. They use a very stoutly designed and powder coated arch as well as a similar diameter and powder coated and hinged bow to mount the top. It is one of the best I've seen and Boston Whaler should consider this installation as well. It is a full integration of similar materials and construction that looks like it belongs and is very strong.

posted 10-12-2012 11:44 PM ET (US)            

The option of the Desert Tan on the other hand is very interesting. Why would they do that? Boston Whaler has been so adamant on the bright high-gloss Florida white that I find it to be weird. They dropped the classy Desert Tan like it meant nothing to its faithful owners years ago. Grady picked it up immediately thereafter, dumped their white-look, and never looked back. Personally, I like [the Desert Tan hull color option], and I am hoping Whaler brings it back for good with their other models. It may just be a test to see how it is accepted. On the other hand, this boat is basically a copy of the Grady White Freedom model with a few Whaler ideas, and if they are just coping that vibe, as well using the color, as a method to lure clients away from the Grady, then I would find that to be lame.

Again why would they just use the Desert Tan as an option for this boat only?

Martyn

posted 10-14-2012 03:00 PM ET (US)            

It looks comfortable for long rides and it still fishes and I like the pole storage under deck. The front nose boarding ladder is a welcome change from hanging off the bow rail awkwardly at Lake Powell when getting out for a hike.

I was shocked at the price as I am at all new Boston Whaler prices, but after comparing, Grady, Prusuit, Everglades, etc, its in the general ball for high end 23s.

All those names are good boats, but remember with every one of the "other" high end brands, forgetting to put in a bilge plug in the at the ramp creates panic vs the Whaler, its a smile and telling the story about the unsinkable brand we all have.

Don't forget that meaningful difference. Thats worth alot

Consider this. I purchased a used 1985 Outrage 18 with trailer and Johnson 150 in mint shape that I sold to another CW member a few years later. Wished I hadn't done that. Of course a great little boat.

Anyway, interesting a year after I bought it I found the original bill of sale inside the center console tucked in high up behind s steering line when I replaced those lines with new steering.

The bill of sale in 1985 was over $27 thousand. That is alot of money in 1985 for an 18ft anything.

That doesn't take the sting away from the new 230, one can say, 5 more feet, a enclosed head a supercharged 300, tower, still fish and family come too, does the US dollar then vs now equal out in an appropiate value and it goes on and on.

Bottom line is the Boston Whalers have always been a premium priced boat for those that step up and buy new.

It seems like alot of us have purchased our Whalers used from somebody who stepped up and paid new. Good for them, good for us. I did and if someone else hadn't, I wouldn't have mine today.

These have a place for this and good for Whaler for risking to produce it in our economy. I hope they sell great. Its a heroic move to be in a market place where you have to offer up a 23 open bow at $100k plus to survive. That is no small feat. That takes some guts

I have always liked the new 220 Outrage and with 300hp and a factory T top and trailer , its over 100K. This new Vantage 230 vs 220 OR? Its Vantage all the way and for the very first time, through 3 previous used Whaler purchases, my wife would say yes to a Whaler purchase for the very first time.