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Hey there folks, this is my first post here on Whaler Central. I have been shopping for my first boat for about a year (off and on, anyway). I live in Florida, and while kayaking on a recent Sunday afternoon I came across a Boston Whaler 16 SL. The boat didn't have a 'for sale' sign, but long story short, its owner is willing to sell it to me for $4K. This price doesn't include a trailer.

I like to fish and I would be using this boat to do some fishing in the Intracoastal, tootling in the canals, as well as perhaps taking it out in the open water on a calm day. I am going to go tomorrow to take a look close-up. Like I said, this is my first boat, so I am here wondering if I could get some advice from those who have lived and learned (that'd be y'all ;)

The boat has a bimini top. I don't know whether it has trim tabs to reduce porpoising that I read about, but I will ask. In talking to the owner, I learned that its fuel tank has been replaced. I've been reading a lot about the 16SL on Whaler Central and I understand this is a common(ish) repair. The boat has been sitting for 2 years, save for a few trips. Owner also told me the tank needs to be cleaned out, and the fuel line replaced. The price includes these repairs -- owner said the price will come down if I would like to make these repairs myself (or with the help of a friend).

The boat has a 90HP motor, but I cannot remember the make, nor do I know what year this particular 16 SL was made. I will find all this info out tomorrow. In my quick kayak trip, the boat looked like it was well kept despite having not been run. Its owner cleaned it up every so often, but it has not been given the right amount of attention for the last two years (and it's been sitting in the water). The motor started right up on an external gas tank, but the built-in tank will need to be cleaned before I give it a try. I know it's hard to gauge whether this is a good price without seeing more pictures, but the boat looked beautiful from the water. However, I know looks can be deceiving.

This site is a great reference! I have learned a lot from reading here this past week. I have grown up around boats all my life, and I am really keen on having my very own. I am wondering what I should look for when I go to take a look -- particularly with the 16 SL model, for those who have handled one in the past -- and what kinds of immediate repairs/maintenance I should anticipate. For the record, plenty of folks have warned me that boat stands for Break Out Another Thousand :) haha. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!