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Congratulations on the purchase of Sakonnet 16 #35162.

More than 4 decades ago, my first Boston Whaler experience was on a Sakonnet 16 powered by a Johnson 50 two cylinder outboard. I used to waterski, lobster, fish, etc., on it in coastal areas on Cape Cod Bay, from Plymouth up the coast to Minot's Ledge Light. I never once thought it underpowered. Sure, it could not go faster than 30 mph; but who wants to go faster than 30 mph in a Whaler 16, in Cape Cod Bay 4 foot waves?

More than a dozen years ago, I owned a Katama 16 also powered by a Johnson 50 hp two cylinder, two stroke motor. I probably put more than a 1000 hours a summer on that boat/motor; only once did I experience the need for more HP, during a run with 5 persons from East Falmouth to Vineyard Haven, on a bright sunny but rough day, 24 hours after a storm passed through in mid-August.

Today, I am finishing up my 5 coats of varnish on my 1971 Nauset 16 center console and pilot seat. The wind has picked up, and the pollen is flowing in the air, so I will wait for better conditions to apply the final coat. I have a BRP 2003 Johnson 90 HP two stroke "looper" for power, mounted three holes up running a stilletto stainless 15 pitch.

Owning a blue hull 16 with mahogany interior requires some degree of work, but it is enjoyable to do, and, the comments departing and returning to dock, are always satisfying to hear.

If your plywood on the base of the console is dark, stained, and/or rotten, just replace it. When you do install new mahogany wood, be sure to consider North Kingstown, RI-based Master Shipwright Louis Sauzedde's advice for using deep penetrating epoxy as a base coat on the lower console, where it makes contact with the deck.