Boston Whaler 130 Super Sport

Boaters automatically associate the Boston Whaler name with durability, quality materials and, let’s be honest, a price to justify everything that goes into each boat. It is the Mercedes of coastal boating.

By Robert Stephens

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Boaters automatically associate the Boston Whaler name with durability, quality materials and, let's be honest, a price to justify everything that goes into each boat. It is the Mercedes of coastal boating. The reputation is so strong that it's never needed to jazz up the boats beyond a simple, yet unmistakable, white hull.

So you might imagine our surprise to see a Whaler emblem on a 13-foot sport boat clad in an optional orange blaze wrap. Called the 130 Super Sport, the boat is a departure from that conservative look for which Whaler is known. Even better, buyers can score the base 130 with a 40-horse motor for a special introductory offer of $9,995. It weighs less than 1,000 pounds, so you can practically tow it behind a bicycle. Yet the boat is constructed with unibond and foam-filled processes, which along with the materials used, are reasons Whalers are known to last a long time and hold their resale value.

We ran the 130 on a freshwater lake, runabout-style, able to stay on plane at 14-15 mph and testing the hard chines in creative turns. Had there been a beach nearby, we could have used the boat as a swimming stage. But we also used it as you might a skiff, sneaking through narrow canals and into a stump-laden cove, easily able to monitor the water next to the hull — which, by the way, drafts just seven inches. It is unintimidating in every way for boaters of any — or no — experience.

(click image to enlarge)

Key Note: The base price makes it more enticing to spring for additions like a livewell, bucket seats and sun top.

Standout Features
• The scuppered deck will quickly drain the cockpit of moisture, making it simple to hose off at the end of the day.
• Long safety rails in the cockpit and bow are high end; they're fastened, bonded and made of stainless steel.
• Huge anchor locker in the bow will also be used for general in-deck storage.

Vital Stats

Length Overall: 13'3"
Beam: 5'10"
Dry Weight (w/ motor): 820 lb.
Fuel Capacity: 6.6 gal.
Maximum HP: 40
MSRP (special introductory price on base boat): $9,995
NMMA Certified: Yes

Test Drive

Test Engine: Mercury 40 hp four-stroke
Test Prop: 10.375 x 14 Black Max, aluminum
Test Load: People (385 lb.); Fuel (6.6 gal.); plus weight of options
Minimum Planing Speed: 14 mph @ 3,300 rpm
Top Speed (w/ added weight of options): 32.0 mph @ 5,500 rpm
Time to Plane: 5.5 sec.
Time to 20 MPH: 9.1 sec.

Comments (3) Write a comment

Submitted by heidi on May 05, 2013.

I'd like to upgrade my '09 Fuji Team Pro from the stock Mavic Aksium Race wheelset it came with. I live in the Seattle area so pretty much any http://blog.eocolobike.com/archives/category/18k-carbon-wheels-road-bike... 700C Bike Front Wheel direction I go there are hills. I'm 31 y/o, 5'8", 143lbs.
I don't race but am considering it. I do mainly solo training but also some fast and/or hilly group rides. To me, fast groups are anything 20+mph. http://blog.eocolobike.com/archives/category/60mm-rims I'm working on getting faster but can't hold 25mph for 38MM Wheelset very long... yet
I would like to use this wheelset as my only set of wheels. I'd like it to be a good all-around set; provide some aero advantages 26er Carbon Fiber Frame while still being good for climbing. If/when I start racing, these are the wheels I'll use. I understand that very deep profile rims are heavier and can be affected much more by crosswinds so they're not so good for climbing. I'm just not sure when it is that a rim is too deep and is no longer 27.5er MTB Tubeless Clincher good for climbing. http://blog.eocolobike.com/archives/category/18k-carbon-wheels-road-bike-88mmI'm looking for one that is good at both (I understand that a jack-of-all trades wheelset will be the master of none).
I'm considering Reynolds Attack and Assault wheelsets. If there are other wheelsets of similar quality/price that would work better for this purpose, I'm open to suggestions.

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