posted 11-27-2014 01:50 PM ET (US)        

Anyone ever contemplated this question?

posted 11-28-2014 09:12 AM ET (US)            

I fully expect my Whalers to outlast me, my kids, and their kids.

posted 11-28-2014 04:13 PM ET (US)            

I've seen early 1960's 13' sport boats still in use in my area. Some are in pretty weather shape. Two years ago, an friend had a local marine shop restore his 1966 16' Nauset, what was handed down from the first owner.... his dad. Up until that time, it spend it's summers in a covered boat hoist, so it had it's collection of scratches and dings. Console was pretty worn and loose. Hull suffered no penetrating holes, so it was dry and no rot in the transom.

It looks like a new boat. And will last the second owner and get passed to his kids.

posted 12-01-2014 09:23 PM ET (US)            

Those who know me on this website know that I don't take particularly good care of my boat. I do pay attention to structural matters, and have it "approved" by the coast guard every few years. I have scraped reefs, ran over wash rocks in the ocean (yikes! I was pretty nervous about this one and had to inspect the boat after this! It was like a teeter totter on top of an ocean wash rock... but... there was a fair amount of kelp and critters to take some of the load... sorry to the sea life I interfered with) beached the boat on rocky shores, etc, etc. I have put this thing through a pretty rough life while I've owned it for the last 12 years or so!

I don't want to sell it, upgrade it, change it... it is perfect how it is... The 16 classic is an amazing hull. Light, tough as nails, and maneuvers like a surfboard in rough oceans! The only thing that whaler hulls are prone to is capsizing if you are not careful. We've seen it several times here on the west coast.

At some point I may modify this hull to a "menemsha" type camper shell design that the santa barbara boaters are known to like.

posted 12-02-2014 01:41 PM ET (US)            

quote:

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Until you wreck it.

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This is a good answer and I appreciate its conciseness. To reply with more prolixity, the hull will last until it is subjected to some stress that causes a catastrophic fracture of the hull that impairs its structural integrity so badly that a repair is not feasible. The time when this occurs is related to the strength of the hull.

We much consider that eventual decay or deterioration of the materials of the hull may reduce their strength so much that even very moderate stress, which the hull could have easily endured when new, might cause a structural failure. The working life of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) is not exactly known, in part because some of the first products made with FRP construction are still in service and working quite well. Boat hulls made in the late 1950's and early 1960's with FRP resin-laminate construction are still in use.

The Boston Whaler boat is a bit different because of the very thin laminate layer and use of a foam inner core. The working life of the foam may be less than the FRP laminates. Since the hull needs the foam core for part of its strength, the failing of the foam could shorten the service life of the hull.

The durability of the foam with age seems to be greatly lengthened by avoiding damage that permits intrusion of water, particularly water under pressure.

We must similarly consider the embedded stiffeners made of wood. These components are also prone to decay with age, but if kept dry and free from rot, can maintain their strength for a long time.

We might postulate that if the foam core is kept dry and uncontaminated, the embedded wood dry and free from rot, and the outer laminate skin remains un-fractured and intact, the total hull strength should remain very close to as-new, and could continue to endure for a long long time.

Of course, the unknown factor is the force of any stress put on the hull. If the hull is subjected to very high stress and repeatedly so, there is a great possibility the hull will begin to work and move, and such flexing tends to ultimately lead to failure.

In summary, the working life can be very long if:

--repeated high stress is avoided

--the inner foam core and wood reinforcements are kept dry and free from decay

posted 12-04-2014 06:40 AM ET (US)            

If you can keep it off of the pavement when trailering and not set fire to it, a Boston Whaler should easily out live us all... The analogy with the DC3 is perfect. Change the power plant and keep on keepin on!!!

Our boats (Boston Whalers) are some of the toughest recreational boats ever made... I take pride in the three that I have. (1967 Nauset,1990 Revenge22wt and 1999 280 Conquest)

In my opinion, physical damage to the hull which allows water intrusion is the primary reason Whalers may end up being scrapped.

Other than water intrusion, keep a fresh coat of wax on them and make it well defined in your Last Will and Testament who gets the boat or boats when you pass on...

posted 12-15-2014 10:39 AM ET (US)         

Finally, these boats are getting the recognition that they deserve. Wayne Carini, Grand Marshall of our national reknowned, Keels and Wheels Concours d' Elegance, was enthralled to see a classic Whaler among the beautiful Chris Crafts and other wooden boats. Growing up on the east coast, he told me he loved my Whaler and we talked about it's history.

Hang on to the old ones, take care of them and keep them similar to their original style.

I believe one day it will pay off.

Scroll down for the official entry photo of my Nauset.

posted 12-15-2014 05:31 PM ET (US)            

See it at