Whittley SL 22 SD with Volvo Penta V6-240: Fishing Boat Review

Whittley’s best-selling fishing boat is the SL 22. They build one a week, but they haven’t made an outboard version in almost five years. The base engine on this popular inboard fishing boat is now the new Volvo Penta V6-200 G using a freshwater-cooled alloy GM block. We tested the SL 22 with the upgraded V6-240 G DPS engine variant instead. Is the extra 40hp for $4000 worth it on Whittley’s best-selling Sea Legend? We spun a few different props out of Patterson Lakes and dropped the throttle on Port Phillip Bay to find out…

OVERVIEW
- A perfect platform for Volvo Penta’s inboard engines
Released in 2005, the Whittley Sea Legend SL 22 is the company’s best-selling fishing boat. Impressively, the indefatigable Melbourne yard maintains production of about one SL 22 per week. The boat started out with outboard power, but Whittley hasn’t built one with an outboard for almost five years.

As an inboard boat, Whittley fitted most of its SL22s with the old-style cast-iron 200hp Volvo Penta engine, with a single prop or SX drive when times were tough and every dollar counted. Whittley has since fitted many more SL 22s with Duoprops for better steering control at low speed and less bow lift. We recommend the DP for sure.

Besides petrol V6 inboards, Whittley has also fitted a full range of D3 diesel engines to its SL 22 inclding the 140hp, 170hp and 220hp models. While they are very nice common-rail engines, they are typically $15k upgrades.

We tested the SL 22 petrol V diesel on Port Phillip Bay in October 2014. You can read that extensive test of both the SL 22 boat and the engine comparisons in that linked feature test and gain more detail on the popular boat and its features.

Clearly, Whittley and Volvo Penta have a close relationship and new engine technology is being adopted as fast as it’s becoming available. That has delivered benefits for the end-user by way of improved performance, better economy, greater reliability in the saltwater environment, lower emissions and smarter integration with digital engine management, gauges and switching via NMEA 2000 protocols and Garmin electronics' tie-ins.

Due to imminent new global emissions regulations — if not the evolutionary nature of engines — Volvo Penta recently released the new all-alloy GM-based V6-200/240 G engine.

This new V6-200 G and V6-240 G (also in “C” variants with catalytic converters for the European market) is a high-pressure, direct-injection petrol engine with variable valve timing, freshwater cooling, improved power-to-weight (404kg versus 417kg) due to the alloy block, and extended servicing intervals.

The new alloy V6-200/240 G engine isn’t altogether new, however, and we are reliably informed that General Motors builds more than 1.5 million of these babies annually for auto use. Besides Yank tanks, the compact engine can be found in Holden V6 Commodores if that makes you feel better.

As an aside, Whittley will be releasing the brand-new V6-280 G based on this same block at the 2016 Melbourne boat show. This is a replacement for the 5.0L V8 engine. Whittley has already tested the new V6-280 G on a SL 26. If it finds its way into this SL 22 it’s going to create an absolute rocket ship. Maybe too many HP?

From 200hp to 240hp to 280hp, this new all-alloy V6 Volvo Penta engine is go. Whittley says while there’s been a swing away from inboard engines globally in recent years, this new Volvo Penta petrol engine is igniting the market.

"The new V6 is freshwater cooled and it's a proven engine platform that’s been designed for hassle-free boating in salt water," Allan Whittley says, adding that the SL 22 is now an even better, faster, sportier, efficient and reliable rig.

Due to this being a revisit and repower, we will concentrate on the new engine and performance foremost.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- More top-end performance and improved Garmin integration
We jumped at the chance to test Volvo Penta’s new alloy V6 in the 240hp specification on the SL 22, but it begged the question: Is the extra $4000 for 40hp more worth it over the base V6-200 G DPS with the same Duoprop drive?

With the base V6-200 G engine with single SX prop drive, the rig starting price is $86,990. With the Duoprop upgrade including stainless steel prop it's $3990 extra amounting to $90,980. With the 240hp upgrade and Duoprop it's an extra $4000, taking the starting price to $94,980 for the boat as tested.

In the scheme of things, we wouldn’t have the SX drive. But the 240hp over the 200hp costs a $4000 premium for a few more knots. Thankfully, there’s a bit more to it as our testing reveals below.

In respect of pricing, Whittley says most SL22 rigs go out the door for under $100K drive away on Mackay dual-axle trailer with popular options. Our test boat was priced a bit over $100K with the engine upgrade, Garmin electronics and other extras like snapper racks and so on.

"A Volvo Penta powered Whittley boat package now comes standard with freshwater cooling and an all alloy block. As well as direct fuel injection and variable valve timing. The engines are also some of the cleanest available to boaties on the market," Whittley adds.

