PROJECT 54
(progress photos shown)
This incredibly well-preserved 1966 13’ Sport originates from Dayton, Ohio, but was exclusively used on Douglas Lake in Pellston, Michigan during summers. Finding Whalers of this caliber can be difficult and often requires travelling to preserve a piece of history. Purchased from the son of the original owner, she was used exclusively by one family at their summer cottage in northern Michigan for a few weeks every summer until the late 1990s. This boat was never kept in the water and always stored in a garage.
From the late 1990s through 2023, this 1966 13’ Sport was kept in a barn unused, except during the summer of 2011. Her hull stencil clearly denotes her as a 1966. Originally outfitted in 1966 with a Johnson 33hp outboard, the family re-powered her in 2011 with a new Honda 30hp (BF30DKSRT) 4-stroke, short shaft outboard with power trim/tilt. The BF30D outboard is still produced today and is known for its lightweight, power, and reliability. It is quite rare to locate a remote, short shaft outboard (required for a pre-1973 classic 13 notched transom) with hydraulic power trim/tilt. The boat was used for a few weeks in the summer of 2011 after re-powering for engine break-in for a total of less than 30 hours (2.5 tanks of non-ethanol fuel). It has remained in storage unused since 2011.
The motor was winterized and commissioned each spring and has just been fully serviced to include water pump, thermostat, gear oil, engine oil, and carburetor clean/adjustment. The trailer is the original 1966 Tee-Nee with new wiring harness and lights, coupler, winch, hubs, wheels, and tires. The boat retains the original gelcoat (inside and out), mahogany interior, bow and stern lights, side rails, and Nautalloy steering wheel. There are no added screw holes in the interior or exterior fiberglass from non-standard equipment and the transom has never been drilled for a transducer. The family had a brand new, custom Sunbrella mooring cover and bimini top with boot made in 2017, which are in new condition, having never been used. This Sport 13 is highly attractive due to its originality and benefit of a low hour, newer outboard with power trim/tilt.