Looking at a TROLLER brand boat, is the hull really a Boston Whaler?

[Charles_Nelsan]

Hello All,
I am new to the forum and hope that I can get a little insight as to the history of the Troller boat brand. I did some research and found they were made in Pennsylvanian from the sixty's to 2004. They have a fiberglass hull that looks just like a boston whaler, I even read that they were boston whaler hulls that Troller added flooring and an interior. So is there any truth to this and if so does a whaler hull that much more superior than any other fiberglass hull?
I'm looking at a 16ft 1987 Troller with a Marine brand 25hp engine. They guy said he wants 900 comes with a fish finder and and trolling motor and trailer. The thing is full of leaves but the hull looks good and he said the floor is solid. Sorry I have a lot of info and questions in here, but wanna make an informed purchase.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Looking at a TROLLER brand boat, is the hull really a Boston Whaler?

There are quite a few hulls out there that look like boston whalers but aren't.

Check the boat thoroughly! Check the bottom of the hull and keel for dings and gouges. Check the deck for soft spots by walking every square inch of it. Ask if you can clean out the leaves and check the deck for cracks, gouges, and dings.

If the deck is soft anywhere or the hull or deck has holes in it let someone else buy it.

Ask if the motor runs, if it does... ask to hear it run. Doing a compression check on the motor is something you should consider.

If that hull is a boston whaler and doesn't have any holes in it top or bottom $900 is a pretty good deal.

If the hull has holes in it the floatation foam could very well be waterlogged which makes the hull worthless and you'll be paying $900 for the motor and trailer and getting a free worthless hull.

 

[JB]

Re: Looking at a TROLLER brand boat, is the hull really a Boston Whaler?

Hi, Charles.

Welcome to iboats.

Boston Whaler did not make a 16' hull during that period. No Boston Whaler needs a "floor" (correctly, sole) as the sole is part of the interior hull shell.

Yes, Boston Whaler hulls are superior enough that all sorts of charlatans claim their hulls are the same as Whalers.

If they lie about that, what else may they be lying about?