I bought my 11 ft. Whaler new in 1975 and it's still going strong. The standard model was originally rated for 10 hp, but later a steering wheel and throttle/shifter were added on a console for the center seat, which raised the permissable hp to 20. I have a Johnson 15 on mine as the same engine is used for both the 9.9 or 10 hp and the 15, no extra weight. The 15 turns another 1000 rpm faster to get the extra power. The weight of the Whaler alone was 210 lbs, but somehow mine seems heavier. It goes up behind the flybridge on my 50MY. The boat tolerates the weight just fine. I did add a stainless tubing upright between the aft edge of the flybridge deck and the main deck as I was getting some cracking at my uprights, which are where the wing doors are on the 53MYs. I thought the weight of the dingy may have caused the cracking, and this fixed it.
Mine has almost always been in salt water. No blisters. I used to leave it in the water when anchored out, but between reports of dingy thefts (mostly inflatables) and the possibility of having an emergency move at night I now mostly haul it up, so it's not in the water as much. I do have bottom paint on it, and the whole boat has been Imroned inside and out along with Fanfare. I painted the varnished seats white for less maintenance. A few years ago I replaced the black rubber rubrail as it was leaving black marks. That's it for repairs.
It is a perfect and speedy planing boat for one or two. Three is OK, but four adults requires care and attention to passing wakes. Still, I often take four adults snorkeling in reasonable ocean waves. As with all Whalers, it doesn't tip and it has the unsinkable flotation. After 32 years it's as good as new. I don't think this would be true of many other dinks, especially inflatables.
