WELCOME TO RIVER DAVES PLACE

Tastes Change when you get older

RiverDave

In it to win it
Joined
Sep 13, 2007
Messages
123,235
Reaction score
150,648
When I was a kid I used to look at open bows and think “eewwww.” I remember seeing whalers and thinking “oh my god who would want one of those god forsaken things.”

Now I’m older and I’d kill for a nice Schiada or Howard whaler v drive.. :D


Im cruising fb the other day and ran across these old Eliminator bass boats (whaler style).. my younger self would punch me in the face for even thinking about it.. My older self is saying “that thing is kinda bad ass?”!”

DEA16751-0FE5-4A4E-A702-16BE3C3771AC.png
08E75263-2884-4233-BE7D-5B516860ADAD.png
BA41DFA8-EE07-4A8B-928C-6AAC9BED942C.png
7EAFF00E-FDAD-4890-9ADC-D746287E1EFB.png
C123348C-C327-4503-A5E0-BD2005F281EB.png
ADFFEC88-6275-428F-ACE1-CF0893D013CF.jpeg
 

Desert Whaler

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2020
Messages
4,436
Reaction score
16,159
Those are killer.
They weren't made for very long from what little I know.
The guy who shapes my surfboards knows a decent amount of info about those and the guy who designed them.
Very cool and unique.
Champion made a pretty cool 'Fish & Ski' model as welll . . the hull was the same as the decked bass hull model.
 

Motor Boater

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2007
Messages
4,353
Reaction score
3,741
I’ve always loved my closed bow boats but with kids and other families the open bow is the way to go. I can barely get 2 families in my 28 Bullett but I could get 3 families in my 24 Tige.
 

Your ad here

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
4,597
Reaction score
7,404
I really want a V drive Whaler. I ended up getting a closed bow RC but a V drive Whaler is still on the list. Like how much room there is.
 

guest hs

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Messages
6,288
Reaction score
6,837
If I was into Bass Boats that would be Bad Ass but I’m not so not so much sorry !
 

Nanu/Nanu

Don't wait til' life's easy to be happy
Joined
Jul 30, 2020
Messages
2,564
Reaction score
4,603
Is Dave having a case of buyers remorse?

I really like the way his post ended.
 

pixrthis

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2008
Messages
1,918
Reaction score
4,686
I still can’t stand whalers or open bows, I know it puts me in the minority but I don’t care. Closed deck boats are more fun to drive and look at so I’ll deal with any inconvenience.
 

Havaduner

Never home on weekends
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
3,362
Reaction score
1,617
I remember when my dad bought his Eliminator Whaler. We had gone from a 18" Eliminator Bubble Deck with a 454, to a 21' Formula (that lasted about 6 months) and then we sat down with Bob Leach and ordered the whaler (with a small block and Volvo 280 drive) Bob asked me what I thought of the boat ( I was like 11 or 12) I told him it wasn't cool, and that it was an old mans boat..... We had more fun with that whaler, and got more compliments on that boat than I can remember.
We had it for almost 20 years, and I traded it in when I bought my first Cobra. Saw it on the water for a couple summers, then no more. I miss that boat!!
 

OkHallett270

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2020
Messages
264
Reaction score
628
Just buy the bass boat and the Daytona Dave! The Daytona is gonna be temporary anyway right?
 

SOCALCRICKETT

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2008
Messages
4,034
Reaction score
6,876
They made only 3, pretty cool 100 mph bass boat
Really? So all 3 are accounted for then. The teal boat is in town, the brown dave posted and the red one is for sale on Facebook marketplace

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk
 

OLDRAAT

inadequate member
Joined
Oct 3, 2007
Messages
2,617
Reaction score
4,068
I’m from Oklahoma, bass boats are a big part of life there. I’ve always thought those eliminator bass boats were awesome!

