---

I just picked up a 1969 16ft. I am afraid that my foam may be saturated. There is no visible evidence of expansion from freezing. Its cold here in Michigan now. The lakes are still frozen. How do I tell if there is water in the foam?


(please use the full 4 digit year for clarification)

---

You could wait till the ice is gone and put it into the water to see where it floats and compare that to there similar Whalers. Take a photo and post it to photo bucket and post a link to it here. Does it have bottom paint? Any water line on the paint? Again, post a photo. One accepted way to tell is to weigh the hull and compare it to factory specs but with boats that old there is always some water which has seeped in over the years through unbedded fittings and screw holes. Post some photos and you'll get a lot of opinions.

---

Unless you have significant water intrusion which you could tell from the waterline, don't worry. All old whalers have a little water in them. Don't open a can of worms, enjoy your boat!

---

39757 1969 sakonnet

So where exactly should my whaler sit in the water? Apart from a sandy beach with a cold one LOL.

Should I use dead rise or draw? or what? measure at the stern? bow? with motor? without? Maybe I should just get it weighed so I can sleep at night. there's still ice here in Clarkston MI anyway

---

Look at all the pictures that are posted here. All 16'7" hulls were the same. The interiors were different but all float about the same. Compare to yours when the ice melts.

---

[quote]leoni wrote:
39757 1969 sakonnet

So where exactly should my whaler sit in the water?

Unless you have a lot of weight in the back the upper chines should just be skimming the water in the back.