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Author Topic:   Whaler 9-footer Value

lucky13 posted 05-06-2014 08:58 PM ET (US)
I have had my eye on a boat tucked in a back yard for a couple years, and, when I went by today, someone was outside; so I stopped to enquire. It is a 9-footer that is in what I consider fair to good condition. Rub rail needs work, at least one oar socket is messed up, and some gelcoat is gone from keel along with other nicks and scrapes. The interior looked decent with all of its original wood present but needing refinishing, of course. It comes with a trailer, and the owner says he has paperwork. I don't really need another boat, but probably won't see one of these again for a while, and it would be a great boat for my kids to "go beaching". I can have it for $400. Should I jump on it or think about it? Were these ever setup with any kind of helm from the factory?--Thanks, Randy
Dave Sutton posted 05-07-2014 09:20 AM ET (US)
The only practical use for a 9-footer (having had the misfortune of having owned one) is to have it's bottom drilled thru in multiple places with a large hole saw for drainage, and then to be buried up to the waterline in your front yard, filled with potting soil, and turned into a very nice nautical flower bed.
They are *utterly* worthless as boats.

Dave
.
george nagy posted 05-07-2014 09:20 AM ET (US)
The price seems good to me.
jcdawg83 posted 05-07-2014 09:39 AM ET (US)
Price seems fair, especially since it has a trailer, but I have to agree with Dave. A 9' boat is pretty well useless except as a tiny dinghy for a small sailboat with the further restriction that it is never used outside of the marina.
Tom W Clark posted 05-07-2014 10:00 AM ET (US)
Randy -- The price, especially given the trailer, is more than fair. The 9-foot Tender is a great boat for kids to get started in. It has put many smiles on many faces.
Whaler never offered a steering console for this little boat, but one could be made or adapted to it.
In very good condition, I have seen these go for between $1,000 and $2,000 in the PNW.
jimh posted 05-07-2014 10:22 AM ET (US)
At $400 for the boat and trailer, I think you are just about getting the boat for free, as the trailer is probably worth $400 if it is road-worthy. As for how seaworthy a 9-foot Boston Whaler might be, I can't offer any real extended first-hand experience, but I can't imagine it could be so bad that you'd prefer to make a planter out of it than use it as a little boat. If it does turn out to be awful, you'd have a little trailer and a unique planter, and that's worth at least $400.
Dave Sutton posted 05-07-2014 05:13 PM ET (US)
^^
They *are* awful. Far too heavy for their size, and with such low freeboard that they are essentially worthless. This is one case where even the cheapest Dyer Dhow does a better job in that length class. They might not last as long, but they are better as a boat. Suitable for two kids with oars in a duck pond and that's about it.
I was excited to find the one I bought, and envisioned using it as a tender for my Trawler: It was unusable. It was too heavy, too tender, and WAY too easy to put a gunwale under when stepping aboard. They float *perfectly contentedly* when flooded, like all other Whalers they are uinsinkable. It's just that they happen to want to float that way upside down....
I hated my 9 and couldn't wait to get rid of it. It would make a really nice lawn planter though and in retrospect I should have kept it and done that to it.
An 11 or a 13 is a fine kids boat. A 9 is not.

Dave
.
lucky13 posted 05-07-2014 05:51 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the reply everyone. Even though it needs work I think I'm going to get it. I can see myself somewhere down the road regretting it if I don't. It's about a mile or 2 from my house.

Dave, I think you may be referring to the 9' squall??
I was considering getting one of those until I read that although they are decent for their intended purpose they are not good for an all around boat.
Thanks again for all of your input, Randy
Dave Sutton posted 05-07-2014 07:08 PM ET (US)
^^
No, the 9' Tender. The cute as a button scale-model Montauk.
Petunias, I say... get planting.! .. ;-)
Dave
.
Tom W Clark posted 05-07-2014 07:25 PM ET (US)
Randy -- Have fun with it. Your kids will love it.
I just emailed you some photos of the 9' Tender I sold to (former CW participant) John Anderson about eight years ago. As you will see, John did a great job fixing it up and his young son was VERY happy.
lucky13 posted 05-07-2014 08:01 PM ET (US)
Tom, Just got your email and pictures, thanks!
Randy
contender posted 05-08-2014 10:21 PM ET (US)
Dave is 100% correct they are worthless whalers, other than a potted plant holder, you could use it in a large swimming pool and thats it. As Dave has stated I was happy to get rid of it, I traded up to an 11, which I consider borderline, I would not purchase a whaler smaller than a 13 ever again...
whaler131 posted 05-09-2014 09:39 AM ET (US)
Had a 11 that I made into a sport. worked great for me but not for kids. and wife hated it. 9 way to small. 13 best for kids I think. Have yet owned a 15 so that is my next small boat to re work. My 17 was a great also. to swim and ski back of.
jimh posted 05-11-2014 06:36 PM ET (US)
To summarize the advice provided, I think one could say:
--if you are offered a choice of a 9-foot, 11-foot, 13-foot, or 15-foot Boston Whaler boat for a price of $400, including a trailer, prefer the larger boats over any of the smaller ones.
Jamesgt727 posted 05-12-2014 09:27 AM ET (US)
The 9 is the perfect boat for an idle river, we use one as a river taxi and a trainer for my 8 and 10 year old kids. I am 175 lbs, the wife is 115, and both boys are under 75, we go upriver for hours. I wouldn't recommend this boat if you are gravita-tionally challenged or if your high school nickname was "grace". I need another one, I have two boys. If you need any info hit me up, I have some video links and photos of the boys 9 footer here:
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusions/personal_page/view_personal_page. php?user_id=20365

