Whittley SL 25 SD Hardtop: Fishing Trailerboat Review

Whittley Cruisers has expanded its Sea Legend range of fishing/cruising cross-over models in recent years. The latest addition is the SL 25 Hardtop, a big, yet svelte-looking model with a deep-vee hull, deceptively spacious forward cabin and enclosed helm station. The SL 25 accepts petrol and diesel sterndrive power to 300hp, but performs with prowess with as little as 240hp. We tested this stunning new Aussie trailerboat with Volvo's latest 4.3L V6 petrol engine, the 240-G mated to a DPS Duoprop sterndrive.

OVERVIEW
- Versatile Aussie built fishing/cruising boats winning over family boat buyers
The Whittley Sea Legend range debuted in Australia in the late 1990s with only three models. The range has now been expanded to five models or six if you count the outboard-powered SL 26 we tested last year as a separate model.

The Sea Legends are available from 6.0m through to 9.0m in length. The models include the SL 20, SL 22, SL 25, SL 26 and the flagship SL 28.

The SL 20 and the SL 25 are the latest Sea Legend models. We tested the entry Whittley Sea Legend SL20 back in June, 2017, at Victoria's Lake Eildon for something different. For this review, we have secured the SL 25 Hardtop from Brisbane dealer Northside Marine.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- $155k for a fully-fitted, wonderfully finished trailerable cruiser
Whittley is renowned for manufacturing beautifully finished, superbly appointed trailerable craft. The SL 25, for example, has a huge inventory of standard features — many of which are optional on rival brands.

In fact, there are too many features to list here, but among the key inclusions you'll find: an overhead fibreglass hardtop with safety-glass windscreen and sliding side windows, helmsman windscreen wiper, a chemical toilet in the double berth cabin, a pressurised water system with rear shower, Fusion stereo with bluetooth and speakers (and link to Garmin in-dash head unit), storm cover, recessed trim tabs, VHF radio, rubber flooring to the cockpit and boarding, live bait tank, underfloor kill tank, dual helm chairs with aft facing crew seats with storage, self-draining cockpit (through screw-in corner scuppers), and lots more.

Rigged with Volvo's new V6 240hp, 240-G direct-injected, petrol sterndrive engine with DPS Duoprop drive, and a Whittley tandem-axle galvanised steel drive-on trailer with electric-hydraulic break-away brakes, the SL 25 is priced at around $154k.

In addition to the above features, the Northside Marine price includes 12 months boat and trailer registrations, and a Garmin GPSMAP 7412 Chirp 12in touch-screen multi-function display incorporating a fishfinder and GPS chart plotter.

The big Garmin is NMEA 2000 compatible too, enabling all of the Volvo engine data (such as rpm, speed, fuel flow, etc) to be displayed on the 12in screen. With this display configuration, there is no need for separate, and specific engine gauges, potentially saving space on the fascia for other items.

Our test rig was upgraded with several options which lift the package price to $162,385. They included an offshore safety gear pack for six people, rear-cockpit bimini cover (with folding zip-out section), an electric barrel-style anchor winch with Delta anchor and rode, S/S U-bar with rod rack on transom platform, raw-water deck wash, dual battery upgrade, and 3 x 12-volt power sockets.

INTERIOR LAYOUT
- Spacious interior with features and amenities for fishing and family boating
The SL 25's interior layout should prove functional in both fishing and cruising applications. There is ample seating and walk-about space and the forward cabin sleeping area doubles as a big storage area.

The sliding, lockable cabin door and full width cabin/cockpit bulkhead allows the cabin to be closed off for security and privacy, which is handy should you need to use the included chemical toilet situated under the centre berth cushion.

The cabin is quite spacious with full-length cloth and vinyl-covered berths with surrounding upholstered side storage pockets and a velour-lined ceiling.

The cabin has ample headroom above the berths, a ventilation and foredeck access hatch overhead, and safety gear storage lockers under each side berth.

The berths are configured in the traditional v-shape, but two cushions slot in between the individual berths to create one very large, comfortable double bed.

