How Much Does a 16 Ft Boat Weigh?
Boats come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles, with a design to fill almost any need you have on the water – from small inflatables to yachts that are a hundred feet long. In this article, we will tackle the topic of, How Much Does a 16 Ft Boat Weigh?
When you are searching for your next boat, there is a lot to keep in mind, including what you want to use your boat for, how many people you want on board, and what vehicle you will use to tow your boat.
When buying a boat, it can be a lot of fun to think about how you are going to spend your days on the water whether it’s fishing, cruising, or swimming.
There are some practical things to think about, too, like boat weight. Especially if you are going to be towing your boat behind a vehicle, boat weight will be important to know.
Buy a boat that’s too heavy and you may also find yourself buying a new tow vehicle. We’ll talk about a boat’s dry weight, the weight of gear and fuel, and trailer weight to help you make the decision on a boat that’s right for you.
I’ve done the research and have come up with a guide to what a 16 ft boat weighs!
How Much Does a 16 Ft Boat Weigh?
How much does a 16 ft boat weigh? Depending on the boat type, between 1,332 lbs. and 1,884 lbs. without a trailer.
How much a boat weighs is determined by several factors – what the boat is made of, engine size, and how much fuel and gear are on board.
When new boats come off the assembly line, they will be very similar in weight since accessories and options haven’t been added, but it’s very likely that no two boats, even seemingly identical boats, will weigh the same once they reach the water.
We are going to explore a few different 16 Ft boats and will look at the dry weight (hull, engine, and all components that are part of the boat (fuel lines, hydraulics, electronics, etc.)), gear and fuel weight, trailer weight, and Gross Trailer Weight (GTW). By the end, you’ll know exactly what to look for.
Bayliner Element F16 – Center Console
The Bayliner Element F16 is a small, but mighty, boat and an excellent way to get on the water in a center console. Bayliner has taken the time and spent the money in development to produce a hull that is incredibly stable both while at rest and on plane.
They have also incorporated large decks in the bow and stern that make great fishing platforms. If their goal was to bring the fishability of a larger center console in a smaller, affordable package, it looks like they hit the mark with the features they were able to include.
Center console boats are often used for fishing and are the preferred boat type for both inshore and offshore fishermen.
They are designed to cut through the chop and keep everyone onboard comfortable while still allowing you to get into the shallow water fish like to hide in. The Element F16 has plenty of rod storage and fish boxes to hold anything you can throw at it. But what does it all weigh?
- Dry Weight – 1,570 lbs. with the standard 60 HP Mercury outboard. There is a maximum HP capacity of 80 HP, so if you were to go with a larger engine the dry weight would increase.
- Gear and Fuel Weight – approx. 500 lbs. Gear and Fuel weight can be highly variable depending on what you bring on board. To come up with 500 lbs. We added the weight of the fuel (8.4 lbs. per gallon, 18-gallon tank) and about 350 lbs. of gear (tackle, fishing poles, ice chest, etc.). In addition to the gear and fuel, there is room for up to 5 people with a maximum weight of 827 lbs.
- Trailer Weight – 575 lbs. The F16 comes with a single axle galvanized trailer. Galvanized steel trailers are a little heavier than aluminum trailers and bring more stability when towing a lighter boat.
- Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) – 2,645 lbs. The GTW is the combined dry weight, gear and fuel weight, and trailer weight. We’ll go into more detail later, but this is the number to know for towing your boat.
Bayliner 160 Bowrider
Bayliner has a great line of smaller affordable boats helping almost anyone get on the water. The Bowrider 160 is a great option from Bayliner offering an entry-level boat at an affordable price. A bowrider gets its name from the unique configuration of the interior.
There is a dual console with a windshield and seating area behind the windshield, there’s also a seating area in the bow of the boat. Bowriders tend to have a comfortable ride, offer plenty of power, and have enough room for the people and gear you want to bring with you. TheBowrider 160 is no different.
