Our first powered boat was a 1991 Boston Whaler 16SL dual console design with open bow. It had a 1999 Evinrude 90 hp 2-cycle outboard engine.

Boston Whaler 16SL getting prepped for launch

It had a few family friendly features, including lots of seating and bow safety rail. It handled well on calmer lakes, but as any 16′ boat will, it got a lot trickier in bigger water like the Chesapeake Bay. Some of the nicer features included a bimini top, glove box, CD/Radio/Mp3 player, and swim platform with ladder.

Here’s a picture of us bouncing along a deserted Blue Marsh lake in 2010. Dad is driving, while Mom and Tara hold onto the kids.

Boston Whaler 16 SL on Blue Marsh Lake

As we started talking about spending more time on the Chesapeake, it became clear that we needed a bigger boat and, more importantly, a newer and more reliable one that would enable us to spend worry free hours on the Bay as a family. We decided on a 2011 Tidewater 196cc, a center console design with lots of room for the kids to move around.