The helm and saloon is located one step up from the forward cabin, underneath the moulded fibreglass hardtop.

A deck to hardtop two-pane front windscreen and tall sliding side windows enclose the helm area, yet there is no sense of being smothered or closed-in. Quite the opposite, in fact, as the tall glass engenders a feeling of light and space and the side windows open wide for lots of air-flow.

Key helm features include a black coloured, moulded dash/fascia insert, well-placed sports steering wheel, side-mount throttle lever and a dash hand rail.

There is space on the fascia for a single 16in electronics display along with the usual switch panels. As noted earlier, our test boat was rigged with a 12in Garmin GPSMAP 7412.

Unfortunately, there is nowhere really to install a second display, should you want one. You might normally consider fitting a bracket-mounted display on the dash to port, but that is not practical in the SL 25 due to the design and width of the sliding cabin door.

There is provision for radios, however, in the overhead radio box under the hardtop. Close by you will also find an excellent hand rail, skipper and passenger foot rests, an upper-level side pocket for the forward passenger, and storage bins built into the side panels, behind Sopac hatches.

The helm chairs in the Whittley Sea Legends are big, comfortable bucket seats mounted on swiveling and sliding bases. These bases are, in turn, affixed to large moulded boxes which incorporate storage bins and comfortable aft facing crew seats.

In addition to storage space, the port-side seat box has a small refrigerator built into it, and contains the 20lt freshwater tank.

From the base of these aft facing crew seats, the rear cockpit stretches 1.43m aft to the transom wall, although the overall length to the cabin bulkhead is 2.64m by 2.02m wide.

Notable cockpit features include rubber flooring (with fish measuring ruler cut into it), above floor side pockets with toe/foot support underneath, excellent padded coaming bolsters, nylon cutting boards over the gunwales, four standard rod holders, horizontal rod storage racks built into the side decks, and an underfloor storage compartment with a large, lift-out plastic fish box.

At the transom, you'll also find a modest-sized, plumbed live-bait tank on the starboard side above an enclosed compartment containing the dual battery system.

Opposite, there is a similar storage compartment on the port side, along with a small sink with freshwater tap.

The lightweight, compact Volvo 240-G 4.3L V6 petrol engine is situated in the rear cockpit, accessed via two separate hatches. The engine is positioned so that it straddles the transom wall — half in the cockpit, and half outside it over the rear boarding platform.

For ease of servicing there is one hatch on the cockpit side and a second hatch which opens out from the boarding platform.

ON THE WATER
- Supreme handling, solid performance and a comfy ride
Whittley's Sea Legend hulls have been well proven over the years, so the excellent handling, ride and performance we experienced from the SL 25 test rig proved no great surprise. That said, the test boat felt sportier, more agile, more manoeuvrable than I remember from previous tests of similar boats.

There is no doubt the Volvo Penta 240-G petrol engine and Duoprop drive contributes significantly to the agility and sporty character of this boat, which is, after all, quite a big trailerboat.

On the water, however, the SL 25 does not feel big or heavy, but light, quick, responsive and fun. The 240hp Volvo punches the Whittley on to the plane, accelerating hard through the mid range and on to a top speed of 35.9 knots.

A tad under 36 knots is not lightning quick, but this speed should be sufficient for most fishing and boating applications.

More impressive than the actual top speed of the boat is how it gets there, and specifically the strong power and torque you can feel in the upper RPM range from the direct-injected Volvo V6 powerplant.

And all that grunt comes at minimal cost, as the Volvo is very economical at full noise and when cruising in the 3000-4000rpm range.

Our best fuel economy figure was achieved at 4000 rpm and a boat speed of 23.5 knots. Here, the Volvo consumes 35.2l/ph hour for a maximum range on 95 per cent of the boat's 240lt fuel supply of 152.21nm.

VERDICT
- A first class fishing/cruising boat with a perfectly matched Volvo engine/drive
The SL 25 is another great new boat from Australia's leading fibreglass family trailerboat manufacturer. We really like the practical, full shelter hardtop configuration, the full privacy lock-up cabin, the spacious rear cockpit and abundance of standard features and equipment.

