Adventure 16 Elaho Edition 

500-mile Review

Desolation sound early in the morning as the tide was going out.

Specifications

Classification: “D” (sport fishing inland waters) 

 

Length : 15 ‘ (4.57 Meters)

Beam : 76″ (1.9 Meters)

Depth: 28″ (71 Cm)

 

Engine: 50 HP Honda 4 stroke

Dry Hull Weight: 510 Lbs (231 Kg)

 

Max load: 2151 Lbs (976 Kg)

Max persons: 5

 

Top Speed: 30 Knots (34.5 Mph) 

 

Fuel Capacity: 12 US gal (45 L) 

Fuel economy (approximate)*: 6.4 MPG (1.7 nautical mile/ L) 

Range (approximate)*: 76.5 natical miles (88 Miles)

 

*Note: weather, wind, and load will impact fuel economy; values listed above are approximate only based on our testing

Design Concept 

The designer’s intent was to build a boat that would be ideal for fly fishing or sport fishing. He accomplished this by using a shallow V design, making the boat extremely stable. Reaching over the side or standing on the gunnel causes no drastic tipping of the boat either. Coupled with the wide beam, this is genuinely a stable platform from which to fish.  

 

With everything in life, though, there are drawbacks: with great stability comes decreased performance in adverse weather. The shallow V does not cut through big waves well and on one particular outing, we found ourselves battling high winds and large waves exceeding Class “D” specs. However, despite the conditions, we did manage to get back home safely with little more than sore butts and wave-soaked bodies.

Key Features

The boat also comes with provisions to mount a bow seat on the upper deck. This vantage point is ideal for fly fishing. The sides of the boat are quite high, giving you a good sense of security while still allowing you a bird’s-eye view of the water.

It should be noted that we equipped the boat with a console in our design. This was not included in the original design file, but we deemed it necessary to exploit the full potential of the boat. Without a console, you are limited to a tiller control motor and capped at 45 hp. For us, this would not do. The console and steering wheel give the operator more control, and the windscreen is an added bonus at high speeds. I found myself ducking behind the screen while unsuspecting passengers took the full brunt of wave spray.

Performance Characteristics 

We did however upset the geometry of the boat slightly with this addition. Designed to have the bulk of the weight farther aft, I found it necessary at times to limit how much weight was stowed upfront. My past experience with small boats told me I would be ok having more weight towards the bow but this design handled better with the weight aft. The boat planed better, got on step faster, and handling more predictably overall. In general, she is very stable and sure-footed; and a joy to helm.  

 

Being constructed of aluminum, it’s also extremely light for its class. On many a summer day heading upriver, it was easy to keep up with the larger and more powerful fiberglass boats. Our small 50 hp motor would push us along most days at 28-30 knots, and with the added bonus of drinking much less fuel than behemoths next to us. There is a lot of performance packed into this boat, and I think you couldn’t go wrong with a 60 hp motor to really turn it into a rocket ship. However, this might be overkill…

Max Loads

It was quite common for us to put on about 30 nautical miles per trip. Sometimes, the boat was loaded to the max. I wanted to stress the hull and transom plate just to see how strong she really was. Could I break the boat, or hear the dreaded snap of a weld echoing through the hull?

An overnight trip to Desolation Sound was the first real test of the boat’s performance in the ocean, and also while heavily loaded. Surprisingly, the added weight did little to affect fuel economy and top speeds, which means that we selected an ideal prop for the engine and maximized the available power of the RPM range. In fact, the boat is more enjoyable in rough weather with the added weight, so if you’re headed into unpredictable sea conditions, a little extra on board couldn’t hurt.

The real test of the boat, though, was returning from an outing with the max load: 5 persons onboard, plus camping gear. We were likely at or near the gross max rating that day when we encountered a stranded boater. Their much larger wake boat was having engine trouble and in need of a tow back to port. We offered to lend a hand and tow them back. Secretly, I was wondering if this would be the straw that broke the camel’s back, or in this case, the straw that broke a structural weld.

To my surprise, she held, and we all got home in one piece. It was a great test of the boat and I’m confident after that experience that she’s a sturdy and well-designed sport fishing vessel.

 

Towing the wake boat with our overloaded vessel.

Final Notes

There are many different boats on the market today, but a compact and affordable all-welded aluminum sport fisher with these characteristics is still missing from the North American lineup. There are riveted alternatives, but for the user looking for the added strength and durability of an all-welded variant, we hope this meets your needs.

 

Future production models will offer neoprene high-grip or carpeted flooring, and additional grab rails for mounting rod holders, bow anchor, or electric trolling motors. The basic design is well thought out and offers an excellent platform for fishing or weekend adventures with friends.

 

If you would like to learn more about purchasing your own Adventure 16, please contact us via phone or email. Production is expected to start mid-2021.

 

Written by: Greg Epp 

January 2021