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Author Topic:   Gunwale Height on 13-footer and 15-footer

diad posted 09-05-2012 06:31 AM ET (US)
I am trying to find out the gunwale height on a 13’ and 15’ Sport. I searched the reference section and could not find this number. Does anyone know? The reason is I am looking for a crabbing boat (Maryland) to take my daughter out. I’m a little nervous of her going overboard. Obviously, she will be wearing a life jacket, but I don’t want to scare the water out of her.
Thanks!!!

blacksmithdog posted 09-05-2012 07:29 AM ET (US)
Measured where? I have both a 13 and a 15, I can measure when I get home this evening.
Lil Whaler Lover posted 09-05-2012 08:08 AM ET (US)
There is more to your decision than gunwale height. The height will be essentially the same. Another decision point to consider is side-to-side stability. Due to the difference in hull design, the 13 is far more stable in the water, therefore much less likely to assist your daughter in falling overboard.
Side rails would help, but they would make it more difficult to reach the water.
diad posted 09-05-2012 09:28 AM ET (US)
Blacksmithdog--I am thinking that I will be behind the wheel with her in front of the side console. I guess if you don’t mind measuring behind the helm and in front of.
Lil Whaler Lover,
I was assuming that the hulls were basically the same. So what you are saying is the 13 is more stable than the 15? It sounds like a 13-footer with side rails is my best bet for the near term. I suppose that I could remove the side rails in the future when she is old enough to understand. By the way she is only two, but I’m thinking of getting something this year (fall/winter deals) for next summer.
Thanks for the thoughts guys!
blacksmithdog posted 09-05-2012 12:09 PM ET (US)
No, the hulls are quite different. The 13' has less of a pronounced center hull section, and is indeed more stable. The 15' is like a 17' Montauk hull that was shrunk.
brisboats posted 09-05-2012 01:29 PM ET (US)
Actually hull wise the 13' is more like a montauk that has been shrunk. The 15' is indeed more tender than the 13' with a more pronounced "V" hull. Every hull design is a compromise and while the 15' does lack the stability at rest of the 13' it has a much much better ride. The 13' with a tiller makes a heck of a crabbing boat and I used one for years. Great fun to go out and throw 20-30 pots and have gather dinner while having a blast manuevering the 13' through the slalom course of flots.
For crabbing in Maryland waters I would suggest looking for a 16'7 hull and gut it your daughter can move about in the boat and your day on the water will be extended. The 13' and 15' will work as well but given a choice between those two with an unpredictable passenger aboard such as a child or dog I would prefer the 13'. I have pictures of us trotlining from a 13' several folks looking up the line and the boat is flat you just cannot do that with a 15' and yes I have tried. Previously owned a 91 supersport 15 and a 87 15' sport. Crabbing now in a 16'7 hull with a tiller motor and from a seaway 17 skiff.
Brian
dgoodhue posted 09-05-2012 02:02 PM ET (US)
I think the 15' has slightly higher gunnels but neither of them have high gunnels, railings would help a little depend on your daughter height.I would agree but the 13' is more stable than the 15' but I wouldn't go on to say far more stable than 13' or say the 15' is unstable. I think the 15' hull looks like classic 18 with shorter gunnels.
diad posted 09-05-2012 03:03 PM ET (US)
Thank you all for the replies and for putting some thought into this. It seems like the 13' with rails would be the best target. I don't want to go up to a 17' because we already have a 24' boat to go on. Now, for the power. In looking at my local Craigslist I see 1 with a 20hp Yamaha 4 stroke, 1 with a 35HP Mercury, 1 GLS with a 30HP Merc 4 stroke, another one that is beautiful but no motor or controls and another one with a 40HP Yamaha 2 stroke.
Any opinions on the power?
thanks,
brisboats posted 09-05-2012 04:06 PM ET (US)
I suggest you use the search function on this site, a 9.9hp will plane a 13' with a light load. For crabbing anything from there to 25hp is fine. I don't like rails on a crabbing boat, so you may want to rethink them. The rails always seem to get in the way. Are you planning on trotlining? If so forget about the rails you will regret em the first trip. A 16'7 isn't much bigger than the 13' don't rule it out just cause you have a 20' something. Simply more versatile of a boat and it is very similar to the 13' hull stretched a bit. I have had a string of 13'ers over the years and my back was always sore at the end of the day. Crabs are hit or miss on the Chesapeake, the beauty of the 16'7 is you can stand up up stretch , take a stroll around the boat and resume crabbing. On a 13' with a passenger and some gear forgetaboutit your stuck in your seat crouched over, sore back and thinking about that hammock by the pool. With the bigger hull you will more likely go home with more crabs in the basket cause you will stay out longer and be more attentive. A 30hp will plane a 16'7 and push it to over 20-mph with 2 aboard. Still want a 13'?