The performance of the boat is not too shabby either. With the Volvo 240G petrol engine and DPS Duoprop combination, the SL 25 is quick, responsive, soft and manoeuvrable... which is just what you want in a fishing/cruising/ family fun boat.

LIKES
>> Excellent handling and cornering at speed
>> Great performance from Volvo Penta 240 G all-alloy V6
>> Comfortable ride from 23 degrees deep vee hull
>> Enclosed hardtop shelter with great vision and ventilation
>> Class leading fit and finish

NOT SO MUCH
>> Difficult to access rocket launcher with optional rear bimini in place
>> Limited dash space for extra electronics displays
>> Extended rear boarding platform not ideal for gamefishing
>> We'd delete the optional rear S/S U-bar for gamefishing

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.78/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.9/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water performance: 4.8/5.0
Value for money: 4.7/5.0
X-factor: 4.7/5.0

PERFORMANCE - SPEED
4.1kts (7.6km/h) @ 1000rpm
6.2kts (11.5km/h)@ 1500rpm
7.5kts (13.9km/h) @ 2000rpm
9.8kts (18.1km/h) @ 2500rpm
13.0kts (24.0km/h) @ 3000rpm
17.8kts (32.9km/h) @ 3500rpm
23.5kts (43.5km/h) @ 4000rpm
27.3kts (50.5km/h) @ 4500rpm
31.2kts (57.7km/h) @ 5000rpm
34.0kts (62.3km/h) @ 5500rpm
35.9kts (66.4km/h) @ 5700rpm (WOT)

PERFORMANCE – ECONOMY
4.3 l/ph @ 1000rpm
6.6 l/ph @ 1500rpm
11.0 l/ph @ 2000rpm
17.7 l/ph @ 2500rpm
23.0 l/ph @ 3000rpm
28.1 l/ph @ 3500rpm
35.2 l/ph @ 4000rpm
40.0 l/ph @ 4500rpm
52.3 l/ph @ 5000rpm
68.0 l/ph @ 5500rpm
76.2 l/ph @ 5700rpm (WOT)

MAXIMUM RANGE ON 95 PER CENT OF 240LT FUEL TANK: 152.21NM @ 4000RPM

Specifications: Whittley SL 25 Hardtop Sterndrive
Priced as tested: $162,385 including Volvo Penta V6 240 G direct-fuel-injected petrol engine with DPS Duoprop sterndrive, hydraulic steering, Whittley tandem-axle galvanised steel drive-on trailer with electric hydraulic break-away brakes, a Garmin GPSMAP 7412 Chirp 12in touch-screen display incorporating a fish finder/GPS and NMEA 2000 interface to display engine data, rear cockpit bimini cover (with folding zip-out section), an electric barrel-style anchor winch with Delta anchor and rode, S/S U-bar with rod rack on transom platform, raw-water deck wash, dual-battery upgrade, 3 x 12 volt power sockets, an offshore safety gear pack for six people, and 12 months boat and trailer registrations.

Priced from: $153,730 including Volvo Penta V6 240 G direct fuel injected petrol engine with DPS Duoprop sterndrive, hydraulic steering, Whittley tandem-axle galvanised steel drive-on trailer with electric hydraulic break-away brakes, a Garmin GPSMAP 7412 Chirp 12im touch-screen display incorporating a fish finder/GPS and NMEA 2000 interface to display engine data, and 12 months boat and trailer registrations.
Length overall: 7.70m
Beam: 2.49m
Hull weight:  Approx 1,700kg (dry)
Towing weight: Approx 2,800kg (dry)
Length on trailer: 8.45m
Height on trailer: 3.30m
Deadrise: 23 degrees
Maximum power: 300hp
Engine as tested: Volvo Penta V6-240G/DPS Duoprop
Fuel: 240 litres
Freshwater: 20 litres
Maximum Persons: Eight

Supplied by:
Northside Marine
2294 Sandgate Road
Boondall QLD 4034
Telephone: (07) 3265 8000
Email: davidc@nsmarine.com.au
Website: Northside Marine