posted 09-05-2008 05:58 AM ET (US)            

Good luck,

Erik

posted 09-06-2008 11:24 AM ET (US)            

I can't help Kai with information regarding how the boat handles in open sea. Dave Weight and his brother are the experts on that subject. But we have enjoyed our 16SL since 1992 and taken it everywhere. The latest was to northern Wisconsin near Hayward. For us that is 300 miles. I got 19mpg on our 2002 Toyota Sienna. We boated on two different lakes this time. The boat is easy to trailer, launch and load even when the launch ramp is primitive. So we are happy BW owners because the boat when have chosen fits our style of boating.

When I looked at my owners packet I found magazine articles I had collected at the time we bought the boat. Jim Barron, writing about the boat said, "it is a giant leap toward conventionalism. I'm not sure I like it, though." He adds, "That is not to say I'm down on Whaler." He had a Nauset that he loved. He adds, "In spite of the design changes, the 16SL is an excellent performing hull. The riding and handling qualities are similar to previous Whalers, but the new hull is drier in rough, windy weather. The hull planes easily and corners with only a modest amount of banking."

Joe Raguso in Motorboat magazine wrote a glowing article about the boat and gave the 16SL Motorboat Magazine's "Editor's Pick" award. Raguso writes, " Based on a fresh 15'6"L by 6'6"W hull, it is not reconstituted platform by any means." Later he says, "There is something on the Whaler 16SL to please every member of the family." He then enumerates features to pleas both the fishing crowd or the skiing fanatics. He notes the tremendous amount of storage space for a boat its size. Motorboat tested the 16SL on Sarasota Bay. Raguso adds, " This is also an efficient platform, planning 2800rpm with the Yamaha 90 and 19 inch stainless steel prop. Waterskiers will appreciate its out-of-the-hole performance;time to plane takes just under 3.6 seconds. Top speed was over 43 mph." Raguso finishes, "There isn't much that I'd recommend changing on the combination platform. Other than some of the performance nuances I mentioned earlier, the Whaler 16Sl's hull and layout are about as right as they can be for a boat this size. The Whaler design team did a fine job of designing this 16, and C. Raymond Hunt & Assoc. did an equally fine job on the running bottom. So if you are looking for a utilitarian sportboat that is not not only a jack of all trades, but a master of most of them, check out the 16SL."

Finally from Dave Mull of Lakeland Boating magazine. Mull likes the boat, which he tested near Saugatauk, Michigan. He mentions all the storage, comfortable ride and being dry. Mull ends his article with this line, "Whalers are an established sea going classic, and the 16SL is a fine addition to the line."

So if it is this good what led to its demise? In my opinion it was price. The invoice on our boat in 1992; this is boat, motor, trailer, cover, battery etc. was $21,283. That is premium for a 16 boat, particularly in 1992!

So here we are 16 years later with a boat load of great memories from boating on the Hudson River, Puget Sound, Coeur d'lene, four of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi ,plus numerous Wisconsin & Michigan lakes. Isn't this what boating is all about? So I submit that the 16SL is not a Whaler loser, but a sound boat that offers great fun.

I just heard from someone on this blog who bought a '92 boat, motor, and trailer for $7000. What a deal. I have seen others for sale for $9000.

One other issue. I would not put on a motor bigger than 90hp, nor would would I add a 4 stroke. In my opinion the 4 stroke is too heavy for the hull.

posted 09-06-2008 08:43 PM ET (US)            

Because of the pressure to own a "real" Whaler, I have looked at the possibility of moving up to a Montauk or a Ventura. Both are nice, but they don't offer sufficient gain to make the move. In each case it would mean not just up-grading the boat but also consider a bigger tow vehicle. In our view it wasn't worth it.

If you haven't seen a 16 up close I will tell you you would be amazed at the storage. One console will hold 6 life jackets. Underseat storage will hold towels, extra clothes etc. The anchor locker will hold two anchors and plenty of line. The 6 ft. in floor storage will hold skis, line etc., or beach equipment; folding chairs, umbrella etc. There are still two in-floor lockers in the rear which I use for tie downs. Sometimes the rear lockers are used as coolers. So when you are underway everything is out of the way and tidy. And I haven't mentioned the lockable glove box and storage under a rear seat.

