Whaler: Fact or Fiction - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: The Whaler GAM or General Area
  Whaler: Fact or Fiction

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Whaler: Fact or Fiction

masbama posted 05-13-2014 09:52 AM ET (US)
I like to search the innerwebs [internet] for good Whaler info but from reading all that is out there I get the feeling that Whaler owners have numerous problems with: water intrusion, bad gas tanks, stern heavy hulls and fuel filling. I am on my second Whaler and the only problem I have had is fuel filling. A case can be made for the heavy stern as trim tabs are listed as an option for my 18' Dauntless. Reading all this stuff makes one a bit paranoid, but it is good to know what other owners are going through.
kmev posted 05-13-2014 10:45 AM ET (US)
Are there any 30-40 year-old boats, still being used every day, that have fewer problems? If you're going to run an old boat, car, motorcycle, or whatever, you have to accept that you're going to have ongoing maintenance and repair issues. I think it's a worthy trade-off for what I think is a great hull design.
Jefecinco posted 05-13-2014 10:46 AM ET (US)
I had the fuel filling issue with my 1999 Dauntless 16. It was corrected in 1999 by my dealer with a kit from Boston Whaler. The kit included a fill hose and fitting and a vent hose and fitting. The result was a separate fill and vent with the vent on the side of the hull. Just like in the old days. The dealer was Killinger Marine now MarineMax in Pensacola.
Butch
masbama posted 05-13-2014 11:02 AM ET (US)
I spoke with the Whaler folks at the Mobile boat show and they were aware of the fuel filling issue but they did not suggest what you had done instead they suggested a new fuel filler cap/unit. I may try that.
Jeff posted 05-13-2014 11:16 AM ET (US)
So much of what you read on the "innerwebs" is unfounded wild speculation and over-hyped, over-dramatized fear, opinions and rumors of impending doom and possible minor problems becoming overly expensive game ending problems. It does not matter the brand of boat, car, truck, computer, shoe, tool, vacuum, phone, tablet, or frisbee....They are all junk and will die on you according to opinions of the interweb posting community.
saumon posted 05-13-2014 11:47 AM ET (US)
There's an old French saying "Les gens heureux n'ont pas d'histoires", meaning that happy people rarely if ever tell their stories and it's kind of a cliché to say that on the "World Wide Web" you'll see mostly problems-related questions/posts...
george nagy posted 05-13-2014 11:47 AM ET (US)
What JimH said above with the exception of MERCURY of course:} where has that guy been?
george nagy posted 05-13-2014 11:49 AM ET (US)
Sorry what Jeff said NOT JimH!
Jefecinco posted 05-13-2014 03:16 PM ET (US)
I should have included the information that the modification solved the fueling problems. I recommend it for those Dauntless owners suffering with the problem.
Butch
skred posted 05-20-2014 02:53 PM ET (US)
My former 2001 16 Dauntless had the filling problem, and it had the side vent from the factory. The problem was that when filling the tank, the low stern angle kept fuel covering the vent hole in the tank, and it ended up blocking the vent sufficiently enough to cause the fuel to back-pump out the filler access and the side vent. I had to have 2 people sit on the bow to clear the vent enough to fuel completely. Never did solve the problem - except to fuel the boat while it was on the trailer...
Jefecinco posted 05-21-2014 08:09 AM ET (US)
Skred,
I don't believe I ever filled my Dauntless while afloat. I found that the 45 gallon tank made it capable of such long range operation that it was always easy to refuel on the way to or from the ramp. It is particularly nice that non-ethanol fuel is available within four blocks of our home. For those who keep their Dauntless on a mooring or lift I guess moving crew forward is the simple solution.
Butch
Binkster posted 05-21-2014 12:44 PM ET (US)
The brand of boats that come to mind that are worth restoring are;
Bertram
Boston Whaler
Cigarette
Donzi
Sea Craft
All of the above mentioned boat companies started life from the late 50's thru the mid sixties and are still in business today, they were top of the line back then and were the boat to have when they were new, and were designed by well known boat designers. Sure, they all have a few design flaws by modern standards, and materials and building methods have improved, but modern top of the line boat builders still use those boats as benchmarks.