LAYOUT AND ACCOMMODATION
- Cuddy with a big cockpit and ‘camp-able’ cabin
We have pulled the SL 22 to pieces, figuratively speaking, in our previous detailed tests of the SL 22 petrol V diesel. Among the new points to note with these V6-200/240 models is a slightly reworked moulded-GRP engine box with a new pull-out Kingboard table.

You will now find a newly designed dash on all Whittley boats of six metres in length or greater so you can mount a 16in combo electronic nav screen. The full Garmin tie-in with Volvo Penta means digital switching and digital gauges are available through NMEA 2000 protocols.

Just plug the engine data into your Garmin multifunction nav screen. It’s certainly more affordable than a stand-alone separate Volvo/Garmin Glass Screen system. And it’s better than all those analogue gauges and peppered holes in the dash like days of yore.

Our test boat had a flush-mounted 10in Garmin 7410xsv digitally displaying the Volvo Penta V6’s engine data, revs, boat speed, fuel consumption, our range, distance to go, and more. We split the screen to retain chartplotter and sounder functionality using the in-built dual CHIRP sonar plus DownVü and SideVü scanning sonar. No snapper or whiting was safe.

The cockpit on this boat is rather vast and functional with things like toe-kicks and padded coamings so you can stand while leaning outboard. There was oodles of rod storage via the upgraded rocket launcher and bimini top and the snapper racks on our test boat. The big sub-seat storage boxes and underfloor kill tank add to this.

We had a bait-cutting board at the transom, too. The aft quarter seats are removable, while the plush upholstery and pull-out carpet add to the family comforts. Lighting is excellent for night boating and fishing.

Whittley works wonders with its cabins and the SL 22 is no exception. There’s room for two adults, say mum and dad, with the kids outside on airbeds, plus padded backrests and plush foam cushioning, a deep footwell for the esky/tub and seated headroom. A portable toilet is a welcome inclusion.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Deep-vee hull and excellent Volvo Penta installation
The deep-vee SL 22 hull is built using glass-encapsulated marine ply stringers in a matrix to support the hand-laid fibreglass hull. This is something the Melbourne yard has been doing for most of its 60 years of boat building. You don’t hear of any breaking.

The Volvo Penta engines with sterndrives (Aquamatics) are easily accessed under two hatches: an aft-facing transom hatch to the rear parts of the engine and bilge below, and the main internal moulded fold-back central engine hatch granting bilge access from the cockpit as well.

Servicing room is excellent and we noted the prominent fuel filters, highlighted oil dipsticks, bilges and twin pumps were easy to reach… basically all the main servicing items right at hand. However, I'm personally not smitten by the aft engine hatch facing the ocean. I guess hardcore bluewater tournament fishing isn't this boat's gig. It's more of a fishing-family all-rounder.

There is a decent 75A alternator, twin batteries, and the boat’s wiring, concealed by a cover behind the dash, was very neatly executed.

Weighing around 2100kg on road on its Mackay dual-axle trailer, the SL 22 SD requires a mid-range 4WD, SUV or wagon to tow. But the 2.26m beam means you don’t need a permit to head to Bermagui.

"A Whittley sterndrive-powered package offers many benefits... the ability to run
a hot water option through the heat exchanger, the engine being coupledwith  Volvo's Duoprop technology, which increases fuel economy, decreases
bow lift onto the plane and increased slow speed manoeuvrability.  The next generation engine offerings have a
(2+3) 5 year warranty," Whittley says.

ON THE WATER
- Better fuel efficiency by 15 per cent at cruise
"The world has demanded this new technology and Volvo Penta had to produce cleaner running petrol engines," explains Simon Teitge from Aqua Power Marine in Victoria, the state's big Volvo Penta supplier and servicer.

"Cleaner engines are a core Volvo Penta business commitment," he adds. As I turn the key, there’s no smoke and we idle down Patterson River for Port Phillip Bay, which was agreeably calm with just a half-metre of lazy bay swell and no wind to worry about.

"With this new V6-200/240 you will use 15 per cent less fuel at 24 knots cruise than the old cast-iron engine. You will get marginally better hole shot, but noticeably better top end speed with the 240," he adds. Whammo! And off we go...

After playing props and changing from #5 to a #4 in stainless steel we picked up a whiff more acceleration and found a very nice cruise at 3600rpm of about 44km/h or 24 knots for 27-28 litre per hour.

On the previous test with the old-tech 4.3 Gi-200 we were using 30-33 litres per hour at 24-25 knots. So, yes, you can confidently say there’s a 15 per cent efficiency improvement and fuel saving at cruise with this new V6-200/240.