So I no longer yearn for a classic and am satisfied with this throw-back Whaler version which is unsinkable and in its own way delightful.

Dick

posted 09-08-2008 12:40 PM ET (US)            

Yesterday we took friends to Madison,Wi. to boat on lakes Mendota and Monona. We put in on the east side of Mendota with a plan to show these folks UW-Madison from the water. The university is on the south end of the lake. There was a 15-20 mph breeze coming the southwest to northeast creating a 11/2-2 ft. chop. I told the ladies if it got too rough we would go to plan B. I found that between 1500 & 2000 rpm I could get enough bow lift and speed to make it a comfortable, dry ride. I got periodic spray in the helm seat, but not enough to get my clothes wet. Good design and higher free board helps. If I had tried the same trip with our 15 Super Sport Limited we all would have been wet just getting out into the lake.

Lake Mendota is connected to Lake Monona via the Yahara River. You lock through, then follow a channel from one lake to another. (There is now a $5 charge for a round trip through the lock.) The one downside to the afternoon was seeing the lack of water clarity in the Yahara. When we first visited Madison years ago it was crystal clear and there were no weeds.

Lake Monona was much more calm than Mendota so travel was easy. I wanted our friends to see Monona Terrace from the water. Monona Terrace is the last public building to be built from an old Frank Lloyd Wright plan. It is a gorgeous building and a great addition to downtown Madison. It is particularly beautiful to see lighted at night as it shines out over the lake.

It was another great afternoon of boating. Incidentally, another asset of this boat which makes these trips easy is its 24 gal. built-in gas tank. No plastic tanks sloshing around in the stern of the boat. Just check the gauge and go.

I'll quit now.

Dick

posted 09-10-2008 04:36 PM ET (US)            

Do you still have that interesting bow rail on your boat?

And I am with you, I want to hear about Kai's trip across Victoria Harbor.

posted 09-11-2008 08:30 AM ET (US)            

Found it. Good picture and the information on the club is interesting. I love the club house. Looks like a fantastic place to have a pint. I can appreciate why you like being part of membership.

For those who feel a "smirk" on the bow is an essential part of the Whaler brand, I hope you take note that 16SLs do have one. In fact, I would argue, more pronounced and classic than some of the new Dauntlesses.

posted 09-12-2008 01:29 AM ET (US)            

I have a 16 SL, and despite the derisive comments here (i.e. on the GAM area thread), I am prepared to say I think its a great boat. But what do I know - its my first boat. However, unlike most of you (from the GAM thread), I have been out in one!

I fish the coast from San Diego, around the La Jolla Kelp beds mostly, but have been on a few longer trips - one to the Coronados and back (66 sm round trip) and a few trips out to the 9 mile bank which from where I launch is 11 nm pretty much due west out into the pacific.

Its only a small boat, so heading out into the swells with livebait on board can restrict speed to around 11 kt or it gets airborne too much. Its only a modified V. On flat water with the original Yamaha 90 it will go more than 40 mph but I am never in flat water - typical cruising speed when not carrying bait or going due west is around 19 to 21 kt.

I put a pair of trim tabs on it which helps a lot at the higher cruising speeds in moderate chop.

The best thing about this boat - well there are two: 1) the amount of storage. It has a generous anchor locker up front. Each console can hold a lot of stuff for example i have 4 pfds, a throwable, fire extinguisher and my flares in the port console. I store boat documents, tools and then jackets and a fishing belt in the stbd helm console and there's room for more.

Food, snacks, drinking water for two people (I fish with two people most of the time) go into the seats forward of the consoles.

The "Ski Locker" presumably is long enough for skis, but it makes a great fish locker - more than twice the capacity of the lockers on say a 21 ft Outrage. And its fully insulated so it holds ice all night & all day and keeps fish very fresh.

To the rear are two small insulated fish boxes where I keep frozen chum or other fresh bait and other odds and ends.

I have two batteries under the rear seats so all that stuff is out the way.

The other great feature of the boat is that it is very dry - the bow flare works very effectively and we get essentially no water in the boat at any speed.

MPG is around 3.2 nmpg.

