Page 1 of 1

OUTRAGE 18 Whaler Drive

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2016 6:43 pm
by Mobjack
Did [the Boston Whaler company] ever make the 1980 to 1990 classic OUTRAGE 18 with a Whaler Drive?

Has anyone ever seen one?

My experience would indicate that if they ever did, it was exceedingly rare. I have 20's, 22's, and 25's, as well as Revenges with this option, but never an 18.

Any thoughts?

Re: OUTRAGE 18 Whaler Drive

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2016 7:52 pm
by JRP
You might find some of your answers in this thread:

http://continuouswave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=214

Re: OUTRAGE 18 Whaler Drive

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2016 8:40 pm
by Mobjack
Thanks for that link. I saw that thread and am aware of the existence of the closed transom 18's. Theres one for sale in the Keys right now that is still powered by a Mercruiser. It looks cool, but I'm interested in something with the Whaler Drive bracket. I'm looking at 20s and 22s, but that got me thinking that an 18 with a Whaler Drive would be a pretty admirable combination.

Re: OUTRAGE 18 Whaler Drive

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2016 9:04 pm
by jimh
The Whaler Drive option never made much sense to me on anything but a 25-foot hull. In the case of an 18-footer, if you wanted a longer boat, why not just get a 20-footer instead of an 18-footer with Whaler Drive? The same logic for the 22-footer, too. A 22-footer with a Whaler Drive is just a few inches shorter than a 25-footer. Why not get the 25-footer instead?

The closed transom is a nice feature of the Whaler Drive, and that may be the most important aspect of it. I think that is why people like a Whaler Drive boat. The Whaler Drive also handles twin engines better than the notched transom boats.

Re: OUTRAGE 18 Whaler Drive

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2016 9:30 pm
by Mobjack
I dont disagree but having spent a lot of time running the 22 with whaler drive and twins I can attest to it being a heck of a setup. I have never run a classic 25 outrage, but would imagine its the same, just bigger. In my case its bigger than I want or need. The chief effect of the whaler drive was that it made he closed transom and fishboxes a possibility and it made the whole boat handle bigger. The 18 is a very capable sea boat in its own right, and the bracket would offer all of the above attributes as added benefit to its already considerable abilities.

Re: OUTRAGE 18 Whaler Drive

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 6:01 am
by cc378
I have to disagree that the WhalerDrive only makes sense on the Outrage 25. I have an Outrage 20 with WhalerDrive and Honda 200 and have spent time on open transom 22s. I much prefer my Outrage 20 with WhalerDrive. I do agree that the Outrage 25 with WhalerDrive is a great setup and am looking forward to using the one I just bought.

Re: OUTRAGE 18 Whaler Drive

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 9:27 am
by jimh
The Whaler Drive option was expensive. I have not made a careful study of the retail price lists from the Whaler Drive epoch, but I suspect that the cost of a Whaler Drive on a smaller boat was probably about the same as the cost of buying the next larger boat in the OUTRAGE line. This probably held true until you got to the 25-foot hull.

The 25-foot hull with Whaler Drive is an interesting point of exception. The next larger hull, the 27-foot, is too wide for easy trailering on the highway, so adding a Whaler Drive to a 25-foot hull gives you a 2-foot longer boat that can be towed on a trailer on the highway without restrictions due to the beam of the boat and width of the trailer. Also, the 27-foot hull was probably more expensive than a 25-foot hull with Whaler Drive because the beam jumped to 10-feet from 8-feet. Among the 18, 20, and 22-foot hulls, the variation in beam is much less.

The Whaler Drive was typically used with twin engines, and use of twin engines was probably more popular with boats intended for offshore use. With the evolution of the high-horsepower, high-weight four-stroke-cycle outboard engine, the Whaler Drive has now become quite appropriate for a large single engine of modern design.

Re: OUTRAGE 18 Whaler Drive

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 10:21 am
by hauptjm
As an owner of an 18ft. Outrage with a solid transom, I can attest to what jimh is saying about cost. My boat was originally owned/operated by the owner of the Whaler Dealership in my area and he stated those words exactly. In fact, he had a very difficult time selling them and Whaler only made them for 3 years due to this dilemma: why pay for an 18 foot boat when I can pay the same for the 20.

With that said, I'm glad I was able to stumble upon the boat I have. It's incredibly easy to trailer, launch and operate, and performs very well with a 150hp motor. I use it inshore as well as offshore with confidence and don't have to spend a fortune on re-powers and fuel. I'm on my 3rd motor for this 1985 hull. Hopefully, my trend in motor durability continues: Motor 1 lasted 10 years (OMC SeaDrive), motor 2 lasted 17 years (Johnson Oceanrunner) and motor 3 ? (Evinrude E-TEC) - all 150hp motors.

Re: OUTRAGE 18 Whaler Drive

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 11:04 am
by jimh
I also agree with hautpjm--I am also very glad I stumbled upon the boat I have, a REVENGE 22 W-T Whaler Drive. I really like the ride of the Whaler Drive boat. I love the enclosed storage area under the short aft deck. I love the ease of getting into the water for a swim from the Whaler Drive. I love the added teak of the three hatch covers. But I am glad I did not have to pay the full MSRP for the Whaler Drive option on the 22-foot hull, as I bought my boat second-hand.

Re: OUTRAGE 18 Whaler Drive

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:51 am
by Jeff
I came across this for sale listing. This is an 18 Outrage Sea Drive with an Armstrong Bracket installed.
00E0E_hCG4DxKiF63_600x450.jpg
00E0E_hCG4DxKiF63_600x450.jpg (47.15 KiB) Viewed 8247 times
00W0W_ihetm3aEIX1_600x450.jpg
00W0W_ihetm3aEIX1_600x450.jpg (42 KiB) Viewed 8247 times
00M0M_e7APZNbAZrq_600x450.jpg
00M0M_e7APZNbAZrq_600x450.jpg (55.72 KiB) Viewed 8247 times

Re: OUTRAGE 18 Whaler Drive

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:51 am
by Jeff
00r0r_aUonIaXSeOC_600x450.jpg
00r0r_aUonIaXSeOC_600x450.jpg (47.07 KiB) Viewed 8247 times