CONTINUOUSWAVE

Hi. In November 2020 I became the new owner of a 1991 16 SL. While a long time sailer, motorboats are new to me. I am looking forward to all the 16 SL has to offer. We’re living close to the coast of Maine, and I will be keeping the SL 16 on a mooring.

According to the owners manual, if you’re the boat is kept on a mooring, the drain plug in the ski locker should be in, but leave the two stowage lockers drain plugs out.

Does that sound right?

The boat came without any covers. This model isn’t one that many Boston Whaler suppliers have listed. I did find that Wm. J. Mills & Co offers a mooring cover and console seat cover.

Suggest other vendors who make a mooring cover and console seat cover for the 16 SL.

The 16 SL has a Yamaha F60. To me the boat handles well-- but time will tell. There is a hydrofoil, and once on the plane the steering feels a bit heavy.

I see other owners of the 16 SL use more powerful engines. Maybe having only 60-HP is the reason the previous owner put on a hydrofoil

--Peter

Peter--Welcome. Let's tackle the list in steps.

Prior to placing the boat on a mooring, closely inspect all the drain tubes. There is a chance they are original, and, if so, the drain tubes should be replaced as a preventative measure. This can be a DIY.

The Achilles heal of a Boston Whaler is water ingress into the foam filled hull. Any screw hole should be sealed with a sealant--not adhesive.

Follow the manual. It would be helpful to you to witness the boat's static trim with the drain plugs out. When able, tie up to a float. Plug the ski locker and pull the plug in the storage locker drains. Step out of the boat and observe were the static water level is. Step in the boat and fill the ski locker with water (simulate major rain). Step out. Observe.

For canvas products, please clarify general location. The Maine Coast is a bit long. Are you in Kittery? Southwest Harbor or Eastport?

Thank you for the recommendations. The 16 SL boat is laid up for the winter now. The boat needs a good bottom-paint job in the spring. At the same time I was going to have the drain tubes replaced.

I’m located just north of Portland in Brunswick.

Thank you for all the advice.--Peter

For a Boston Whaler boat that will be kept on a mooring, be sure to follow the factory recommended procedure for bottom paint. Before applying anti-fouling paint, the portion of the hull bottom that will be in the seawater should be protected with a two-part epoxy paint as a barrier coat to prevent osmotic blistering of the hull laminate.

Cf.: http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/manual9-17/maintenance.html#bottom

As for the [60-HP] engine, the minimum horsepower rating for the 16SL is 55-HP.

The boat's performance will be dependent on loading, engine mounting, and propeller selection.

I would proffer with an F60 the prior owner did not run long distances or with loads or pulled a tube or skier.

I would suggest in Spring 2021 you do some testing and evaluation. I think you will find the engine is mounted too low, the propeller should be changed, possibly to a stainless three-bladed or a four-bladed propeller, the foil should be removed, and trim tabs should be installed.

There are many threads here and in the archives on the 16SL. I would take advantage of the snowy days--I hope you have that type of winter--and do some reading prior to spring.