Info on Metan Marine near Boston

[davidB01]

With the 1985 SUPER SPORT 15 boat now running really well and the family putting lots of hours on her, I am beginning to think of a next project and considering working on a 17-footer, but probably a restoration and modification project combining elements of a Eastport and Sakonnet with some other custom twists. That said, a project like this is, to be honest with myself, beyond my direct skill level and available time.

I will be in Boston in a few weeks and have seen some of the restorations of Metan Marine in Lakeland. I have a few questions:

Q1: Does anyone have a direct experience working on a project like this with Metan? Their reputation seems excellent, but in searching this site there are only a few references to Mike and the crew, none of which seem to be people whom worked directly with them.

Q2: If not them, are there other shops/crews you might recommend (and have worked with directly) that can take on something like this? It is not just a restoration, but something that needs someone whom can design and build some custom parts, or modify the originals. I would prefer the North East (hence considering Metan) but for the right shop, willing to consider anywhere in the US.

Q3: From their website, it looks like Metan makes a line of “new old-design stock” clones of the 16. What is their reputation for quality and performance?

Q4: On a related note: I think the hull I want to start with, from the reference section and reading all the posts I could find comparing the 16 and 17, is the 17 smirked hull from 1976-2002 (when it changed to the 170). Within this range, and looking only at the hull, where there any variants that I should be aware of? What were they and how did it change quality or performance?

If better, send me a private message to discuss your personal experiences, especially if you know anything about the clone series asked in Q3.

Thank you all in advance.

[jimh]

...the hull I want...is the 17-foot hull from 1976-2002. Within this range...[were] there any variants that I should be aware of?

At some point in that range of years I suspect that it was still possible to order a hull with the "work boat" or "commercial" lay-up, which would have resulted in a heavier and stronger hull, and priced at least 10-percent higher than a recreational boat hull.

A hull made with a heavier layup would typically have some external indication of that applied to the hull sides. Typically the identification mark was a circular red dot of gelcoat resin (about the size of a quarter or perhaps slightly larger) applied to the hull sides aft near where later the Boston Whaler logo decals would be located, and done as the first step in the molding process, before the hull gel coat layer would be sprayed on, thus a very permanent marking of the hull.

Because of the use of the red dot marking these hulls were then known as "red dot hulls."