I agree, never have noticed one in the mid south. It's a solid looking rig with a nice layout.
 

boatdoc55

Rest Easy Retired Boat Mechanic 😢🚤
Joined
Jan 28, 2011
Messages
7,814
Reaction score
11,272
I remember when my dad bought his Eliminator Whaler. We had gone from a 18" Eliminator Bubble Deck with a 454, to a 21' Formula (that lasted about 6 months) and then we sat down with Bob Leach and ordered the whaler (with a small block and Volvo 280 drive) Bob asked me what I thought of the boat ( I was like 11 or 12) I told him it wasn't cool, and that it was an old mans boat..... We had more fun with that whaler, and got more compliments on that boat than I can remember.
We had it for almost 20 years, and I traded it in when I bought my first Cobra. Saw it on the water for a couple summers, then no more. I miss that boat!!
Well, your Dad and Bob picked out the BEST drive ever built!!!!
 

Nordie

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
7,461
Reaction score
10,905
The blue one was for sale on here, I really really like that boat for some reason. I like the whalers too.
 

hallett21

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2010
Messages
16,856
Reaction score
20,159
Surprised these never took off. I thought top end was everything in the bass boats.

Not like they are known for rough water capabilities.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

TPC

Wrenching Dad
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Messages
30,437
Reaction score
22,522
27’ Tritoon with a couple 400’s? Woulda never dreamed that but are they ever fun to drive.
Now it’s all about price.
 

Your ad here

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2014
Messages
4,597
Reaction score
7,404
Another cool thing about Whalers, depending on the console seating but most of the time, you can have your chick or best friend next to you as your driving. One of these days I'll have a big power V drive Whaler. The old man sleeper boat.
 

Shlbyntro

Ultra Conservative
Joined
May 27, 2018
Messages
7,744
Reaction score
22,543
Any one of the boats posted will ultimately be cheaper than the big booby woman you posted. In the end she'd probably end up with the boat.
But I'm sure it will be a fun ride.....

Her or the boat?
 

woodagain

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2009
Messages
176
Reaction score
423
I’m with you Dave. I’d take that boat slide a jet in it with a set back pump and a decent 650 HP motor. It would run 75/80.
Great lower river ski boat. Very nice boat for pulling young tubers and skiiers
Open bow boats can be cool.
047D3813-EF8A-461F-B133-2D6D99E82326.jpeg
E5A68041-17AD-4456-A1EB-858CD433DFB3.jpeg
047D3813-EF8A-461F-B133-2D6D99E82326.jpeg
 

Havaduner

Never home on weekends
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
3,362
Reaction score
1,617
Well, your Dad and Bob picked out the BEST drive ever built!!!!
Well I remember at the time, Bob told my dad the boat would work better with the Volvo drive. I know we pushed that drive (and hull) After about the second year we had it my dad put a small B&M blower on the small block, and he and Tom Stolarz made a new nose cone for the drive. We filled the small block with water in a storm one year, so my dad yanked it and dropped a 502 in it. We replaced gears and drive shafts in that drive a bunch, but it never let us down!
 

ONE-A-DAY

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 21, 2010
Messages
18,098
Reaction score
25,629
The tan one I think is for sale.. I shoulda bought that instead of this little Daytona. 😍
Was wondering your thought process on that. Please post a pic of you sitting in it, those things are tiny.
 

ka0tyk

Warlock Performance Boats Merchandise Connections
Joined
Oct 4, 2010
Messages
9,025
Reaction score
11,374
Whats this thread about again? That last pic caught me off guard.
 

boatdoc55

Rest Easy Retired Boat Mechanic 😢🚤
Joined
Jan 28, 2011
Messages
7,814
Reaction score
11,272
Well I remember at the time, Bob told my dad the boat would work better with the Volvo drive. I know we pushed that drive (and hull) After about the second year we had it my dad put a small B&M blower on the small block, and he and Tom Stolarz made a new nose cone for the drive. We filled the small block with water in a storm one year, so my dad yanked it and dropped a 502 in it. We replaced gears and drive shafts in that drive a bunch, but it never let us down!
Back in the mid 80's my boss and I did a lot of work for Tom. He was right down the street from us in Anaheim, the boat capitol of the world at the time. Hell might have done work on your boat. We put many, many BBC's in front of 280 drives. Rob Clark of QPM was with my boss also and then went on to work for Stolarz when he started Warlock Boats.
Tom really knew his stuff and as far as I know still does work on super trick stuff. I remember those mini blowers from back then and they worked well.
 