B
AK153 posted 09-05-2012 04:26 PM ET (US)
I think Brian gave you some good advice. Where are you crabbing? In the bay or in it's tributaries? What type of crabbing? Pots, trotlines or bank traps? If a Montauk is something you positively don't want to consider and your interests may be more "Bay" oriented, I'd go with the 15' with atleast a 60hp motor. If your stuck on a 13' go with nothing less than a 25hp. I'd prefer a 30hp but one can effectively make due with a 25. There seems to be a few relative Whalers for sale on Craigslist in your area. I hope this helps.
diad posted 09-06-2012 06:07 AM ET (US)
Thanks for the replies! Brian does bring up some very good points about the length. I’m sure that “Pop Pop” would appreciate a larger boat and no back pain. It appears that the ~17ers are significantly more money (rightfully so) and more rare than the 13’s (more plentiful in my area). My plan for crabbing is Cox Creek if anyone knows where that is. We live on it so we likely would crab just outside of my dock. I grew up running traps in a rented boat with a 9.9HP that my Dad stored in the shed. I would like to also try trotlining too. I’m still thinking that a side console would be preferred in which ever vessel I choose.
I will continue to search and ask questions as they arise.
Thanks,
Brian
brisboats posted 09-06-2012 09:15 AM ET (US)
Your welcome, I know Cox creek and have met Eric from cox creek services. I have found lots of pre smirk 17 hulls priced compareably to a 13'. If used for crabbing the boat will take a beating so you aren't looking for a musuem piece just a dry solid hull. Side console is good but I prefer a tiller motor with an extension as it opens up the entire side of the boat to work a trotline. Commercial guys over here use stick steering on their skiffs for the same reason. Our seaway is a side console and we switch back and forth depending on what we are doing traps or trotlining. The 13' is fine just with people and gear the 16'7 hull is that much better. Put a bushel basket, cooler, passenger, 30 traps and/or trot line gear and other miscellaneous on a 13' and you quickly run out of room. Been crabbing the Rhode and the West rivers opposite shore from you for almost 20 years.
Brian
blacksmithdog posted 09-06-2012 06:05 PM ET (US)
The gunwales on the 13 right about the console are 14". The gunwales on the 15 are only 1/2" taller, 14-1/2".
diad posted 09-07-2012 06:57 AM ET (US)
Thanks for measuring Blacksmithdog!

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Author	Topic: Gunwale Height on 13-footer and 15-footer
diad	posted 09-05-2012 06:31 AM ET (US) I am trying to find out the gunwale height on a 13’ and 15’ Sport. I searched the reference section and could not find this number. Does anyone know? The reason is I am looking for a crabbing boat (Maryland) to take my daughter out. I’m a little nervous of her going overboard. Obviously, she will be wearing a life jacket, but I don’t want to scare the water out of her. Thanks!!!
blacksmithdog	posted 09-05-2012 07:29 AM ET (US) Measured where? I have both a 13 and a 15, I can measure when I get home this evening.
Lil Whaler Lover	posted 09-05-2012 08:08 AM ET (US) There is more to your decision than gunwale height. The height will be essentially the same. Another decision point to consider is side-to-side stability. Due to the difference in hull design, the 13 is far more stable in the water, therefore much less likely to assist your daughter in falling overboard. Side rails would help, but they would make it more difficult to reach the water.
diad	posted 09-05-2012 09:28 AM ET (US) Blacksmithdog--I am thinking that I will be behind the wheel with her in front of the side console. I guess if you don’t mind measuring behind the helm and in front of. Lil Whaler Lover, I was assuming that the hulls were basically the same. So what you are saying is the 13 is more stable than the 15? It sounds like a 13-footer with side rails is my best bet for the near term. I suppose that I could remove the side rails in the future when she is old enough to understand. By the way she is only two, but I’m thinking of getting something this year (fall/winter deals) for next summer. Thanks for the thoughts guys!
blacksmithdog	posted 09-05-2012 12:09 PM ET (US) No, the hulls are quite different. The 13' has less of a pronounced center hull section, and is indeed more stable. The 15' is like a 17' Montauk hull that was shrunk.
