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Author Topic:   13 Foot Boston Whaler Restoration

BroRobin posted 07-11-2009 10:23 AM ET (US)
I have acquired a Bosotn Whaler from my dad (he wanted to give it to me now rather than leave it to me later...). The small ID plate on the inside aft starboard wall states that the length is 13foot4inches. When my dad got the boat in the mid 1970's it had what I assumed to be the original layout. A small starboard console made of wood (from what I read this probably was mahogany). There were two bench seats, one in front of the console and one directly behind it. Wood side rails on each side of the inside about six or seven feet long. A wooden cover to a recessed compartment in the bow. (He later remodeled and added a flat carpet covered wooden floor and rebuilt the console with two movable swivel seats).
The interior has a "aqua blue" color (it does not seem to have been re-painted). At the stern there is a small "well" in front of the transom with a separate drain hole and plug (this does not run the width of the boat).
I read somewhere about a design change that took place in the late 1960's or early 1970's referred to the smirk . This did not help me with determining the year or model, because I do not know what the smirk is.
I need some help. I plan to restore my boat in the near future. (I also have searched for a HIN in all the places that it should be and I cannot find one (leading me tho believe that it was manufactured prior to it being mandatory).

jimh posted 07-11-2009 11:17 AM ET (US)
I'd like to help you. Here's my proposal: spend some time reading the resources here on the website. I'd suggest starting with the REFERENCE section and the article on the 13-foot Boston Whaler boat. I think it will answer a lot of your questions:
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/13/
In regard to hull identification numbers or stencil numbers, read the answer in the FAQ. In fact, it would not hurt to read the entire FAQ:
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/
If you do this we can avoid having a long dialogue about all the material covered in those articles.
Tohsgib posted 07-11-2009 11:24 AM ET (US)
What you describe is a 1972 or a real late 71. 72 was the only year that they had the small well and the blue interior. The smirk is on the bow like the tan models. This is a rare boat and should be converted back to original if possible. It should also have a 15" transom or a notch that allows it to use a short shaft motor unlike the tan models that are 20" and flat across.
BroRobin posted 07-11-2009 12:52 PM ET (US)
To jimh: Thanks so much for the info. I thought that it was available here but wasn't quite sure how to find it. Will do my research.
To Tohsgib: Thanks for your input. It sounds like you know you stuff and that this is my boat. Should I refer to my boat as a Standard or a Sport?
dfmcintyre posted 07-11-2009 10:13 PM ET (US)
The smirk that is referred to is a molded in feature about one foot under the beginning of the bow and runs in a curve, from one side to the other.
The early 13's (like yours) and the early 16's didn't have this feature. They were wet boats when going over waves. When the conditions were right, and the hull would come back down, and the spray would get blown out of the area between the water and the downward moving hull, right into the crews faces. Hence, wet boat.
The smirk cured this and was introduced in the 21' Outrage series of hulls.
And welcome to the site!. There's a wealth of information that can be found on restorations and various how-to-do it articles. Many threads contain links to the popular image storage sites showing before and after renovation shots.
As you've already found out, just ask.
Regards - Don
BroRobin posted 07-11-2009 11:01 PM ET (US)
Thanks Don,
After much research and comparing of my boat, mine does in fact have the smirk. I am looking forward to the restoration of this great boat. After tearing out my dad's renovations, the interior and exterior is in good shape. The interior does have many fine line cracks, like spider webs, these do not appear to be stress cracks.
PR_Flak posted 07-19-2009 09:09 PM ET (US)
hey there -- good luck with the project. i just brought my old 71-ish 13' from my father's to my house today (after 15 years) and am also working up a plan to restore it. i'll be interested in following what you do and how! I have tons of spidering and other damage to address...
Tohsgib posted 07-20-2009 01:41 PM ET (US)
If the spiders are not deep, try sanding them out and see if they go away.
pglein posted 07-20-2009 05:08 PM ET (US)
bigshot is right. I also have one of these rare, blue-interior, smirked boats. My kids will pry it from my cold dead hands.
PR_Flak posted 07-28-2009 11:07 AM ET (US)
oops - found the # stencil on the transom - i have a '66. lot of work to do, but in pretty good shape for being 43 years old!
ketchum posted 07-28-2009 04:32 PM ET (US)
I have a 71 13-footer blue interior (original) and short transome well. Also the hull is smurked. Sounds like you may have a 71. Most 72's had tan interiors I thought. Sounds like you have a sport model. Mine was a sourpuss and I converted the wood to resemble the sport, but expanded the dimensions. Awesome, stable little boat. ID # is stamped in the back wall of the transome well. Good luck with the boat.
pennywoo posted 07-30-2009 05:40 PM ET (US)
I have a 1963 Boston Whaler 13' I am trying to restore. It was my brothers pride and joy. He had taken it out of the water to patch it up and then got into a car accident and died. So his wife kept it for years just sitting there upside down in the yard. She finally gave it to me to fix up. I now have the hull patched up. The trailer is ready to go. The engine works. But there is nothing to sit on or steer with. Any body have the benches that would work in there. Not sure what happenned to them. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated. brian_wood89@hotmail.com.
Free Bird posted 07-30-2009 09:14 PM ET (US)
Pennywoo sorry about your brother! If you check eBay there are two different guys who sell interiors for the 13. They are expensive but the work seems to be top notch. The "other" website, whalercentral.com has diagrams for the 13 sport interior in PDF files. The interiors are pretty simple and peopel have built them of oak or marine plywood but solid mahogany is what was original. Solid mahogany, 5-6 coats of varnish...I'll gladly buy a set from an eBay vender. My 13 is still upside down waiting for paint.

