Whaler upgrades

1983 15 SS Whaler

The following is a photo journal of the upgrades - changes to our 15' Whaler for the benefit of the Continuous Wave web site.

Been awhile since I started this post. Had a good summer to play with the boat.

My 15’ foot whaler upgrades, including a 4 stroke re-power.

Below is a list of changes to our Ebay 1983 15’ Whaler. I also have pictures posted at the following link.

I split the site into 4 pages to speed loading time for those without broadband.

The changes:

	Outboard replaced with a new 50hp 4 stroke Honda (see review below)
	Rusted old Tempo gas tank replaced with a custom made 28 gallon aluminum tank. This tank was made to just fit between the gunnels and below the bench.
	Spin on fuel filter added to transom (a Honda requirement)
	Wood hatch cover, bench seat and back, console trim, and side boards all replaced with starboard
	When I replaced the bench I made the back about 4 inches taller and more vertical. It is much more comfortable now. I also raised the bench about an inch
	Starboard door made for center console
	Aluminum grab rail custom made for my wife to have something to grab onto instead of the windscreen. The bar is a little high, but my wife is partially disabled and this is the perfect height for her. And now that it is done, I like the height too. Now if I can only find a taller windscreen.
	The console is hinged in the front with two bolts athwart ship in the rear to hold it down. Very steady with the grab rail
	Honda gauges installed, note the Honda water pressure gauge does not work on a 50 hp, wasted hole. A Speedo was added to fill the hole from the old Mercury key switch. There are 5 gauges now, tach (with hour meter), Speedo, volt, trim and water pressure.
	New VHF and compass in white
	Relocated VHF the antenna to the stern
	Garmin 276C GPS with the black box sounder option, that’s pretty cool
	All wiring and switches replaced
	Horn, cigar lighter added
	3 spoke stainless wheel with spinner
	Replaced bilge pump with a 500 gpm “auto type and relocated the pump discharge to a new thru hull.
	Flag staff
	Dive ladder
	Relocated the mast light to open up the corner for the dive ladder
	Stripped the bottom to bare gel coat, various repairs, 5 coats of Interlux 2000E and 2 coats of Interlux Micron Extra. I don’t even do this much to my big boat!
	Keel protector added, after repairing the damage that was covered with bottom paint. And I tend to bump the bow up against our floating dock and keep it in gear so our two Goldens can get on board
	When I get the new registration next month I will haul the boat again, remove all the decals, compound, wax replace the pin stripe and decals

The Honda…. Well it runs great off idle. At idle in gear and at times out of gear it runs a little rough, shakes enough that you can feel it in the seat and wheel. Half of my cruising in my river is at idle, so this will have to be looked at.

As far as performance, I am a little disappointed. After several props (all stainless) I can max out at 30 knots, WOT and playing with the trim. This is full tank of fuel and 1 person, 155 pounds. This is GPS speed from my Garmin 276C. In a recent test (Power & Motor Yacht I think) between a radar gun, this GPS and a $20,000 GPS the Garmin was found to be extremely accurate.

It has a little trouble getting out of the hole during moderate acceleration, so I put on a Doel Fin. I don’t see any difference with the fin. I think the motor needs to be shimmed “in”.

30 knots is fast in a little boat, but it did over 40 before, and that wasn’t wide open, and it could pull a skier with ease. I haven’t tried a skier yet with the new motor.

The boat does not run at an even keel, it lists to port. That is the side the battery is on, but the battery is very close to the center line and even with me sitting on the starboard side it still leans a little, might have to add a little “fixed tab” to the transom. I can’t recall if it did this before, as the old outboard went south the second time out.

The four stroke is great for my wife (supposed to be her boat). Clean, fairly quiet, although not as quiet as the 130’s and 150’s we have on our towboats. As far as economy, couldn’t tell you, having too much fun zipping around the bay. No oil to mix and the fuel tank is big enough that she won’t have to worry about putting fuel in.

Key point to consider…. If your going to take everything out of the hull over the winter you may as well flip it and do the bottom, instead of waiting till July and haul & blocking it. I scraped – chipped all the old bottom paint off on my back.

The boat as it looked when picked up and its first run.
(bought off of ebay).

Although the motor says 70hp, it is a 4 cylinder, which makes it an 80 to 90.
The boat ran very well for a short period of time, topping out at 45 mph (by GPS)
On the 2nd outing the motor seized up and I had to be towed in. Upon disassembling the motor I found a hole in the crankcase at the bottom of the crank, and it appears that there had been water in the bearing for some time. oh well - buyer beware.

In this photo on the dash you can see a Standard VHF, Speaker, Compass & GPS holder.
The only thing still there is the VHF, and that will be replaced with a white model.
The speaker caused the compass to do 360's when I took it off.
Wonder if the previous owner ever actually need the compass!

Trailer that came with the boat, a 1962 Gator Tilt Trailer, in very good shape.
This trailer is replaced by a new Loadrite 1500 lb. model

The motor is being replaced with a 50HP Honda. Other changes include relocating the battery to the console, replace the fuel tank, rewire the boat, replace the teak with Starboard, all new gauges, compass etc. Adding my Garmin 276C from my truck to the boat too. I have Garmin's "black box" sounder option to install yet.

Before I started ripping stuff out......

I can't believe the gas tank has this label on it!

Stuff removed

New 28 gallon (outside measurement) tank custom made by SP Sheet metal in Toms River, NJ
For those that want to know, $535
The tank goes right to the edge of the nonskid, has a fuel gauge and the filler is within reach of the gas station nozzle while the boat is on the trailer.

The new 50HP Honda hanging on an engine hoist

There may not be enough of a slope on the transom with this boat. The motor doesn't seem to quite tuck in close enough. It may have to come back off for shims.

I am waiting for the ancillary equipment to come in to finish the install.

A battery "on-off" switch was added, fuse block, new cables, bilge pump (Rule Auto 500) light switch, lights, compass, flush mount horn and horn button.
Also in this picture a terminal block can be seen for the Garmin Black box sounder.

Additionally, the console was hinged to ease the work. The console is also the first to have the teak replaced with Starboard, although it doesn't show well in these pictures.

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