Factory Tour - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Post-Classic Whalers
  Factory Tour

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Factory Tour

Ed Stone posted 08-11-2000 09:29 AM ET (US)
Did the tour at Boston whaler on thur.
Chuck Bennet led the tour.There are 750 employees.Some parts of the factory run 3 shifts.All of the hulls are still Uni-bond constructed except the 31 footer.
It looked like they used balsa wood in the hatches(except for hinge area),lamenated plywood in the transoms, and lots of phenol.
(Synthetic wood) for backing plates.
They were preparing a hull and deck with one person shooting the chop gun and 6 people working out air pockets,edges,corners.
It looks like each and every boat has a 3rd liner to cover the deck.
Chuck said the commercial division was almost like a separate company.I seen a 22 gaurdian,27 gaurdian,21 justice,and alot of different size impacts.
There are 2 boats gone from the line.The classic 13 and the new 18 Outrage.( I asked chuck why he said sales and profit.)
I seen the new 12 foot impact that is suppose to replace the 11ft. tenders.
Chuck said they only put out one montauk per day,and 5 or 6 dauntless.In all there was 27 boats put out that day.
They had land cleared to start a new building next to the commercial Div.
the property went from highway 1 all the way back to the water,50 acres in all.
I asked chuck who presently designed the boats.He said two designers just left to do work on yachts.I believe one's man name was
Scott Wood.He said there is a team of designers and engineers.
I did enjoy the tour and was impressed with unibond construction of the hulls,huge molds that clamp together,construction of the hatches,Commercial Division.
Chuck bennet put on a great tour,answered everyones questions,and was very informative.
The company has gone from a small company building great boats to a huge company building good boats.
Ed Stone.
whalernut posted 08-11-2000 08:14 PM ET (US)
Ed, thanks for the tour info. Very interesting stuff. Every time someone reports on a tour, my blood pressure goes way up. Most people know I really don`t like the newer Whalers and these reports just make it worse. You really hit it on the head with you`re last statement that they have gone from a small company that made great boats to a huge company that makes good boats. Very well said. Although I think you give them to much credit with huge company that makes good boats. I think huge company that makes suspect boats. Thanks for the info-Jack Graner.P.S. Now I have to go and look at pictures of my 73` `16 Currituck to get my blood pressure down!
bigz posted 08-12-2000 06:27 AM ET (US)
Ed,
Thanks for the information on what's going on at Whaler --
After talking to and corresponding with Chuck Bennett for a while, glad to hear he is as fine a person in person as I figured he was from speaking and corresponding with him. We all are very lucky to have a person with his knowledge in a key position to help out.
Thanks again for the report Ed,
Tom
PS I would have liked very much to have taken the tour when we were down to get the 27 ready for the journey north but alas just wasn't in the cards ===

jimh posted 08-12-2000 08:30 AM ET (US)
Thanks for the info on the tour. We are planning our winter vacation trip to Florida around being in Edgewater on a Thursday so we can see the factory and get the tour.
Giving tours is really quite exceptional these days, as many larger companies have ceased to do this. I applaud Boston Whaler for continuing to offer the tour.
We're looking forward to seeing the manufacturing process close-up, and, of course, to meeting Chuck Bennett.
As for the demise of the smaller hulls, it seems to be a trend these days. Boat buyers just must have more money than they used to, as sales of bigger and bigger hulls keep rising.
--Jim Hebert
Ed Stone posted 08-12-2000 09:01 AM ET (US)
There is a couple of things I forgot to mention.All the boats were Uni-bond construction except the 34footer,and they were foam filled from the highest point.
I do not believe all the boats had a third liner as I said before.The Montauk,some dauntless models,13 sport,and some commercial division boats did not have third liners.
Ed Stone
jimh posted 08-24-2004 10:11 PM ET (US)
This 4-year-old thread was revived to add a completely non sequitur response, which has been deleted. Thread closed.

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: Factory Tour
Ed Stone	posted 08-11-2000 09:29 AM ET (US) Did the tour at Boston whaler on thur. Chuck Bennet led the tour.There are 750 employees.Some parts of the factory run 3 shifts.All of the hulls are still Uni-bond constructed except the 31 footer. It looked like they used balsa wood in the hatches(except for hinge area),lamenated plywood in the transoms, and lots of phenol. (Synthetic wood) for backing plates. They were preparing a hull and deck with one person shooting the chop gun and 6 people working out air pockets,edges,corners. It looks like each and every boat has a 3rd liner to cover the deck. Chuck said the commercial division was almost like a separate company.I seen a 22 gaurdian,27 gaurdian,21 justice,and alot of different size impacts. There are 2 boats gone from the line.The classic 13 and the new 18 Outrage.( I asked chuck why he said sales and profit.) I seen the new 12 foot impact that is suppose to replace the 11ft. tenders. Chuck said they only put out one montauk per day,and 5 or 6 dauntless.In all there was 27 boats put out that day. They had land cleared to start a new building next to the commercial Div. the property went from highway 1 all the way back to the water,50 acres in all. I asked chuck who presently designed the boats.He said two designers just left to do work on yachts.I believe one's man name was Scott Wood.He said there is a team of designers and engineers. I did enjoy the tour and was impressed with unibond construction of the hulls,huge molds that clamp together,construction of the hatches,Commercial Division. Chuck bennet put on a great tour,answered everyones questions,and was very informative. The company has gone from a small company building great boats to a huge company building good boats. Ed Stone.
whalernut	posted 08-11-2000 08:14 PM ET (US) Ed, thanks for the tour info. Very interesting stuff. Every time someone reports on a tour, my blood pressure goes way up. Most people know I really don`t like the newer Whalers and these reports just make it worse. You really hit it on the head with you`re last statement that they have gone from a small company that made great boats to a huge company that makes good boats. Very well said. Although I think you give them to much credit with huge company that makes good boats. I think huge company that makes suspect boats. Thanks for the info-Jack Graner.P.S. Now I have to go and look at pictures of my 73` `16 Currituck to get my blood pressure down!
bigz	posted 08-12-2000 06:27 AM ET (US) Ed, Thanks for the information on what's going on at Whaler -- After talking to and corresponding with Chuck Bennett for a while, glad to hear he is as fine a person in person as I figured he was from speaking and corresponding with him. We all are very lucky to have a person with his knowledge in a key position to help out. Thanks again for the report Ed, Tom PS I would have liked very much to have taken the tour when we were down to get the 27 ready for the journey north but alas just wasn't in the cards ===
jimh	posted 08-12-2000 08:30 AM ET (US) Thanks for the info on the tour. We are planning our winter vacation trip to Florida around being in Edgewater on a Thursday so we can see the factory and get the tour. Giving tours is really quite exceptional these days, as many larger companies have ceased to do this. I applaud Boston Whaler for continuing to offer the tour. We're looking forward to seeing the manufacturing process close-up, and, of course, to meeting Chuck Bennett. As for the demise of the smaller hulls, it seems to be a trend these days. Boat buyers just must have more money than they used to, as sales of bigger and bigger hulls keep rising. --Jim Hebert
Ed Stone	posted 08-12-2000 09:01 AM ET (US) There is a couple of things I forgot to mention.All the boats were Uni-bond construction except the 34footer,and they were foam filled from the highest point. I do not believe all the boats had a third liner as I said before.The Montauk,some dauntless models,13 sport,and some commercial division boats did not have third liners. Ed Stone
jimh	posted 08-24-2004 10:11 PM ET (US) This 4-year-old thread was revived to add a completely non sequitur response, which has been deleted. Thread closed.