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Author	Topic: 13 Foot Boston Whaler Restoration
BroRobin	posted 07-11-2009 10:23 AM ET (US) I have acquired a Bosotn Whaler from my dad (he wanted to give it to me now rather than leave it to me later...). The small ID plate on the inside aft starboard wall states that the length is 13foot4inches. When my dad got the boat in the mid 1970's it had what I assumed to be the original layout. A small starboard console made of wood (from what I read this probably was mahogany). There were two bench seats, one in front of the console and one directly behind it. Wood side rails on each side of the inside about six or seven feet long. A wooden cover to a recessed compartment in the bow. (He later remodeled and added a flat carpet covered wooden floor and rebuilt the console with two movable swivel seats). The interior has a "aqua blue" color (it does not seem to have been re-painted). At the stern there is a small "well" in front of the transom with a separate drain hole and plug (this does not run the width of the boat). I read somewhere about a design change that took place in the late 1960's or early 1970's referred to the smirk . This did not help me with determining the year or model, because I do not know what the smirk is. I need some help. I plan to restore my boat in the near future. (I also have searched for a HIN in all the places that it should be and I cannot find one (leading me tho believe that it was manufactured prior to it being mandatory).
jimh	posted 07-11-2009 11:17 AM ET (US) I'd like to help you. Here's my proposal: spend some time reading the resources here on the website. I'd suggest starting with the REFERENCE section and the article on the 13-foot Boston Whaler boat. I think it will answer a lot of your questions: http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/13/ In regard to hull identification numbers or stencil numbers, read the answer in the FAQ. In fact, it would not hurt to read the entire FAQ: http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/ If you do this we can avoid having a long dialogue about all the material covered in those articles.
Tohsgib	posted 07-11-2009 11:24 AM ET (US) What you describe is a 1972 or a real late 71. 72 was the only year that they had the small well and the blue interior. The smirk is on the bow like the tan models. This is a rare boat and should be converted back to original if possible. It should also have a 15" transom or a notch that allows it to use a short shaft motor unlike the tan models that are 20" and flat across.
BroRobin	posted 07-11-2009 12:52 PM ET (US) To jimh: Thanks so much for the info. I thought that it was available here but wasn't quite sure how to find it. Will do my research. To Tohsgib: Thanks for your input. It sounds like you know you stuff and that this is my boat. Should I refer to my boat as a Standard or a Sport?
dfmcintyre	posted 07-11-2009 10:13 PM ET (US) The smirk that is referred to is a molded in feature about one foot under the beginning of the bow and runs in a curve, from one side to the other. The early 13's (like yours) and the early 16's didn't have this feature. They were wet boats when going over waves. When the conditions were right, and the hull would come back down, and the spray would get blown out of the area between the water and the downward moving hull, right into the crews faces. Hence, wet boat. The smirk cured this and was introduced in the 21' Outrage series of hulls. And welcome to the site!. There's a wealth of information that can be found on restorations and various how-to-do it articles. Many threads contain links to the popular image storage sites showing before and after renovation shots. As you've already found out, just ask. Regards - Don
BroRobin	posted 07-11-2009 11:01 PM ET (US) Thanks Don, After much research and comparing of my boat, mine does in fact have the smirk. I am looking forward to the restoration of this great boat. After tearing out my dad's renovations, the interior and exterior is in good shape. The interior does have many fine line cracks, like spider webs, these do not appear to be stress cracks.
PR_Flak	posted 07-19-2009 09:09 PM ET (US) hey there -- good luck with the project. i just brought my old 71-ish 13' from my father's to my house today (after 15 years) and am also working up a plan to restore it. i'll be interested in following what you do and how! I have tons of spidering and other damage to address...
Tohsgib	posted 07-20-2009 01:41 PM ET (US) If the spiders are not deep, try sanding them out and see if they go away.
pglein	posted 07-20-2009 05:08 PM ET (US) bigshot is right. I also have one of these rare, blue-interior, smirked boats. My kids will pry it from my cold dead hands.
PR_Flak	posted 07-28-2009 11:07 AM ET (US) oops - found the # stencil on the transom - i have a '66. lot of work to do, but in pretty good shape for being 43 years old!
ketchum	posted 07-28-2009 04:32 PM ET (US) I have a 71 13-footer blue interior (original) and short transome well. Also the hull is smurked. Sounds like you may have a 71. Most 72's had tan interiors I thought. Sounds like you have a sport model. Mine was a sourpuss and I converted the wood to resemble the sport, but expanded the dimensions. Awesome, stable little boat. ID # is stamped in the back wall of the transome well. Good luck with the boat.
pennywoo	posted 07-30-2009 05:40 PM ET (US) I have a 1963 Boston Whaler 13' I am trying to restore. It was my brothers pride and joy. He had taken it out of the water to patch it up and then got into a car accident and died. So his wife kept it for years just sitting there upside down in the yard. She finally gave it to me to fix up. I now have the hull patched up. The trailer is ready to go. The engine works. But there is nothing to sit on or steer with. Any body have the benches that would work in there. Not sure what happenned to them. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated. brian_wood89@hotmail.com.
Free Bird	posted 07-30-2009 09:14 PM ET (US) Pennywoo sorry about your brother! If you check eBay there are two different guys who sell interiors for the 13. They are expensive but the work seems to be top notch. The "other" website, whalercentral.com has diagrams for the 13 sport interior in PDF files. The interiors are pretty simple and peopel have built them of oak or marine plywood but solid mahogany is what was original. Solid mahogany, 5-6 coats of varnish...I'll gladly buy a set from an eBay vender. My 13 is still upside down waiting for paint.