CONTINUOUSWAVE

On May 8, 2020 I took delivery of my just-repowered custom c.1963 16-footer with its new SUZUKI 90-HP engine. Huff Marine of Corpus Christi, Texas, installed the engine and new hydraulic steering; they did a phenomenal job. I was considering doing the installation myself or paying $1,500 in labor and miscellaneous controls and having the dealer do it. I chose the dealer. The installation worked out great. Sometimes paying the man is worth the peace of mind.



I only have three hours run time on the SUZUKI 90-HP--breaking it in. The engine runs quietly and looks great. I appreciate all the great advice received on this forum. Thanks--MAV

The boat looks like it belongs to a government agency. You need to be in a military uniform to be at the helm--maybe Coast Guard blues.

An orange slash on the forward quarter of the hull sides would be a nice touch, too. Other boats will get out of your way.

I salute you for this restoration.

The proportions of the SUZUKI 90-HP are a good match for that hull. It looks very good back there.

The boat was flipped upside down and bottom and entire exterior sanded down to original gel coat and some minor repairs from previous owners. Looked good. Very light as my son and I rolled it. The hull was re-gel-coated in gray. Added a stick-on keel guard by Megaware--a great and tight fit. The hull bottom has anti-fouling paint; here sea growth is aggressive.

Jim--Hah great comment!

Fun (non-original) project but good a solid knock-around boat for bay and shallow water use we have at Padre.

You need some sort of official-looking round logo to put on the front of the console to further maintain the illusion. Here are a few, but there are dozens more--every agency has one.



Then have a custom decal made, but change the wording slightly so as not to infringe on the actual agency. For example, change "United States Marine Corp" to "United States Maverick Corps."

Good job! I guess we can now officially say the 90hp Suzuki 4 stroke is NOT too heavy for a classic 16/17 hull. Static trim looks great.

Let us know your performance results after you complete the break-in period.

Thanks Biggie. Yes rides really high - hull is light and dry. Anxious to see hole shot and top end, my first 4-stroke. Propped with 19” SS Powertech. Slowest at idle is 2.1 mph. Just barely increasing idle is 6 mph. Have two more hours break in then can open it up. I’m thinking it’s going to roll pretty good given the weight. Thanks Mav

Hah, On the round decals, I’m very familiar (in a good way) with four of the ones shown...you guess which.

Seriously, I like the stealthy, outside the box look. Boat was so rough looking when I started that I decided to take some paint liberties. I can appreciate original too. Probably the last Whaler I’ll own as the shadows grow long for me. Best Regards, Whaler friends.

May I suggest "Corps of Engines"?

"CORPS OF ENGINES" = perfect.

What exactly is going on with the navigation light on the engine? That does not look legal or very useful.

The discussion about the performance of this boat is now moved to the PERFORMANCE forum:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5461&p=31600#p31324

As far as I know [the lamp on this boat] is legal as long as the height is in line with state/federal requirements. Pretty popular down here for some reason. I think it keeps it out of the way when fishing or throwing a net. Personally I think they just ruined a $500 engine cowling and every time you remove the cowling you need to disconnect the wiring.

The white all-round lamp mounted on the engine is clearly not legal under federal navigation rules. The white all-round light must be shown at least 1-meter higher than the sidelights, and it has to be visible in a 360-degree arc of the horizon. The sidelight lamps on this boat are at the console. The white all-round lamp is just about at the same height as the sidelight lamps. The white all-round light on this boat is blocked by the center console from being seen from ahead from a significant portion of the required 360-degree of the horizon. So it fails on two important parameters: arc of visibility and vertical height separation from the sidelights.

The boat is used in Texas, and perhaps Texas has different regulations about navigation lighting.

A better solution would be to mount the white all-round lamp on a pole from the middle of the center console, and provide a shade to keep the light off the helmsman.

I agree with NICK about the modification to the cowling. Also, keeping the lamp wiring out of the engine flywheel will be a concern.

Jim....I do not think the all around light rules pertain to 16' boats as a federal regulation. I thought we had that discussion when somebody here made their own 360 light a few months back.

I don't recall the conversation Nick alludes to.

I do recall this thread:

Classic Montauk All-round White Lamp Relocation
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4903&p=28136

Discussions about the Navigation Rules for Lighting are generally of little value unless a specific rule is quoted and cited. The rule for power boat underway is Rule 23. There is no special category for boats of 17-feet or less. There is a special rule for boats less than 39-feet, which would include a 17-foot boat, but it makes no exemption for arc of visibility or vertical separation for the white all-round lamp.

NAVIGATION RULES
Rule 23 - Power-driven Vessels Underway
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=NavRulesAmalgamated#rule23

The lights--which is the actual light to be shown and not the lamp (lanterb) that makes the light--are defined in Rule 21:

Rule 21 - Definitions
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=NavRulesAmalgamated#rule21

The technical specifications for the lanterns (which are often called lamps) are described in an annex to the rules:

ANNEX I - Positioning and Technical Details of Lights and Shapes
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=NavRulesAmalgamated#Annex1

While it may be "functional" to the operator, an all-round light installed on an outboard engine cover does not help fellow boaters transiting nearby at night.

I highly recommend Mav remove the light, use grommet covers to seal the cover holes and install an appropriately tall stern mounted all-round navigation light.

The navigation rules have an interesting comment about the requirements for the all-round light. Here is the applicable rule, taken from ANNEX 1 at

[9ǂ15]. Horizontal sectors....
(b)(i) All-round lights shall be so located as not to be obscured by masts, topmasts or structures within angular sectors of more than 6 degrees, except...the all-round white light described in Rule 23(e), which may not be obscured at all ››. (Emphasis added)

On my boat, the white all-round lantern or lamp is mounted atop a very tall pole, over 8-feet long, in order to position the lantern so it is 1-meter higher than the sideight lantern and completely clear of all obstructions, including the usual Flying Top canvas over the helm. Carrying around a pole that is over 8-feet long is a bit awkward at times, but that is what is needed to satisfy the requirements of the navigation rules, and that is what Boston Whaler provided with the boat.