Help finding Grandfather's old Whaler! Purchased in SC

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Author Topic:   Help finding Grandfather's old Whaler! Purchased in SC

capnjustin posted 03-18-2014 04:38 PM ET (US)
Hello All,
I've been a huge Whaler fan my whole life, and have owned several. I recently found out my grandfather was a Whaler fan too, when a family member came across a picture of him sitting on what looks like a 17 Montauk. I guess that's where I get the love of Whaler's from!
I don't have any records from the boat, other than the one picture. No bill of sale, HIN # or anything of the sort sadly. You can't see the registration numbers in the picture either. :(
Here's what I do know: He purchased the boat around 1980 and my grandmother sold it when he passed around 1985. They lived near Columbia, South Carolina. I don't know from which dealer it was purchased.
I know it's probably a needle in a haystack search, but I would love any and all suggestions in helping track down this boat. I would love to have it back in the family!!! Would be happy to send the picture to anyone that might be able to help.
Thanks!
Justin
678-316-0447
capnjustin@charter.net

capnjustin posted 03-18-2014 04:40 PM ET (US)
Oh, at the time the boat had a 115 Evinrude on the back. I think that's the only other detail I left out.
capnjustin posted 03-18-2014 04:47 PM ET (US)
And a link to the picture:
http://postimg.org/image/lqrjivl17/
elvis posted 03-18-2014 05:36 PM ET (US)
I wonder if the SC DNR folks in Columbia could help you? Good folks to deal with.
Binkster posted 03-18-2014 05:57 PM ET (US)
http://postimg.org/image/lqrjivl17/
rich
jimh posted 03-18-2014 06:13 PM ET (US)
The durability and longevity of Boston Whaler boats is working in your favor. A nice MONTAUK sold in c.1980 is very likely to still be in good condition and in use today, 34-years later.
Not working in your favor is a trend for dealers of Boston Whaler to have changed. The dealer that sold a Boston Whaler in c.1980 may not be a present-day dealer, unless he also happens to sell Sea Ray and Mercury.
A good starting point to look for the boat is to find the dealer most likely to have sold it, based on geography, and see if there is anyone there from 34-years ago.
If you could find a likely selling dealer, you might be able to get some help from Boston Whaler. They have records of the dealer to whom every hull was delivered.
If you could narrow the time frame and find one dealer that was most probable, you could likely get from Boston Whaler a short list of 17-foot hulls sold to that dealer in a reasonable time frame. That would at least narrow the scope of your search.
Of course, a registration number would be wonderful--if the state had old records. I bet they do not.
Most Boston Whaler owners can tell you who they bought their boat from or who they sold their boat to. You just need to find one owner in the chain.
sraab928 posted 03-18-2014 06:21 PM ET (US)
That is a fantastic old picture - love it. Good luck in your search.
capnjustin posted 03-19-2014 07:21 AM ET (US)
Thanks for the replies, will check with the SC DNR today.
jcdawg83 posted 03-19-2014 08:03 AM ET (US)
Mid Carolina Marine in Columbia was the biggest Whaler dealer in the Columbia area back in the 80s. If your grandfather bought a Whaler in the Columbia area in 1980, it probably came from Mid Carolina Marine.
Give them a call and they might have some old records that would help. Their number is 803-791-1770.
capnjustin posted 03-19-2014 08:33 AM ET (US)
Thanks JCDawg, called the owner of Mid Carolina this morning and he's going to do a little research for me!

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Author	Topic: Help finding Grandfather's old Whaler! Purchased in SC
capnjustin	posted 03-18-2014 04:38 PM ET (US) Hello All, I've been a huge Whaler fan my whole life, and have owned several. I recently found out my grandfather was a Whaler fan too, when a family member came across a picture of him sitting on what looks like a 17 Montauk. I guess that's where I get the love of Whaler's from! I don't have any records from the boat, other than the one picture. No bill of sale, HIN # or anything of the sort sadly. You can't see the registration numbers in the picture either. :( Here's what I do know: He purchased the boat around 1980 and my grandmother sold it when he passed around 1985. They lived near Columbia, South Carolina. I don't know from which dealer it was purchased. I know it's probably a needle in a haystack search, but I would love any and all suggestions in helping track down this boat. I would love to have it back in the family!!! Would be happy to send the picture to anyone that might be able to help. Thanks! Justin 678-316-0447 capnjustin@charter.net
capnjustin	posted 03-18-2014 04:40 PM ET (US) Oh, at the time the boat had a 115 Evinrude on the back. I think that's the only other detail I left out.
capnjustin	posted 03-18-2014 04:47 PM ET (US) And a link to the picture: http://postimg.org/image/lqrjivl17/
elvis	posted 03-18-2014 05:36 PM ET (US) I wonder if the SC DNR folks in Columbia could help you? Good folks to deal with.
Binkster	posted 03-18-2014 05:57 PM ET (US) http://postimg.org/image/lqrjivl17/ rich
jimh	posted 03-18-2014 06:13 PM ET (US) The durability and longevity of Boston Whaler boats is working in your favor. A nice MONTAUK sold in c.1980 is very likely to still be in good condition and in use today, 34-years later. Not working in your favor is a trend for dealers of Boston Whaler to have changed. The dealer that sold a Boston Whaler in c.1980 may not be a present-day dealer, unless he also happens to sell Sea Ray and Mercury. A good starting point to look for the boat is to find the dealer most likely to have sold it, based on geography, and see if there is anyone there from 34-years ago. If you could find a likely selling dealer, you might be able to get some help from Boston Whaler. They have records of the dealer to whom every hull was delivered. If you could narrow the time frame and find one dealer that was most probable, you could likely get from Boston Whaler a short list of 17-foot hulls sold to that dealer in a reasonable time frame. That would at least narrow the scope of your search. Of course, a registration number would be wonderful--if the state had old records. I bet they do not. Most Boston Whaler owners can tell you who they bought their boat from or who they sold their boat to. You just need to find one owner in the chain.
sraab928	posted 03-18-2014 06:21 PM ET (US) That is a fantastic old picture - love it. Good luck in your search.
capnjustin	posted 03-19-2014 07:21 AM ET (US) Thanks for the replies, will check with the SC DNR today.
jcdawg83	posted 03-19-2014 08:03 AM ET (US) Mid Carolina Marine in Columbia was the biggest Whaler dealer in the Columbia area back in the 80s. If your grandfather bought a Whaler in the Columbia area in 1980, it probably came from Mid Carolina Marine. Give them a call and they might have some old records that would help. Their number is 803-791-1770.
capnjustin	posted 03-19-2014 08:33 AM ET (US) Thanks JCDawg, called the owner of Mid Carolina this morning and he's going to do a little research for me!