So why bother getting involved with the many other brands if you want to restore a boat or buy one already restored.
rich
contender posted 05-21-2014 06:55 PM ET (US)
Its all about how and where you keep your boat, Water in the hull usually comes from two things: Boat being keep in the water, holes below the water line, and maybe one more carelessness (damage to the hull),I kept my boats on trailers, and they are as dry as the day they came out of the factory. Fuel tanks that are under deck sooner or later will need to be replaced, a lot of this depends again if the boat is kept in the water and if the water can dry up around the fuel tank. Above deck fuel tanks should be alum. made out of at least .125 (I have a fuel tank that I built in 1975 and my brother is still using it today) the plastic and fiberglass ones are crap and the steel ones rust. Alot of the fuel filling comes from a bad install, or the hose has a kink in it. Even the vent can be clogged or kink thus causing the hard to fill...
deepwater posted 05-23-2014 07:34 PM ET (US)
Masbama,,Out of all the things Boston Whalers are,what prompted me to by my Montauk was I got more boat for my money that would fit behind my small 4 banger truck,,Boat motor and trailer with full gas and all gear was still way below the max towing for my 1986 mazda,,I think foot for foot its still lighter than almost every other boat of the same design,,I guesss if I pull some water im still lighter
masbama posted 05-23-2014 10:52 PM ET (US)
My first Whaler was a 1977 Montauk that almost floated above the waterline. No water intrusion of any kind. My newer 1999 Dauntless 18 is a different animal; a big, husky boat that sits low in the stern and needs all the hp you can give it. Took me a long time to get used to it but I pretty much have it dialed in. I never really know how much fuel I have because I can never put in more than 16 gallons.
deepwater posted 05-23-2014 11:45 PM ET (US)
I know nothing of the whalers past 1990,,I never needed to,,I guess its "to each his own ",,I have but one whaler and soon it will be anothers,,To be alive and wet again is all I ever wanted of her
raydent99 posted 06-02-2014 04:07 PM ET (US)
Test
EJO posted 06-03-2014 01:00 PM ET (US)
Binkster You forgot Chris-Craft although they started more than 100 years ago instead of the 1950's. They made and again do make (new) great boats that are being restored and sold well over their original sale price using the same materials and power options that were used in the factory(ies)
Older things require maintenance and good/quality older things last forever.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Whaler: Fact or Fiction
masbama	posted 05-13-2014 09:52 AM ET (US) I like to search the innerwebs [internet] for good Whaler info but from reading all that is out there I get the feeling that Whaler owners have numerous problems with: water intrusion, bad gas tanks, stern heavy hulls and fuel filling. I am on my second Whaler and the only problem I have had is fuel filling. A case can be made for the heavy stern as trim tabs are listed as an option for my 18' Dauntless. Reading all this stuff makes one a bit paranoid, but it is good to know what other owners are going through.
kmev	posted 05-13-2014 10:45 AM ET (US) Are there any 30-40 year-old boats, still being used every day, that have fewer problems? If you're going to run an old boat, car, motorcycle, or whatever, you have to accept that you're going to have ongoing maintenance and repair issues. I think it's a worthy trade-off for what I think is a great hull design.
Jefecinco	posted 05-13-2014 10:46 AM ET (US) I had the fuel filling issue with my 1999 Dauntless 16. It was corrected in 1999 by my dealer with a kit from Boston Whaler. The kit included a fill hose and fitting and a vent hose and fitting. The result was a separate fill and vent with the vent on the side of the hull. Just like in the old days. The dealer was Killinger Marine now MarineMax in Pensacola. Butch
masbama	posted 05-13-2014 11:02 AM ET (US) I spoke with the Whaler folks at the Mobile boat show and they were aware of the fuel filling issue but they did not suggest what you had done instead they suggested a new fuel filler cap/unit. I may try that.
Jeff	posted 05-13-2014 11:16 AM ET (US) So much of what you read on the "innerwebs" is unfounded wild speculation and over-hyped, over-dramatized fear, opinions and rumors of impending doom and possible minor problems becoming overly expensive game ending problems. It does not matter the brand of boat, car, truck, computer, shoe, tool, vacuum, phone, tablet, or frisbee....They are all junk and will die on you according to opinions of the interweb posting community.
saumon	posted 05-13-2014 11:47 AM ET (US) There's an old French saying "Les gens heureux n'ont pas d'histoires", meaning that happy people rarely if ever tell their stories and it's kind of a cliché to say that on the "World Wide Web" you'll see mostly problems-related questions/posts...
george nagy	posted 05-13-2014 11:47 AM ET (US) What JimH said above with the exception of MERCURY of course:} where has that guy been?
george nagy	posted 05-13-2014 11:49 AM ET (US) Sorry what Jeff said NOT JimH!
