The refurbished 16-foot 1969 Boston Whaler hull (seen above in Figure 1) is no longer a MINOT model. It is now a custom refurbished 16-foot Boston Whaler boat.
Regarding a MINOT, that model was a lower-cost variant of a KATAMA. The MINOT did not have a windshield, nor railings at the helm console, nor a wooden seat. It had a molded console and a large flat molded seat behind the console with no upholstery.
The hull of the boat under discussion looked to be in rather rough condition in the photographs of the repairs. As Phil mentions, when all original gel coat finish is gone and replaced with paint, there is a loss in value. Also, exactly how long the painted finish will remain durable and bright is unknown. There is a lot of rough underlying surface below that paint top coat.
The integrity of the hull and the workmanship of the repairs cannot be judged from a few photographs. An in-person and close, careful visual inspection is necessary, along with some tapping of the hull to assess it for any voids or soft spots. See the FAQ question:
Q3: Is There Water in a Hull?http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/#Q3FAQ wrote:The best method for locating de-lamination is to use the factory's own technique: tapping with a small plastic head hammer. The report of a hammer tap will be much different over areas that have de-bonded than on sound areas.
By performing extensive repair and refurbishment to the boat, there is no doubt the seller has hoped to increase the boat's value and selling price. This is not a commission of a sin. The seller has every right to expect to gain value from the work he did.
That the seller bought the boat with the intention of making repairs and selling the boat, is not unusual, suspicious, or contemptible. Many artisans perform this sort of work with the expectation of earning money from their labors. I can't condemn the seller because he refurbished this boat and wants to sell it. That may be how he earns his living.
The E-TEC 90 is a very good engine for that hull. I don't know the exact retail price of a new E-TEC 90 with rigging, propeller, and gauges. It might be close to $10,000 for just the engine and accessories. The steering is probably new, too. That adds value. The high value in the engine actually means the asking price of "about $10,000" accounts for not a great deal of value in the boat itself. You can look at the proposition as follows: would I buy a almost new E-TEC 90-HP engine for $8,000, including all the rigging and accessories, and installation onto a boat, and then also buy this refurbished 51-year-old Boston Whaler boat for $2,000? Viewing the deal in that perspective may give you a better feeling for the relative value of the asking price for the boat and engine as a single entity.
A few deviations from the classic look: the yellow hull color is unusual, but in today's boating, not abnormal. The side rails are missing. The non-OEM molded console is not particularly awful. Its construction and rigging is impossible to judge from one photograph.
One anomaly: how do you add fuel to the tank under the seat? The filler cap seems hidden. The tank volume looks quite sufficient to me for the E-TEC. A 16-foot open skiff is not expected to carry enough fuel for trips of hundreds of miles.
Is there a trailer?
If your goal is to have a restored
classic 16-footer, you would need a white hull, a blue deck, and a lot more varnished mahogany components. The E-TEC 90 would be fine on any classic. There actually are thousands and thousands of older 16/17-foot Boston Whaler boats still in use. They are by no means rare.