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2012 Sylvan Explorer... 16ft 2in / 4.88 m Dual Console Boats |
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2005 Sylvan Sylvan 1600 Explorer Photos
2005 Sylvan Sylvan 1600 Explorer Test Details
| Category | Side Console |
| Length | 16ft 2in / 4.88 m |
| Engine(s) | 1 |
| Dealers | Contact Sylvan Boats Dealers |
| Buyers Guides | Search For Sylvan Boats Buyers Guides |
| Boats For Sale | Search For Sylvan Boats For Sale |
2005 Sylvan Sylvan 1600 Explorer Description
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As I approached it, the Sylvan 1600 Explorer appeared to be a classy fishing boat. Finished in black and beige, with a 50- hp Mercury Classic outboard, the test boat turned a few heads at the launch ramp as we splashed it and headed out.
Just outside of the City of Barrie, Ont., marina on Lake Simcoe, a light east wind was blowing up a chop on Kempenfelt Bay. I'll admit that my first thought was that this was going to be a very wet test, with no windscreen on the helm of the open boat.
My opinion, however, changed right from the first hole shot. In a scant 3.4 seconds, I was planing without a drop of water on me. As I pushed the Mercury 50 Classic all the way and the boat - equipped with a 13" pitch aluminum three-bladed prop - ran my GPS up to 34.2 mph, the Sylvan hull continued to ride completely dry.
With other boat traffic on the lake creating wake from what seemed like every direction, I was impressed with how solidly the hull took each wave. A little research revealed why.The 1600 Explorer, like most Sylvan fishing boats, starts with a single piece of aluminum for the bottom.
Then the rural Indiana company augments this with their Advanced Integrated Rib System - lateral ribs and unique bow ribs inside the hull and keels outside the hull that are through-riveted. It's not unlike the time-proven frame-and-skin design the Inuit use in traditional kayak building.
The result is a hull that affords great tortional strength. As I tested the bowmounted Minn-Kota trolling motor, I noted that waves bounce off the hull, it does not bounce off the waves. It's a qualitative difference that is subtle but important. As I put the trolling motor through it's paces, I felt very confident standing on the bow casting platform, riding the waves.
Back at the helm, the black-ongrey Faria gauges were trimmed in silver and set against the beige fibreglass starboard-side console. The steering wheel was perfectly centred on the helm seat, and the throttle/shifter cable fell naturally into my hand as I rested my right arm down. As I repeatedly performed hole shots, cornering manoeuvres and cruising speed tests, my smile broadened. Despite my best efforts, I stayed dry and my notes say simply "I could drive this all day - FUN."
But beyond the pure enjoyment, the Explorer is made for fishing and it showed. Every storage compartment is fully carpeted - a quality touch that protects your prized fishing gear and deadens the noise of the water as it hits the aluminum hull. Not one, but two, aerated livewells are centred along the keel line for balance - one 30 gal. forward and one 25 gal. unit towards the stern. Finish-wise, interior carpet throughout is a huge step up from vinyl flooring and matches the outside paint scheme perfectly. Right down to the Lowrance fishfinder on the helm, this boat said "take me fishing."
I'm not sure where I heard it, but the saying goes something like "every hour you fish adds an hour to your lifetime." In one afternoon last fall, it felt like I had spent an entire day aboard this fun fishing machine.
2005 Sylvan Sylvan 1600 Explorer Test Specifications
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Test boat engine: Mercury 50 Classic, 967-cc (59 cid, three-cylinder, two-stroke carbureted outboard engine pushing a 13-inch pitch three-blade aluminum prop.
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