Jefecinco	posted 05-13-2014 03:16 PM ET (US) I should have included the information that the modification solved the fueling problems. I recommend it for those Dauntless owners suffering with the problem. Butch
skred	posted 05-20-2014 02:53 PM ET (US) My former 2001 16 Dauntless had the filling problem, and it had the side vent from the factory. The problem was that when filling the tank, the low stern angle kept fuel covering the vent hole in the tank, and it ended up blocking the vent sufficiently enough to cause the fuel to back-pump out the filler access and the side vent. I had to have 2 people sit on the bow to clear the vent enough to fuel completely. Never did solve the problem - except to fuel the boat while it was on the trailer...
Jefecinco	posted 05-21-2014 08:09 AM ET (US) Skred, I don't believe I ever filled my Dauntless while afloat. I found that the 45 gallon tank made it capable of such long range operation that it was always easy to refuel on the way to or from the ramp. It is particularly nice that non-ethanol fuel is available within four blocks of our home. For those who keep their Dauntless on a mooring or lift I guess moving crew forward is the simple solution. Butch
Binkster	posted 05-21-2014 12:44 PM ET (US) The brand of boats that come to mind that are worth restoring are; Bertram Boston Whaler Cigarette Donzi Sea Craft All of the above mentioned boat companies started life from the late 50's thru the mid sixties and are still in business today, they were top of the line back then and were the boat to have when they were new, and were designed by well known boat designers. Sure, they all have a few design flaws by modern standards, and materials and building methods have improved, but modern top of the line boat builders still use those boats as benchmarks. So why bother getting involved with the many other brands if you want to restore a boat or buy one already restored. rich
contender	posted 05-21-2014 06:55 PM ET (US) Its all about how and where you keep your boat, Water in the hull usually comes from two things: Boat being keep in the water, holes below the water line, and maybe one more carelessness (damage to the hull),I kept my boats on trailers, and they are as dry as the day they came out of the factory. Fuel tanks that are under deck sooner or later will need to be replaced, a lot of this depends again if the boat is kept in the water and if the water can dry up around the fuel tank. Above deck fuel tanks should be alum. made out of at least .125 (I have a fuel tank that I built in 1975 and my brother is still using it today) the plastic and fiberglass ones are crap and the steel ones rust. Alot of the fuel filling comes from a bad install, or the hose has a kink in it. Even the vent can be clogged or kink thus causing the hard to fill...
deepwater	posted 05-23-2014 07:34 PM ET (US) Masbama,,Out of all the things Boston Whalers are,what prompted me to by my Montauk was I got more boat for my money that would fit behind my small 4 banger truck,,Boat motor and trailer with full gas and all gear was still way below the max towing for my 1986 mazda,,I think foot for foot its still lighter than almost every other boat of the same design,,I guesss if I pull some water im still lighter
masbama	posted 05-23-2014 10:52 PM ET (US) My first Whaler was a 1977 Montauk that almost floated above the waterline. No water intrusion of any kind. My newer 1999 Dauntless 18 is a different animal; a big, husky boat that sits low in the stern and needs all the hp you can give it. Took me a long time to get used to it but I pretty much have it dialed in. I never really know how much fuel I have because I can never put in more than 16 gallons.
deepwater	posted 05-23-2014 11:45 PM ET (US) I know nothing of the whalers past 1990,,I never needed to,,I guess its "to each his own ",,I have but one whaler and soon it will be anothers,,To be alive and wet again is all I ever wanted of her
raydent99	posted 06-02-2014 04:07 PM ET (US) Test
EJO	posted 06-03-2014 01:00 PM ET (US) Binkster You forgot Chris-Craft although they started more than 100 years ago instead of the 1950's. They made and again do make (new) great boats that are being restored and sold well over their original sale price using the same materials and power options that were used in the factory(ies) Older things require maintenance and good/quality older things last forever.