With seating for 4 and a standard 60 HP outboard, you’ll be able to spend the day on the water with ease. Another great feature of the Bowrider 160 is its maneuverability on the water. Because of the size, you should be able to easily get wherever you want to go, even docking won’t be as challenging as it would be in a larger boat. The weight:
- Dry Weight – 1,332 lbs. The dry weight includes the weight of the standard motor, but if you chose a motor with the max HP allowed (100 HP), you’d need to add just over 100 lbs.
- Gear and Fuel Weight – approx. 500 lbs. The 160 Bowrider has an 18-gallon fuel tank that weighs about 151 lbs. when full (18 gallons x 8.4 lbs. per gallon), the rest of the 500 lbs. comes from other gear you might want to bring on board (ice chest, water skis, wakeboard, etc.).
- Trailer Weight – approx. 370 lbs. The 160 Bowrider comes with a single axle trailer.
- Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) – approx. 2,202 lbs. GTW may also be referred to as towing weight.
Lowe Ultra 162 Fish and Cruise – Pontoon
Pontoon boats offer access to the world of boating in an affordable, easy to maneuver, and family-friendly way.
On a pontoon boat, there is something for everyone – platforms to fish from, room and seating to lounge, swim ladder to help you get back in after taking a dip. It’s no wonder they are the go-to option for so many people.
The Ultra 162 Fish and Cruise offers plenty of seating for 8 people, the option for up to 50 HP, and lots of under-seat storage, making it ideal for a family day on the water. Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to pontoon boats and the Ultra 162 Fish and Cruise is about as versatile as they come. It comes with rod holders and a live well to cover your fishing needs or go for a cruise around the lake. Either way, you’ll be comfortable on the Ultra 162 Fish and Cruise.
- Dry Weight – 1,884 lbs. with a 50 HP Mercury outboard. You can power this boat with between 9.9 HP and 50 HP. If you go with a smaller outboard, the dry weight would be less. The weight of just the hull is 1,630 lbs.
- Gear ad Fuel Weight – approx. 375 lbs. This boat has a 6.6-gallon fuel tank, keeping the onboard weight down. The rest of the weight would come from other gear you have with you. Gear weight can vary greatly depending on what you bring on board.
- Trailer Weight – approx. 450 lbs. This assumes a single axle galvanized trailer.
- Gross Trailer Weight – approx. 2,709 bs.
Boat Towing Tips
We’ve looked at boat weight, mainly as it relates to the towing weight, or Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), now to tie everything together, we’ll go over some tips to help your boat towing go smoothly.
First, the GTW is important because every vehicle has a maximum weight it can safely tow (you can find this in the owner’s manual). Understanding your vehicle’s maximum GTW and your boats GTW, then staying well below the maximum will help ensure safety. There are a few other weight ratings you’ll want to pay attention too:
| GTW | Gross Trailer Weight | Trailer + gear |
| GVWR | Gross Vehicle Weight Rating | Vehicle + people and gear |
| GCWR | Gross Combined Weight Rating | Vehicle + people and gear + trailer and gear |
| GAWR | Gross Axle Weight Rating | Distribution over each axle of vehicle + people and gear + trailer and gear |
While it might be tempting to load your vehicle with more weight than it’s rated for, that could put you, and others on the road, in a dangerous position as things can go wrong very quickly.
A few more towing tips:
- Strap the boat to the trailer – use the ratchet strap on the trailer to connect the bow to the trailer, then use straps to tie down the stern to the trailer.
- Make wide turns – a trailer adds length to the vehicle, making wider turns than usual will help avoid curbs and other vehicles.
- Leave plenty of room – stopping with a trailer takes longer. Keep enough room between you and the people in front of you to stop safely.
Boating is an excellent way to spend the afternoon with family and friends, making memories you won’t soon forget. When looking for your next boat, remember to think about the weight so you understand what you’re getting into. Most importantly, have fun on the water!