Its small enough to keep in the garage, its easily launched and operated by 1 person, and for my purposes it is pretty much perfect.

Limitations? A larger boat would have a) faster travel capability uphill and b) more range due to a bigger gas tank.

posted 09-12-2008 12:51 PM ET (US)            

Dave, would it be okay to have the Greenwich Yacht Club (GYC) as our home port? That would add a little class and international flavor to the club. Next we need a place for the annual meeting. How about GYC? The club house looks like a perfect setting for this venture.(If you can afford a 16SL what is a ticket to London?) Here it gets a bit touchy, would having the meeting on the 4th of July be seen as too tacky, Dave?

My first motion would be to nominate lhg for Honorary Commodore of the Fleet; my second would be to offer a toast to him for motivating us to get organized.

For the meal, could Dave and btb provide fish? I would be happy to bring Wisconsin cheese and corn fed beef tenderloins. ( My fishing skills are under developed and that adage "teach someone to fish and they will never go hungry" has never worked for me. I buy fish at the store.) Leigh, another owner in Louisiana, might be talked into bringing oysters and some Cajun specialties. Kai might be willing to bring Chinese noodles. I am sure there are other potential members who have special contributions to make to this feast.

I don't know where we should start on membership fees. How about $100? Then there is the question of owners of other models, should they be given an opportunity to join as associates? I do think center console boats should pay double, since their boats only perform one task, fishing. Ours are multi-purpose and can handle recreational boating and fishing.

It is an interesting idea to think about. Gee, it the communication get fast and furious, maybe jimh would create another category just for 16SL owners.

Just a note, I am writing this in the morning and I haven't had anything to drink.

posted 09-15-2008 08:41 AM ET (US)            

I have made a request of BW to see if they will give us the actual numbers of 16SLs produced.

We have not had Skate so Nancy and I would look forward to giving that a try.

posted 09-16-2008 03:25 AM ET (US)            

any suggestion:
if install a new 4 stroke eng. on SL16.. does 70HP is enough? 90HP would be too heavey ?

posted 09-16-2008 04:00 AM ET (US)            

I'm not sure but are you running a Mercury, ELPTO 90-hp, 2-stroke engine? If so I also know they are difficult to start. Here's how to best start the engine when it's cold:

-Make sure you have pumped your primer ball until it is hard. Holding it in a vertical position while pumping is best.
-Push the release button on the side of your control lever and put the lever in a 45° angle forward. I don't know what type of control unit you have but I assume there is a release button on it. If you start and the engine is running too fast, bring the lever back a bit. Do not exceed 2000 RPM.
-Turn your ignition key into the starting position and start the engine while pushing the key. This will prime the engine a bit more. When the engine is running stop pushing the key. If you feel that the engine will stall push the key again but very briefly. Repeat this until the engine runs on it's own.
-Let it run for a shortly while the control lever is in the 45° position but make sure you don't exceed 2000 RPM.
-Bring the lever back into the fixed-neutral position and let it run. The engine should not stall now unless it needs some adjusting.
If you have the engine manual the starting procedure should also be described in it.

To stop your porpoising problem, maybe you could put some weight forward and trim the engine inwards. I have heard that you can also solve this problem by screwing/gluing 2 small stainless steel plates to the transom of the boat. The plate has a small 30° bend and it extends about 1/2-inch below the hull bottom. It wasn't a 16 SL but a 17-ft Alert that had porpoising problems due to too much weight at the stern. It seems these small plates drastically improved the boat's ride. It took some experimenting though.

Erik

posted 09-16-2008 08:20 AM ET (US)            

4500rpm around ? knot?

BTB and Dave
i will goes out by myself too .. so, what will be and must be watching out during boating?

tks

posted 09-16-2008 08:54 AM ET (US)            

Your questions are now going to lead us to ask about the size of your prop and are you saying your trim feature on your motor is not working?

4 stroke over 2 stroke; my 90hp 2 stroke Yamaha weighs about 265 lbs. (Sorry, I am not good at metric.) A similar 4 stroke is about 100 lbs heavier. I judged that to be too heavy for the boat. Personally I think having a motor in the 250 - 275 lbs range is ideal for that hull. At the time I would have had to go to about 50hp 4 stroke to stay in my ideal weight range. You now may have more options. Suzuki might have a four stroke at a good weight. Since your boating is in the ocean I think the weight issue may be more important for you than someone like me who boats almost exclusively on inland waters.