Havaduner

Never home on weekends
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
3,362
Reaction score
1,617
Back in the mid 80's my boss and I did a lot of work for Tom. He was right down the street from us in Anaheim, the boat capitol of the world at the time. Hell might have done work on your boat. We put many, many BBC's in front of 280 drives. Rob Clark of QPM was with my boss also and then went on to work for Stolarz when he started Warlock Boats.
Tom really knew his stuff and as far as I know still does work on super trick stuff. I remember those mini blowers from back then and they worked well.
You probably did work on it! Rob was the one that got the BBC for my dad, and then from there it went to Tom for the drive work.
 

RiverDave

In it to win it
Joined
Sep 13, 2007
Messages
123,235
Reaction score
150,648
You just like them now because it is like a mini CC that is affordable, and you can get in and out of it without an extension ladder 😂

I grew up in a closed bow day cruiser more or less.. spent most of my twenties in an open bow Nordic.. lol. Last boat was a closed bow..

Newest boat is a freakin patio.. little boat is a closed bow.. my little little boat is a bath tub..

I’m all over the place
 

YumaRivernaut

How Far Off Was I?
Joined
Jun 24, 2019
Messages
5,022
Reaction score
7,919
Another cool thing about Whalers, depending on the console seating but most of the time, you can have your chick or best friend next to you as your driving.
Hell with that! Best friend up goes up front with twin set of racks on either side makes for a titty sammich and I be the meat in between. 👍😎👍
Steer with my foot and sample the shaky pudding on each side while cruising up the rivaah! 😁
I’m with you Dave. I’d take that boat slide a jet in it with a set back pump and a decent 650 HP motor. It would run 75/80.
Great lower river ski boat. Very nice boat for pulling young tubers and skiiers
Open bow boats can be cool. View attachment 978587 View attachment 978588 View attachment 978587
I can fit 8 comfortably 10 squished in my rig. Can sleep and/or do the wango tango in it as well.😉

Got a Chris Straub engineered, AFR headed, 489 stroker engine scheduled for the dyno @ Klein Racing Engines in Phoenix on the 12th.

Chris guesstimated it at ~ 650 HP.
We shall see soon.
Gonna be a bitchin season!
Love my Liberty! 😍
20190512_171934.jpg
20190512_171918.jpg
20190518_142651.jpg
 

BingerFang

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2012
Messages
3,159
Reaction score
8,289
Same bottom as my Eliminator Stoker. So much fun to drive, it's ridiculous.

We do runs from the Springs, launch at 8am and sprint up to Topock for breakfast/lunch all summer on off weekends. Then launch down in big river and burn gas down there until the sun goes down.


IMG_5043.jpeg
 

blue wonder

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 26, 2010
Messages
726
Reaction score
1,646
A good buddy of mine owned the blue one a couple years back, was a bitchen boat for sure, especially with the 300xs on it
 

twocents

RDP Staff Member
Staff member
Joined
Aug 20, 2009
Messages
1,610
Reaction score
2,992
Had an Eliminator Whaler outboard (yes...with a 200 hp Suzuki) work and photo boat for many years. Put just over 4000 hours on it and the motor (no mechanical issues -- same spark plugs, same water pump impeller). Had an ugly (removable aluminum photo tower in the center) That boat went everywhere -- 9 different states and at least a half dozen trips to Catalina. "Satellite Mike" was my main photo boat driver.
 

Havaduner

Never home on weekends
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
3,362
Reaction score
1,617
Here's my dads with the original interior. This pic was taken at one of the first Eliminator Regattas. Eventually the interior was changed much like the pic from Mosquito Creeks boat.
 

Attachments

  • Eliminator Whaler sell sheet.pdf
    1.3 MB · Views: 156
Top