Boston Whaler

Boston Whaler, or just "Whaler," is a brand of motorboat manufactured in the United States. Classically, a Whaler is characterized by a foam-cored fiberglass hull (often twin V-hull in design), with an outboard motor and center steering console. They are manufactured by Boston Whaler, Inc.

The original 13 foot (4 meter) Whaler hull was produced in 1956 by Richard T. "Dick" Fisher and C. Raymond Hunt. The hull geometry was a modification of the Hickman sea sled hullHebert, Jim. (Feb. 2000). [http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/13/originalHullDesign.html "Original Design and Conception of the 13-foot Whaler Hull"] . Retrieved 2006-06-09] . The hull used the then new polyurethane foam to completely fill a fiberglass skin. This design is now also used by some other manufacturers and provides strength, buoyancy, and sound deadening when compared to traditionally constructed fiberglass boats.Fact|date=June 2007

Boston Whaler boats have been purchased by coast guard and naval units worldwide.cite web | url=http://www.coltoncompany.com/shipbldg/ussbldrs/postwwii/government/smallcombatantexports.htm |title=Patrol Craft Sold for Export|accessdate=2006-06-24] The Whaler is also used by recreational boaters, where "the unique Boston Whaler boat has attracted an intensely loyal group of owners and fans."cite web | url=http://www.continuouswave.com/whaler/ |title=continuous Wave: Whaler (Boston Whaler)|accessdate=2007-06-24] It is used for sport fishing, water skiing, as a runabout, and as a tender on larger yachts.

Although originally Boston Whaler boats were manufactured in Massachusetts, the current manufacturing facility is in Edgewater, Florida. After numerous ownership changes over the years, Boston Whaler is currently owned by Brunswick Corporation in Lake Forest, Illinois. Brunswick also owns Mercury Marine; as a result, new Boston Whalers, like all other Brunswick boats, ship from the factory pre-powered with Mercury engines.

Current recreational models

Current recreational production models range in centerline length from 9 to 32 feet (2.7 to 9.8 meters). Models include:

*Tender (11 feet [5-15 hp outboard] (Stick Driven))
*Sport (13 [25-40 hp outboard] or 15 [40-60 hp outboard] feet)
*Montauk (15 [40-60 hp outboard,ideally a high torque like Mercury BigFoot] , 17 [60-90 hp outboard] , or 19 [90-135 hp outboard] feet)
*Dauntless (18 [135-150 hp outboard] , 20 [150-200 hp outboard] , or 23 [225-250 hp outboard] feet)
*Ventura (18 [115-150 hp outboard] or 21 [135-250 hp outboard] feet)
*Outrage (32 foot model has a cabin)(19 [115-150 hp outboard] , 21 [135-225 hp outboard] , 24 [225-400 hp outboard] , 27 [400-450 hp outboards] , or 32 [400-600 hp outboards] feet)
*Conquest (all with cabins) (20 [135-200 hp outboard] , 23 [175-250 hp outboard] , 25 [250-450 hp outboard] , 28 [300-450 hp outboard] , 30 [400-600 hp outboards] , or 34 [550-750 hp outboard] feet)

Unsinkable claims

Boston Whaler has, for years, sawn boats in half to illustrate their rugged durability, performance, smooth ride and "unsinkability". The original 1961 Life magazine ad pictured Dick Fisher sitting in a floating 13' Whaler with a crosscut saw half way through the hull. After the cut was completed, Dick used the stern section to tow the bow section back to shore. Modern Whaler advertising uses a chain saw. Due to the foam core construction, the Whaler will remain afloat when sawn completely in half. Boston Whaler boats would also remain afloat when completely swamped (full of water). Because of these attributes, Boston Whaler's trademarked sales line was and is "the unsinkable legend."

Today this "unsinkable" attribute is not exclusive to Boston Whalers. All modern boats under twenty five feet manufactured for sale in the United States are required by law to have positive flotation so that a completely swamped boat will still float. [cite web | url=http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/boatbuilder/flotation/183-202-0.htm | title=Boatbuilder's Handbook - Flotation | publisher=U.S. Coast Guard| accessdate=2006-09-19] This is accomplished by the use of closed cell foam incorporated in the boat. Boston Whaler does claim that they use "up to two-and-a-half times more foam than is required to meet Coast Guard standards," and that their boats don't just have postive flotation, but truly level flotation when swamped. [cite web | url=http://www.bostonwhaler.com/Rec/default4.asp?content=whywhaler | title=Boston Whaler| publisher=Boston Whaler, Inc.| accessdate=2007-06-24]

References

ee also

* Tunnel hull
* Cathedral hull

External links

* [http://www.whaler.com/ Manufacturer's Web Site]
* [http://continuouswave.com/whaler/ continuous Wave: Whaler (Boston Whaler)] - an online encyclopedia of Whaler reference material
* [http://whalercentral.com/Boston_Whaler.php Whaler Central] - Drawings and Information for Classic Boston Whalers