A Boat for Lake Conroe in Texas and for a Garage

A conversation among Whalers
Scooter
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2022 8:35 pm

A Boat for Lake Conroe in Texas and for a Garage

Postby Scooter » Mon Sep 26, 2022 6:16 am

I've been around Boston Whaler since 1960. For years I owed a 13-footer, and I sold it years ago.

I have moved to Conroe, Texas. I was told “do NOT go out on Lake Conroe in anything under a 20-footer or you'll drown.” On that lake there many high-speed performance boats and wake boats. Lake Conroe is narrow and shallow. There are [seawalls] to create waves.

A few times I have rented a boat.

My residence has rules about parking trailers outdoors. Any boat I buy must fit in my garage.

Would a 13-footer fit in the garage?

Would a 15-footer fit in the garage?

jimh
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Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
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Re: Garage Fit

Postby jimh » Mon Sep 26, 2022 6:33 am

A 15-footer will fit in a 22-feet deep 10-feet wide garage.

A 15-footer is a fine small boat, but the seating height is quite low. A very common owner modification to a 15-footer is to change the seating to be more comfortable.

A nice 15-footer on a trailer is now selling for $15,000 or more. They are very much in demand. There are seldom any bargains to be found. You should scan the MARKETPLACE listings of 13-foot and 15-foot boats for sale to get an idea of today’s prices.

Jefecinco
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Location: Gulf Shores, AL

Re: Garage Fit

Postby Jefecinco » Mon Sep 26, 2022 9:45 am

If the trailer tongue for a 15-foot boat extends into the garage a little farther than is comfortable consider adding a tongue hinge so the tongue can be folded.
Butch

MarkCz
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Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 3:44 pm

Re: Garage Fit

Postby MarkCz » Tue Sep 27, 2022 9:31 am

I am able to fit a 1987 Montauk 17 into my garage which is only 19-feet 10-inches. I replaced the stock trailer winch post and added a hinge to the trailer tongue. I have to store it in the garage with the engine down to save space.

Scooter
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Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2022 8:35 pm

Re: A Boat for Lake Conroe in Texas

Postby Scooter » Tue Sep 27, 2022 1:05 pm

Garage is 19-feet 6-inches interior space. On one side in the back there is a 25-inch-deep bench. That leaves about 17-feet—unless I rip out the bench.

jimh
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Re:A Boat for Lake Conroe in Texas and for a Garage

Postby jimh » Wed Sep 28, 2022 9:28 am

The Boston Whaler 13 and 15 foot hulls are perhaps the best small boats ever made. There is almost 70 years of history about them. To me the chances that some particular lake in Texas would possess some attributes that would render either hull unsuitable for use seems infinitesimal.

Since the garage size is the limiting factor, that some other 13 or 15 foot hull would be intrinsically better suited to this particular lake also seem unlikely.

As is always the limiting factor in using any boat of any size, the weather, the winds, and the waves will determine when a 13-foot or 15-foot boat can be used in comfort and in safety.

The very high prices commanded by the 13-foot and 15-foot hulls attest to their value as small boats. A Boston Whaler boat has always been expensive, and today is no different than 40 or 50 years ago.

Jefecinco
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Re: A Boat for Lake Conroe in Texas and for a Garage

Postby Jefecinco » Wed Sep 28, 2022 10:06 am

Our 1981 Sport 13 requires 19 feet and 5 inches of garage space from the rearmost part of the lowered engine to the tip of the hitch. It's not unreasonable to assume a 15 footer would require 21 feet and 5 inches of space. Add to that the room required to move around the boat. For a "standard" garage a 13 foot boat is probably better suited than 15 foot boat. The use of a folding tongue changes the possibilities.
Butch

hauptjm
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Location: New Orleans

Re: A Boat for Lake Conroe in Texas and for a Garage

Postby hauptjm » Fri Sep 30, 2022 10:22 am

If the garage is a problem, there are alternative storage options available in the area. Example: https://www.lakeconroe.com/place/e-z-bo ... et-launch/