Whaly Boats

Dave_Snelson

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16 Oct 2001
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This weekend saw me doing my safety boat duties for the MYC sea rowing league race in North Wales. A good local chandler - Glaslyn Marine - very kindly leant one of his new range of Whaly Boats for the occasion. At first I didn't quite know what to make of this plastic upstart of a boat with a 20HP mariner on the back. But hey, with 3 guys on board and one of the marker buoys, we set of and did get the boat on the plane - tick in box 1.

I drove this bright orange contraption all day and it grew on me. The sea become a bit choppy and swelly as the tide turned in the early afternoon and raced out against an F4 wind. That livened things up a bit :) The 3.7M boat I was in, cannot be described as a "dry" boat. It isn't. It sends spray up and soaks you whether you are in the front or back. But bear in mind it's a little boat and it did perform with stability. Two up, planing was easy. Whaly also make a bigger one at 4.35M which is intended for a 30HP engine. Personally, I would forget the 30HP 4-stroke and fit a 50Hp 2-stroke. Now that really would go well.

I have searched for advertising videos for this boat and failed to turn up anything useful but the description of the test of strength goes a bit like this:-

Drag the Whaly boat behind a 4x4. No, not on a trailer, across a ploughed field with stones and rocks, with it bumping along behind. Managed to break it yet? No? OK, then turn the boat upside down and drive the 4x4 over it as part of an obstacle course. It doesn't break then either.

Then there's the price. 3.7M for £1,900 and 4.35M for £2,400. That's good value in anyones book. I have no connection with Whaly, but I came away with that boat winning me round, bearing in mind it had a sceptical driver to start with. The accesories are cheap as well. To convert it with additional thwarts and / or a centre console steering is only a few hundred quid. A mod that I would to see is a self bailer; or do your own mod; that would make a good little boat a great little boat.

Roto moulding has its limitations in size, hence you don't see (or I'm not aware of) large roto moulded polypropylene boats.

Good idea though - http://www.whalyboats.co.uk/
 
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AndieMac

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24 Mar 2009
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Tasmania, Australia
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A version sold here in Oz is called Polycraft, been on the market for years now and have many converts.
The little 'inflatable tubed' boats you have shown in your link are similar to the Polycraft tender range, from 4 metres up to 6 metres the boats take on a more traditional 'aluminium dinghy/runabout' appearance.

In this country these roto moulded boats are aimed squarely at the massively popular 'tinnie' market, and are kicking a lot of goals.

They are apparently as soft riding as GRP, unbreakable, won't dent or corrode or 'cold' like alloy.
They have in the past been a bit more weighty than alloy, but the new 2011 series claim a 20% reduction overall which will see their popularity increase even more.
They would be great as a tender for areas that have oysters and sharp foreshore rocks and they won't damage the mother ship tied alongside.
 
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