Q1: when I look at a prospective used [Boston Whaler] boat, what should I look for?
Q2: do leaking drain tubes--which I hear mentioned frequently---get bad enough that you can see their condition by looking in with a flashlight, or sticking my finger in and feeling around?
Q3: what can be done to find water-soaked foam?
BACK STORY
I expect to have to do minor repairs to anything I buy, but I am not looking for a major project. My past boating history has always been on larger, marina docked boats. When looking at potential boats I knew enough to look at waterlogged stringers in the engine compartment among other things. We now want a smaller. trailer able boat for day use. With limitations on weight that I can safely tow with a small SUV. I am chiefly interested in 15 to 17 foot Super Sport, Dauntless, or Montauk boats made in 1980 to 2000.
Stories about water-soaked foam worry me.
I looked at one 15 Dauntless where the owner had opened holes in the glass and never sealed them up, and I was very concerned about the foam inside.
Buying Used Boston Whaler Boats
Re: Buying Used Boston Whaler Boats
partskenn wrote:Q1: when I look at a prospective used [Boston Whaler] boat, what should I look for?
Advice is given in a REFERENCE section article. See
Buying a Classic
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/buying.html
Re: Buying Used Boston Whaler Boats
Yes.partskenn wrote:Q2: do leaking drain tubes--which I hear mentioned frequently---get bad enough that you can see their condition by looking in with a flashlight, or sticking my finger in and feeling around?
For advice on repair of drain tubes see the answer in FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS in the REFERENCE section at
Q12: How are drain tubes replaced?
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/#Q12
Re: Buying Used Boston Whaler Boats
partskenn wrote:Q3: what can be done to find water-soaked foam?...Stories about water-soaked foam worry me.
For advice on methods to located water-saturated foam in a Boston Whaler Unibond hull, see the REFERENCE section article on FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q3: Is There Water in a Hull?
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/#Q3
For advice on making repairs to a Unibond hull, see the FAQ article at
Q1: How are repairs made to a Unibond Hull?
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/#Q5
If new to Boston Whaler boats, read the entire FAQ article.
Re: Buying Used Boston Whaler Boats
Your concern about the foam interior of a Boston Whaler Unibond hull that was poorly repaired by the owner was completely justified. Boston Whaler Unibond-hull boats with serious problems that owners tried to fix with poor methods should be avoided, unless the price asked is essentially scrap value and you want to undertake a massive project.partskenn wrote: I looked at one 15 Dauntless where the owner had opened holes in the glass and never sealed them up, and I was very concerned about the foam inside.
Re: Buying Used Boston Whaler Boats
If new to Boston Whaler boats, read the Frequently Asked Questions article in the REFERENCE section at
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/
If interested in a particular model, see the REFERENCE section articles on the classic 13, 15, and 16/17 foot models at
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/13/
and
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/15/
and
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/16-17/
For dimensions and production epochs of all models made prior to c.1997, see
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/refer ... tions.html
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/
If interested in a particular model, see the REFERENCE section articles on the classic 13, 15, and 16/17 foot models at
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/13/
and
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/15/
and
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/16-17/
For dimensions and production epochs of all models made prior to c.1997, see
https://continuouswave.com/whaler/refer ... tions.html
Re: Buying Used Boston Whaler Boats
If you are looking for a boat to buy. I would highly consider finding one that was stored on the trailer on land and not wet slipped. While on land storing the boat under either a cover or garage would also minimize the amount of water sitting in the boat if the plug was left in.
Re: Buying Used Boston Whaler Boats
Thank you for pointing me in the right directions. Those articles answered several questions.