brisboats	posted 09-05-2012 01:29 PM ET (US) Actually hull wise the 13' is more like a montauk that has been shrunk. The 15' is indeed more tender than the 13' with a more pronounced "V" hull. Every hull design is a compromise and while the 15' does lack the stability at rest of the 13' it has a much much better ride. The 13' with a tiller makes a heck of a crabbing boat and I used one for years. Great fun to go out and throw 20-30 pots and have gather dinner while having a blast manuevering the 13' through the slalom course of flots. For crabbing in Maryland waters I would suggest looking for a 16'7 hull and gut it your daughter can move about in the boat and your day on the water will be extended. The 13' and 15' will work as well but given a choice between those two with an unpredictable passenger aboard such as a child or dog I would prefer the 13'. I have pictures of us trotlining from a 13' several folks looking up the line and the boat is flat you just cannot do that with a 15' and yes I have tried. Previously owned a 91 supersport 15 and a 87 15' sport. Crabbing now in a 16'7 hull with a tiller motor and from a seaway 17 skiff. Brian
dgoodhue	posted 09-05-2012 02:02 PM ET (US) I think the 15' has slightly higher gunnels but neither of them have high gunnels, railings would help a little depend on your daughter height.I would agree but the 13' is more stable than the 15' but I wouldn't go on to say far more stable than 13' or say the 15' is unstable. I think the 15' hull looks like classic 18 with shorter gunnels.
diad	posted 09-05-2012 03:03 PM ET (US) Thank you all for the replies and for putting some thought into this. It seems like the 13' with rails would be the best target. I don't want to go up to a 17' because we already have a 24' boat to go on. Now, for the power. In looking at my local Craigslist I see 1 with a 20hp Yamaha 4 stroke, 1 with a 35HP Mercury, 1 GLS with a 30HP Merc 4 stroke, another one that is beautiful but no motor or controls and another one with a 40HP Yamaha 2 stroke. Any opinions on the power? thanks,
brisboats	posted 09-05-2012 04:06 PM ET (US) I suggest you use the search function on this site, a 9.9hp will plane a 13' with a light load. For crabbing anything from there to 25hp is fine. I don't like rails on a crabbing boat, so you may want to rethink them. The rails always seem to get in the way. Are you planning on trotlining? If so forget about the rails you will regret em the first trip. A 16'7 isn't much bigger than the 13' don't rule it out just cause you have a 20' something. Simply more versatile of a boat and it is very similar to the 13' hull stretched a bit. I have had a string of 13'ers over the years and my back was always sore at the end of the day. Crabs are hit or miss on the Chesapeake, the beauty of the 16'7 is you can stand up up stretch , take a stroll around the boat and resume crabbing. On a 13' with a passenger and some gear forgetaboutit your stuck in your seat crouched over, sore back and thinking about that hammock by the pool. With the bigger hull you will more likely go home with more crabs in the basket cause you will stay out longer and be more attentive. A 30hp will plane a 16'7 and push it to over 20-mph with 2 aboard. Still want a 13'? B
AK153	posted 09-05-2012 04:26 PM ET (US) I think Brian gave you some good advice. Where are you crabbing? In the bay or in it's tributaries? What type of crabbing? Pots, trotlines or bank traps? If a Montauk is something you positively don't want to consider and your interests may be more "Bay" oriented, I'd go with the 15' with atleast a 60hp motor. If your stuck on a 13' go with nothing less than a 25hp. I'd prefer a 30hp but one can effectively make due with a 25. There seems to be a few relative Whalers for sale on Craigslist in your area. I hope this helps.
diad	posted 09-06-2012 06:07 AM ET (US) Thanks for the replies! Brian does bring up some very good points about the length. I’m sure that “Pop Pop” would appreciate a larger boat and no back pain. It appears that the ~17ers are significantly more money (rightfully so) and more rare than the 13’s (more plentiful in my area). My plan for crabbing is Cox Creek if anyone knows where that is. We live on it so we likely would crab just outside of my dock. I grew up running traps in a rented boat with a 9.9HP that my Dad stored in the shed. I would like to also try trotlining too. I’m still thinking that a side console would be preferred in which ever vessel I choose. I will continue to search and ask questions as they arise. Thanks, Brian
brisboats	posted 09-06-2012 09:15 AM ET (US) Your welcome, I know Cox creek and have met Eric from cox creek services. I have found lots of pre smirk 17 hulls priced compareably to a 13'. If used for crabbing the boat will take a beating so you aren't looking for a musuem piece just a dry solid hull. Side console is good but I prefer a tiller motor with an extension as it opens up the entire side of the boat to work a trotline. Commercial guys over here use stick steering on their skiffs for the same reason. Our seaway is a side console and we switch back and forth depending on what we are doing traps or trotlining. The 13' is fine just with people and gear the 16'7 hull is that much better. Put a bushel basket, cooler, passenger, 30 traps and/or trot line gear and other miscellaneous on a 13' and you quickly run out of room. Been crabbing the Rhode and the West rivers opposite shore from you for almost 20 years. Brian
blacksmithdog	posted 09-06-2012 06:05 PM ET (US) The gunwales on the 13 right about the console are 14". The gunwales on the 15 are only 1/2" taller, 14-1/2".
diad	posted 09-07-2012 06:57 AM ET (US) Thanks for measuring Blacksmithdog!