Your issue of high bow when you start to come too plane. Like Erik asks, do you have the motor all the way down or as close to the transom as possible? Then tilt out after coming up on plane.

How much speed do you want? The more speed you want will mean a higher pitch prop, which in turn will effect how fast the boat will come up on plane, particularly if you have five or six people on the boat. I boat mostly with my wife who has no interest in going 43 mph in our boat. Plus we bring couples with us who also are not interested in speed, but cruising. All the occupants tend to be smaller than Dave Weight, but still of good proportion, plus a few beers and pop. Therefore I use a lower pitch prop that gives me plenty of "out of the hole" power and I can have the boat on plane in no time. Top end speed for the prop I use most of the time is in the upper 30s. I can plane the boat quite easily with six adults on board. But I have them sitting toward the front of the boat. (These small collapsible chairs fit perfectly in the center isle of the boat.)

Porpoising is easily controlled with the trim. I had much more porpoising with the Johnson motor and prop than I have with the Yamaha and my current prop. With my current combination it is almost non-existent.

Good to hear that as you clean up the boat it gets better and better looking. I also think yours is probably the only 16SL in HK harbor. (I remember being in Cozumel diving and we came into the harbor and low and behold there was a mammoth yacht that had a 16SL on davits on the upper deck. I wasn't sure I liked seeing my boat as someone's tender. But I did credit them with having good taste.)

posted 09-16-2008 08:58 AM ET (US)            

Your questions are now going to lead us to ask about the size of your prop and are you saying your trim feature on your motor is not working?

4 stroke over 2 stroke; my 90hp 2 stroke Yamaha weighs about 265 lbs. (Sorry, I am not good at metric.) A similar 4 stroke is about 100 lbs heavier. I judged that to be too heavy for the boat. Personally I think having a motor in the 250 - 275 lbs range is ideal for that hull. At the time I would have had to go to about 50hp 4 stroke to stay in my ideal weight range. You now may have more options. Suzuki might have a four stroke at a good weight. Since your boating is in the ocean I think the weight issue may be more important for you than someone like me who boats almost exclusively on inland waters.

Your issue of high bow when you start to come too plane. Like Erik asks, do you have the motor all the way down or as close to the transom as possible? Then tilt out after coming up on plane.

How much speed do you want? The more speed you want will mean a higher pitch prop, which in turn will effect how fast the boat will come up on plane, particularly if you have five or six people on the boat. I boat mostly with my wife who has no interest in going 43 mph in our boat. Plus we bring couples with us who also are not interested in speed, but cruising. All the occupants tend to be smaller than Dave Weight, but still of good proportion, plus a few beers and pop. Therefore I use a lower pitch prop that gives me plenty of "out of the hole" power and I can have the boat on plane in no time. Top end speed for the prop I use most of the time is in the upper 30s. I can plane the boat quite easily with six adults on board. But I have them sitting toward the front of the boat. (These small collapsible chairs fit perfectly in the center isle of the boat.)

Porpoising is easily controlled with the trim. I had much more porpoising with the Johnson motor and prop than I have with the Yamaha and my current prop. With my current combination it is almost non-existent.

Good to hear that as you clean up the boat it gets better and better looking. I also think yours is probably the only 16SL in HK harbor. (I remember being in Cozumel diving and we came into the harbor and low and behold there was a mammoth yacht that had a 16SL on davits on the upper deck. I wasn't sure I liked seeing my boat as someone's tender. But I did credit them with having good taste.)

posted 09-17-2008 07:08 PM ET (US)            

I put on our alternative aluminum prop which is 131/4 x 17. It is a little bit faster at the top end, but won't blow your hat off. I tracked it on our GPS, but our river is full with so much rain so the current is running at about 4mph and makes getting definite speeds a bit difficult.

posted 09-19-2008 05:14 AM ET (US)            

An E-Tec, 90-hp would be the perfect engine for your boat. Lots of power and acceleration and very light weight.

