Hey BR!

[spareparts]

If you are still looking for a small boat, my neighbor would probably take $2500 for that Spectrum aluminum boat, if that boat doean't suit your needs, check the Charleston Craigs list, there are 4 or 5 good deals on small boats on there right now

[Blue_Runner]

THanks Spare. We went to look at a local whaler yesterday evening. Its a 15' 8" super sport 1981 model. The thing is in pretty nice shape for the price and transom and deck is solid as a rock. 1984 50 hp johnson is the power. He has the original owners manual for the boat and the motor in great shape.

[spareparts]

sounds like a winner

[Blue_Runner]

Not exactly what I was looking for but if the motor checks out I think it would be a wise investment.

The manual says hull weight is 550 lbs, draft is 8" and with a 40 - 50 hp she'll do max 33 mph.

Another thing is the whalers really hold their value well so if we sell we could stand to make a few dollars after minimal cleaning and cosmetic work.

Sounds good to me!

[randlemanboater]

While we are on the subject of "Hey BR".

Hey BR, did the guy who bought your old V-20 get it going yet?

[spareparts]

i guess I should have put this in the for sale section, but if any one is looking for a small boat there are several decent deals on the Charleston Craigs list, there are a couple of McKee's, one small center, and what is supposed to be a procraft( looks decent, but doesn't look like any procraft I've seen) all for reasonable money. Never seen small boats like these for sale at the beginning of shrimp baiting season, allways at the end. BR, that whaler will do you right, around here those things bring gold, most people put the 85/90 Yamahas on the back of them, they will scream. The 50 should push it decently. One thing to check, some of those boats get water logged, seen some people drill holes below the water line to check. If they boat is, its still fixable.

[tsubaki]

Almost all the whalers an mckee's retain water, that's their nature. If you can get past that portion they are great boats after being 5 years old.

[spareparts]

I've seen a couple of guys around here drill holes in the transom and lean teh boat up on its transom against a building and let it drain for a while, then come back and plug the holes. One local guy that restores them cuts large hole in the floor with a hole saw and flips them over from time to time till he gets the water out

[tsubaki]

I seen one guy in the neighborhood hoist the bow straight up to let it drain for a year with moderate results.
After finishing another boat project that had a foam filled bottom we came to the conclusion that it would be impossible to drain all the water out unless during the manufacturing process to make a channel down the keel and wick channels to that between the stringers.
Unless they have changed designs water will inherently stay trapped between the stringers.

[Blue_Runner]

RB I sold it to a guy just down the road. He put a 200hp johnson on it and has been using it ever since. I've seen it like 3 times since I sold it.

On the whaler I knew about the water logging so what we did was unhook the trailer straps and me and bro in law were able to pick up the rear end of the boat which with motor s/b around 800 - 900 lbs. I figure it she were full of water we couldn't have budged it. Plus before we buy we are going for a sea trial. I'd think if water were in there we will know it. If there is, we won't buy it.

Thanks for the info guys!

[tsubaki]

By the way, all the water that the foam can possibly hold might amount to 5-10 gallons. So we're only talking about 80 pounds extra weight. They never really do (or can) dry out.

[randlemanboater]

RB I sold it to a guy just down the road. *He put a 200hp johnson on it and has been using it ever since. *I've seen it like 3 times since I sold it.



Cool deal, glad that boat got another life, it was a nice one.

[Hammerhead]

When I replaced the floor on my 16'Bonito I poured two part clsed cell foam to fill twiz the hull and floor thruout. It really helped solidfy the hull but, didn't help a bit keeping it from sinking.
Twice. I've also seen Boston Whalers sink...not to the bottom but, down to the bow light.

[Blue_Runner]

We bought a 1987 14' mckee craft CC fisher. *Its the neatest little center console I've ever seen! * She flat out scoots with a 1988 40hp evinrude. *

Got her for $1800. *I'll put up a post of the lil Blue either tonight or tomorrow time permitting. *

My mom said we should name it the DAWG! * Funny cause I never even mention that to her - she thought of it on her own! *;D

I've got several screw holes to fill in the deck where they removed some pedistals - luckily they put the screws back in or the floor would be crap. *It has bottom paint and rather than remove I think we'll just paint back over it. *Controls are a little stiff. *The trailer is a painted steel trailer - I'm not real happy about it but whats a man to do? *

Anyway those are the negatives....positives are it has a big fish box in the front that is over 40" wide! * Also a neat center console with lots of room and storage. *Rub rail and rails are in A1 shape. *She cleaned up like gem. *Has power tilt/trim. *I didn't have my GPS with me but I swear it felt like close to 40mph with 2 people! *

It has a depth/fish finder. *I'm going to invest $35 to buy an extra power cable and mounting bracket for my Garmin GPS so I can use it on either boat. *;) *

[tsubaki]

I don't know anybody that didn't like a Whaler or McKee.
If there were any others, they just learned to live with it. ;D