The variable camshaft timing assists torque and acceleration, but running noise has been reduced and is less harsh in the top-end rev ranges. The old engine was loud above 4500rpm, while between those revs and 5000rpm, this new V6-200/240 is smooth with an almost V8-like purring tuned note. I like it!

By changing to a smaller #4 Duoprop we also gained 50rpm and 4 km/h more to get 72km/h or 38.88 knots at 5550rpm WOT. Fuel consumption was 71 litres per hour. But this V6-240 revs out at 6000rpm, up with the four-stroke outboards, so there was the chance to go smaller with the prop again.

Realistically, you’re looking at 74-75km/h or 40 knots as opposed to 36 knots previously. It’s a snappier snapper boat and, with 23 degrees of deep-vee, and plenty of trim range, you can cleave the waves or surf back home.

Back down the rev range, the SL 22 planed at 2500rpm and 11.5 knots or a knot less than previously noted with the old 200hp Volvo Penta.

At rest, as we’ve raved about previously, the low COG of the inboard engine is a real boon and this is just one of the most stable deep-vee hulls on the market. The chines sit down and with the bimini top instead of a hard top there’s no feeling of tenderness at all. All of which makes this SL 22 a justifiably popular fishing platform.

VERDICT
- How fast do you want to go? Very...
"It’s just really exciting to have something new to talk about in sterndrive power and with this new technology we sure have a lot to talk about," Whittley said as we returned to the ramp, adding that the family boat builder is 90 per cent sterndrive and inboard power these days.

In fact, Whittley is one of the biggest ‘gas’ or petrol inboard customers for Volvo Penta outside the US. While diesel is more popular in Europe, with its long-range cruising advantages and perceived safety improvements, petrol is quieter at low speeds and certainly more accessible.

This new V6-200/240 is just an excellent lightweight high-performance engine giving you more grunt for less fuel and emissions. It has been marinised to new levels by Volvo Penta via freshwater closed-loop cooling so there’s no saltwater exposure on any internal engine parts. All good.

But that lead question remained unanswered. Is the extra $4000 for 40hp worth it on Whittley’s best-selling Sea Legend? The answer doesn’t need much thought really. It all gets down to how fast you want to go? Very.

Above 4000rpm, the V6-240 pulls away from the V6-200 which loses its urge. It makes its 20 per cent more horsepower at the top end. At 4500rpm, this SL22 with the V6-240 is just a silky smooth performance fishing machine streaking along at 29-30 knots (55km/h) for about 42ltr per hour. Take that!

At 30 knots cruise, your safe range is about 130nm doing the speed-fishing thang. As this is a Victorian boat and Vic boaters like big horsepower and on-water performance, this new V6-240 is a fittingly fast power match. But not only on Port Phillip Bay. Places like Moreton Bay are ideal for zooming, spending the night aboard a boat like this, before wetting a line offshore and blasting home.

Bottom line: The SL-22 remains one of the most convincing production fishing boats we’ve come across with petrol inboard power. Spend the $4000 and go faster, we reckon.

LIKES
>> Volvo Penta’s new V6 200/240 offers a refined petrol inboard drive
>> Sporty performance along with 15 per cent fuel savings at cruise
>> Fantastic build quality, fit, finish and mouldings from a revered Australian yard
>> Excellent packaging and support via the factory and long-standing interstate dealerships
>> Class-leading comforts in a crossover family and fishing boat

NOT SO MUCH
>> Cone-clutch gear shift still a bit clunky
>> Small live-bait tank by bluewater (Bermagui) standards
>> Rear engine hatch isn’t that far from water level so be vigilant with engine-corrosion protection

RATINGS
Overall rating: 94/100
Mechanical/equipment: 4.7/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water performance: 4.8/5.0
Value for money: 4.6/5.0
X-factor: 4.6/5.0

Specifications: Whittley SL 22 with new Volvo Penta V6-240
Price as Tested: Just bit over $100k with the engine upgrade, Garmin electronics and other extras like snapper racks and so on, on trailer.
Priced From: Base rig with V6-200 G engine with single SX prop drive on trailer from $86,990. With the Duoprop upgrade including stainless
steel prop it's $3990 extra amounting to $90,980. With the 240hp upgrade
and Duoprop it's an extra $4000, taking the starting price to $94,980
for the boat as tested on trailer.
Length Overall: 6.59m
Hull or Centreline Length: 6.50m
Beam: 2.26m
Deadrise: 23 degrees
Dry Weight BMT sterndrive: about 2100kg on road loaded
Fuel: 210 litres
Water: 20 litres
Passenger capacity: Seven
Sleeping: Two adults
Recommended/Max Horsepower: 280
Engine on test: Volvo Penta V6-240
Engine Type: Alloy block 4.3L V6 with high-pressure direct injection, freshwater closed-loop cooling, ECM electronic engine control