Erik

posted 09-20-2008 06:09 PM ET (US)            

A Yamaha at 261# is a better fit, in my view. The 90hp E-Tec is a horse at around 350#!

posted 09-20-2008 08:15 PM ET (US)            

Dave, I don't quite understand your last post. Are you advising Kai to mount a kicker engine in general or only if he would mount an E-Tec?

posted 09-21-2008 01:53 PM ET (US)            

After checking available 90hp engines, it appears to me the Yamaha offers the best power:weight ratio. The Mercury 2 stroke weighs in at 303#, that is 40# over the Yamaha. Admittedly the Yamaha is old technology but in some ways so is the boat. It is almost old enough to be a "classic'!

Dick

posted 09-23-2008 04:41 AM ET (US)            

If you wish to talk about re-powering your boat maybe you could post a new topic in the performance section. You will most likely get more response there. Not everyone reads the post-classic section, you see, and many have been re-powering their older Whalers for a long time.

I believe there are several options for you boat. IMO if you want a modern engine you will need to consider the weight of this new engine. I think Honda has a fairly light weight 90-HP out now. Also the new Suzuki's should weight much less than the previous models. I already mentioned the E-Tec option.

Erik

posted 09-24-2008 11:56 AM ET (US)            

Sounds like you want the safety of a kicker and quiet of a 4 stroke.

If you are mostly fishing/boating alone. You might consider a Yamaha 60 4 stroke and a small kicker 4-6 hp.

Tony and I were out this weekend in San Francisco Bay which may be similar in conditions to Hong Kong. His 15 foot Boston Whaler with 60 hp 4 stroke was more than enough power even against an ebbing tide.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v665/warrent/ Hans%20Denise%20Tony%202008/?action=view¤t=DSC_4251.jpg

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v665/warrent/ Hans%20Denise%20Tony%202008/?action=view¤t=DSC_4040.jpg

Have fun!

posted 09-27-2008 11:28 PM ET (US)            

Your mentioning pictures and Dave Weight's comments on Hong Kong Harbor prompted me to surf for pictures of the harbor. Wow, what a place to boat!Hope you take a few and post them here.

Dick

posted 10-02-2008 10:40 AM ET (US)            

Please let us know how it works out for you.

posted 10-02-2008 10:49 AM ET (US)            

Cheers,

posted 10-02-2008 11:24 AM ET (US)            

My backup motor (kicker) has saved my son twice and I have a new outboard. The first time my son left my live well running for hours with the ignition off, which killed the starting battery. The second time was a fuel line at the Fuel Supply Module that failed. Both times, the kicker motor got him back to the ramp.

Good luck and post some pictures.

Warren

PS. I took the pictures of Tony. Also, I predict that you will get a larger Whaler within 12 months. :-)

posted 10-02-2008 06:20 PM ET (US)            

IMO, SL 16 is over design in 1991-1994.
please take a new BW catalog to compare our existing 16SL with 18' Ventura.

email copy as below:

>>>>>

Hello Kai,

The 16'SL was originally replaced with the 17' Dauntless. The 17' Dauntless ran from 1996-1997. After that the 18' Ventura took its place.
Regards,
Chuck

"invent-tech" <inventec@netvigator.com>
10/01/2008 10:09 PM To <cbennett@whaler.com>

cc
Subject RE: max HP of sl16

Dear Chuck,

Tks for your information, it is very useful for me to repower my boat.

By the way, what’s the replacement model of 16 SL?

w.rgds

kai

From:cbennett@whaler.com [mailto:cbennett@whaler.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 11:33 PM
To: kai
Cc: Andrew.Luedke@whaler.com
Subject: Fw: max HP of sl16

Hello Kai,

The 16' SL was produced from 1991-1994.
This boat is 15'6" long, 6'6" beam, 10" draft (with the engine tilted clear of the water), 1025lbs estimated dry weight, 1320lbs max. weight capacity, 2500lbs swamped capacity, 6 person capacity, 90 hp maximum, 55 hp minimum, 20" engine shaft length and 24 gallon fuel capacity.

posted 10-13-2008 08:31 AM ET (US)            

I would be interested in hearing what Mills could design for you.