Fans of Boston Whaler’s original 13-foot skiff will recognize the layout and overall “can do” spirit behind the 160 Super Sport.
With all due respect to that original Whaler, this is a lot more boat. She is both utilitarian and nimble, with a side console, a self-bailing, hose-it-out cockpit, and, of course, an unsinkable hull. Moreover, she’s easy to tow and easy to launch, fuel-efficient, and compact enough on her trailer to fit in a standard garage.
With either of her available engines, a 75- or 90-hp Mercury, and her optional tow arch ($1,733), she pulls skis and water toys with ease. Both engines combine good performance with fuel efficiency, with the 90-hp (a $651 option) a step faster at top end. Meanwhile, her sharp bow entry, buoyant forward hull sections, wide, reversed chines, and carefully-shaped running surface give her seaworthiness for the Chesapeake’s rivers and creeks, as well as open Bay waters on relatively calm days. For shade, a blue or black suntop is a $1,929 option. Seating options for a sunset cruise include two at the helm bench, one on a cooler beside the console, one an aftermarket cooler in front of the console, and a pair on the bow deck (with $689 optional cushion, in calm waters). Like the original 13-foot Whaler, rigging for fishing will require ingenuity and aftermarket equipment, but any enthusiastic Chesapeake angler will answer that challenge easily, as many before have done with the 13-foot.
Beyond the basics, several details on the 160 Super Sport stand out as examples of Whaler’s thorough planning process. To keep her simple, the self-bailing cockpit eliminates the need for a bilge pump. Low-profile cockpit side rails are standard, great comfort features for passengers who must sit while underway.
The transom includes a step pad at each corner, with a telescoping swim ladder on the port one. The console holds a storage compartment with a lockable lid. The bow compartment is shaped to hold a 7-pound fluke-style anchor with rode and chain, with an 8-inch cleat just forward and a bowlight whose base acts as a rope guide. The galvanized trailer comes standard with a tongue jack and a mounted spare tire. The standard fuel system is a pair of 6.5-gallon polyethylene tanks that mount under the companion side of the helm bench. With them, either engine choice will provide 70-90 miles (statute) of range, but for more, opt for a 19-gal. poly tank ($660) that fits in the same space. The battery fits under the starboard side of the helm bench. The standard propeller for either engine is a 13.5 x 15-inch aluminum Spitfire four-blade, which offers excellent thrust and trim control.
Instead of multiple gauges on the dash, both available engines come standard with Mercury’s VesselView monitoring system, which connects through Bluetooth with the skipper’s phone. It would be useful to add an aftermarket phone holder somewhere around the helm, so that the phone could also carry an inexpensive GPS charting app like C-Map (a sister company to Mercury). A compact sonar/fishfinder like the Lowrance Eagle 4X (another Mercury sister company) would fit easily on the shelf to starboard of the helm console.
Chesapeake Whalertowne has six 160 Super Sports in stock at this writing and is currently offering the boat with up to $3,000 in dealer-offered discounts.
. Click here to inspect them. They’re sweet little rigs.
Specifications:
Capacity: 6 persons
Fuel Capacity: 13 gallons standard, 19 gallons optional
Maximum Weight Capacity: 1,529
LOA: 16 feet 2 inches
Beam: 6 feet 10 inches
Bridge clearance (no top): 3 feet 10 inches
Bridge Clearance (with suntop): 6 feet 3 inches
Engine: 90HP
Max Engine Weight: 418lbs
Max horsepower: 75HP
Weight (dry): 1,060lbs
Weight (with standard engine, fuel, and water): 1,525lbs
Starting price: $34,525