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Author	Topic: Whaler 9-footer Value
lucky13	posted 05-06-2014 08:58 PM ET (US) I have had my eye on a boat tucked in a back yard for a couple years, and, when I went by today, someone was outside; so I stopped to enquire. It is a 9-footer that is in what I consider fair to good condition. Rub rail needs work, at least one oar socket is messed up, and some gelcoat is gone from keel along with other nicks and scrapes. The interior looked decent with all of its original wood present but needing refinishing, of course. It comes with a trailer, and the owner says he has paperwork. I don't really need another boat, but probably won't see one of these again for a while, and it would be a great boat for my kids to "go beaching". I can have it for $400. Should I jump on it or think about it? Were these ever setup with any kind of helm from the factory?--Thanks, Randy
Dave Sutton	posted 05-07-2014 09:20 AM ET (US) The only practical use for a 9-footer (having had the misfortune of having owned one) is to have it's bottom drilled thru in multiple places with a large hole saw for drainage, and then to be buried up to the waterline in your front yard, filled with potting soil, and turned into a very nice nautical flower bed. They are utterly worthless as boats. Dave .
george nagy	posted 05-07-2014 09:20 AM ET (US) The price seems good to me.
jcdawg83	posted 05-07-2014 09:39 AM ET (US) Price seems fair, especially since it has a trailer, but I have to agree with Dave. A 9' boat is pretty well useless except as a tiny dinghy for a small sailboat with the further restriction that it is never used outside of the marina.
Tom W Clark	posted 05-07-2014 10:00 AM ET (US) Randy -- The price, especially given the trailer, is more than fair. The 9-foot Tender is a great boat for kids to get started in. It has put many smiles on many faces. Whaler never offered a steering console for this little boat, but one could be made or adapted to it. In very good condition, I have seen these go for between $1,000 and $2,000 in the PNW.
jimh	posted 05-07-2014 10:22 AM ET (US) At $400 for the boat and trailer, I think you are just about getting the boat for free, as the trailer is probably worth $400 if it is road-worthy. As for how seaworthy a 9-foot Boston Whaler might be, I can't offer any real extended first-hand experience, but I can't imagine it could be so bad that you'd prefer to make a planter out of it than use it as a little boat. If it does turn out to be awful, you'd have a little trailer and a unique planter, and that's worth at least $400.
Dave Sutton	posted 05-07-2014 05:13 PM ET (US) ^^ They are awful. Far too heavy for their size, and with such low freeboard that they are essentially worthless. This is one case where even the cheapest Dyer Dhow does a better job in that length class. They might not last as long, but they are better as a boat. Suitable for two kids with oars in a duck pond and that's about it. I was excited to find the one I bought, and envisioned using it as a tender for my Trawler: It was unusable. It was too heavy, too tender, and WAY too easy to put a gunwale under when stepping aboard. They float perfectly contentedly when flooded, like all other Whalers they are uinsinkable. It's just that they happen to want to float that way upside down.... I hated my 9 and couldn't wait to get rid of it. It would make a really nice lawn planter though and in retrospect I should have kept it and done that to it. An 11 or a 13 is a fine kids boat. A 9 is not. Dave .
lucky13	posted 05-07-2014 05:51 PM ET (US) Thanks for the reply everyone. Even though it needs work I think I'm going to get it. I can see myself somewhere down the road regretting it if I don't. It's about a mile or 2 from my house. Dave, I think you may be referring to the 9' squall?? I was considering getting one of those until I read that although they are decent for their intended purpose they are not good for an all around boat. Thanks again for all of your input, Randy
Dave Sutton	posted 05-07-2014 07:08 PM ET (US) ^^ No, the 9' Tender. The cute as a button scale-model Montauk. Petunias, I say... get planting.! .. ;-) Dave .
Tom W Clark	posted 05-07-2014 07:25 PM ET (US) Randy -- Have fun with it. Your kids will love it. I just emailed you some photos of the 9' Tender I sold to (former CW participant) John Anderson about eight years ago. As you will see, John did a great job fixing it up and his young son was VERY happy.
lucky13	posted 05-07-2014 08:01 PM ET (US) Tom, Just got your email and pictures, thanks! Randy
contender	posted 05-08-2014 10:21 PM ET (US) Dave is 100% correct they are worthless whalers, other than a potted plant holder, you could use it in a large swimming pool and thats it. As Dave has stated I was happy to get rid of it, I traded up to an 11, which I consider borderline, I would not purchase a whaler smaller than a 13 ever again...
whaler131	posted 05-09-2014 09:39 AM ET (US) Had a 11 that I made into a sport. worked great for me but not for kids. and wife hated it. 9 way to small. 13 best for kids I think. Have yet owned a 15 so that is my next small boat to re work. My 17 was a great also. to swim and ski back of.
jimh	posted 05-11-2014 06:36 PM ET (US) To summarize the advice provided, I think one could say: --if you are offered a choice of a 9-foot, 11-foot, 13-foot, or 15-foot Boston Whaler boat for a price of $400, including a trailer, prefer the larger boats over any of the smaller ones.
Jamesgt727	posted 05-12-2014 09:27 AM ET (US) The 9 is the perfect boat for an idle river, we use one as a river taxi and a trainer for my 8 and 10 year old kids. I am 175 lbs, the wife is 115, and both boys are under 75, we go upriver for hours. I wouldn't recommend this boat if you are gravita-tionally challenged or if your high school nickname was "grace". I need another one, I have two boys. If you need any info hit me up, I have some video links and photos of the boys 9 footer here: http://www.whalercentral.com/infusions/personal_page/view_personal_page. php?user_id=20365