The iconic 13ft Boston Whaler got all kinds of kids into boats in the 60s. This is a story I wrote for Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors that drills down into the classic appeal of what turned out to be a revolutionary boat. Click the image below to read the article.
Republished with permission of Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors.
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ramon rodriguez says:
Flying into Moriches Inlet, on my Whaler. 40 hp. Mercury screaming the bay air snaps to colder damp ocean wind in the Inlet. The heavy current, moves her laterally and just before the rocks opening out to the ocean. The water is crystal clear as we beach and remove the essentials of our picnic.
My Papa months before and for weeks scouring the Buy-line for a used 13 footer, got his price. I never paid much attention to the patch below the jutting bow. He had sold the 15 ft. Thompson to please his Son. His boat to pay for mine. I was 14. I think of him everyday and I think of her after reading your story with a tear in my heart. My first hot rod. Now at 59, I’m well aware of how dangerous that inlet was on Long Island’s south shore. My Whaler protected us foolish city boys. Thank you again Papa.
Steve Stone says:
Got a tear in my eye reading that Ramon. Thank you. Guessing that big ol’ softy Bill Mayher might as well. Have you seen the introducing kids to boats” video? Be sure to check out these two videos when they come out this holiday season: “Just Be, In a Boat” and “Introducing Kids to Boats, Part 2”.
James Farrell says:
My brother Mike and I had a whaler with a 33 Evinrude on her when we were kids in the sixties. From our mooring in Hyannisport we explored everyplace from Osterville to Bass River. Every boat purchase since then has been in its own way driven by the desire to again experience those adventures.
Robert Baird says:
Great article! Nothing like to good story telling of Bill Mayher!
David Tew says:
Back in the sixties, all the summer kids in Osterville on Cape Cod wanted one of the then-new Whalers.. with a Johnson forty, if they were lucky. Those engines were big grunts and the boats would fly with just a few feet of the hull in the water. More than once kids skimmed over sandbars on shortcuts home and ripped the lower ends off the motors. Not us, though. We had the thirty-three and would see the trouble ahead and go around.