Classic Boston Whalers 16&17 Models

8/17/2019 Classic Boston Whalers 16&17 Models

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5/8/2016 Classic Whaler: Boston Whaler 16/17-Foot: Models

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/16-17/models.html

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16‐foot Models

The Whaler 16/17-foot hull was available in over a dozen models. I've managed tocollect about half of them so far...

Currituck

Nauset

Eastport

Sakonnet

Menemsha

Tashmoo

Cohaseet

Montauk

NewportStriper

16 Currituck 1961‐1975

The first step up the ladder from the bare hull was the Currituck, which featured a largeside console and two thwart seats. The wooden components were made frommahogany and varnished. The console extended almost the full width of the boat and

placed the wheel on the center line. Mechanical steering was standard.

1973 Whaler 16 Currituck

As was common for pre- Brunswick Whalers, this

Currituck has OMC power on the transom.

PhotoCredit: John Flook

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16 Nauset 1961‐1973

One of the earliest models available in the 16-foot hull, the Nauset (pronounced"NAW-sit") featured an elaborate mahogany center console. The 1970 Whaler catalogdescribed it this way:

"It is on the three models of this series [Nauset, Eastport, Sakonnet] and

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their hybridized variations that the reputation of large Boston Whalers for total excellence has largely been built. They can negotiate in safety andreasonable comfort the wildest waters ever used for pleasure boating; yetthey are adaptable to more casual types of water sport in a degree equalled

by few and exceeded by none. Easy for one man to haul and launch with atrailer, they open to their owners all waterways in the country fromspruce-fringed crystal lakes in the North to shallow, bone fish flats andocean reefs in the Florida Keys-- from Massachusetts bluefish grounds in

the rip tides off Martha's Vineyear to the salmon fishery and cruising paradise of the far Northwest; and besides all this they are constructedwith a solid uncompromising quality normally expected only on custom-

built yachts."

[ASIDE] Wow, you've got to love that language. The Whaler catalog was filled withlengthy, complex grammar like that. Compound sentences were common; semi-colonswere peppered all across the catalog; lengthy dependent clauses were the norm. NowWhaler--like everyone else--tells their story in simple sentences and fragments likethis: "So there's less weight, lower cost." For me, I like the old language. It really soldyou the boat and the idea behind it. [OKAY, BACK TO THE BOATS]

The Nauset added lights, fixed pilot seat, console and windshield, console front seat,mechanical steering, and single lever engine controls to the base boat. In 1970 the list

price was $1,995, a $695 premium over the bare hull.

1971 Whaler 16 NausetThis particular boat was purchased originally as a 1971 bare 16-ft hull. The

owner fabricated the mahogany interior, an exact copy of the Nauset. The rubrail, stainless wheel, and "Whaler" logo were updated in 1984. That little 7.5

Hp kicker is just bolted on for 1988 sea-trials as the boat was about to be sold for $5,500. The buyer got a "mint" condition Whaler. The boat looks so

good in this photo that I'm ready to write a check for it!PhotoCredit: Larry G oltz

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16 Eastport 1961‐1973

The Eastport was a step up from the Nauset, designed for owners who wanted moreseating. For an additional $160 (c.1970) you got a rear seat, a fire extinguisher, acompass, and seven cushions, bringing the price to $2,180.

1961 Whaler 16 Eastport Add the rear seat and somecushions to the Nauset and it

became the Eastport. A Homelite 4-stroke outboard--

about 40 years ahead of itstime--is on the transom.PhotoCredit: Boston Whaler

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16 Sakonnet 1961‐1975

The Sakonnet (pronounced "sa-CAWN-nit") was "a luxuriously practical sport fishingvehicle" according to the catalog. For a $1070 premium over the bare hull, you gotlights, reversible pilot seat with cabinets, bow platform, console and windshield,mechanical steering, single lever engine control, stainless bow rails, bow chock, fireextinguisher, and a compass, bringing the total to $2,370 in 1970 dollars. It outlived its

two sisters by a couple of years.

1971 Whaler 16 Sakonnet

There is a lot of mahoganyto keep varnished in this


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interior. The reversible pilot seat and forward platformdenote the Sakonnet model.

PhotoCredit: Boston Whaler

Catalog

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16 Menemsha c.1965‐1972

The Menemsha (pronounced "meh-NEMM-sha") gave "the hardnosed outdoorsman afeeling of mastery over any possible water environment which [was] at least partly

justified." For a $3700 (1970 dollars) you got the basic 16-foot hull with a uniquecabin superstructure added to it. This turned what had been an open boat into aminiature cabin cruiser. For more information about the Menemsha, see the Cetaceaarticle about it.

1970 Boston Whaler 16 Menemsha

The Menemsha as it appeared in the catalogue. Note the stern railing

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which was standard on this model.

PhotoCredit: Bosoton Whaler Catalogue 1970

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Tashmoo 1971‐1972

The Tashmoo featured a wide gunwale top deck, a small center console, and alaminated rear raised deck. Some of these features were carried over into the Newportmodel. The Tashmoo model is nicely shown in a Cetacea article. Please see CetaceaPage 52 for details.

1971 TASHMOO

A very nicely preserved example of this unusual

model.

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Cohasset 1972‐1974

The Cohasset was innovative for the center steering console. The earliest versions hada pedestal type center console, which now seems quite unusual. The Cohasset gaveway to the Montauk, which has become perhaps the all-time favorite small center-console boat. The Cohasset model is nicely shown in a Cetacea article. Please seeCetacea Page 52 for details.

1972 COHASSET

A very nicely preserved example of this unusual

model.

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Montauk 1974‐2000

When the Cohasset was introduced, it marked the first production use of a moldedcenter console in the Whaler line. (The Outrage 21 had one, too.) In 1974, the designof the center console change and the boat became the Montauk. The MONTAUK was

popular then and ever since, as it is still in production, more than 25 years later. It was

the prototype of the now ubiquitous center-console fiberglass fishing boat, and it is still probably the best in its size.

1979 Whaler 17 Montauk

The molded center console still retained quite a bit of wood in 1979, along with

other wood trim in theinterior. A large metal gastank has been added under

the innovative reversible seat.

PhotoCredit: Tim Heath


30th Anniversary Model Missing from this replica

were most of the wood hatches and trim of theoriginal. The aqua cove

stripe makes these modelseasy to spot. By the way,notice that it's Mom and

girls out in the boat.PhotoCredit: Boston Whaler

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Current model of the Montauk has an all molded appearance; there's no wood

to maintain. The underseat rigging appears ready for

dual tanks. PhotoCredit: Larry Goltz

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Newport 1975‐1990

The Newport was a model intended to please everyone, fisherman, skier, bow rider. Itstayed in production for 15 years, so it must have had its fans. A side console withwindscreen, mechanical wheel steering and stainless grab rail was attended by areversible pilot seat with upholstered backrest. In the bow compartment another windshield protected passengers who rode in low, contoured bucket seats. For skiing atow pylon was available; for fishing a rear casting platform could be added.

1988 Whaler 17 Newport

This catalog photo shows the

multiple purpose of the Newport; we're still fishing with our kids, but now Momcan come along and relax in

a comfortable seat. Wood hatch covers and trim were

still on the boat.

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17 Striper 1980‐1989

For inland and inshore fishing, Whaler offered the Striper model, basically a moldedside console and windscreen, a forward pedestal seat, and electric trolling motor.


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Documents

Classic Boston Whalers 16&17 Models