Outrage 18 with 90-HP

Optimizing the performance of Boston Whaler boats
fina
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Outrage 18 with 90-HP

Postby fina » Wed Apr 20, 2016 12:44 pm

I am considering rigging a 1986 Outrage 1' with a 2001 Mercury 90-HP two-stroke-cycle engine. What are thoughts on performance?

Will a 90-HP engine affect resale?

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Phil T
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Re: Outrage 18 with 90-HP

Postby Phil T » Wed Apr 20, 2016 1:02 pm

Personally, I would not go below a 115 hp motor.

A 90, propped perfectly, with a 4 person load and gear will be a dog to plane and pokey climbing up a swell.
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jimh
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Re: Outrage 18 with 90-HP

Postby jimh » Wed Apr 20, 2016 10:30 pm

Boston Whaler rated the OUTRAGE 18 hull as needing a minimum of 75-HP to get on plane. On that basis, a 90-HP would get the boat on plane. But boat performance is very sensitive to power-to-weight ratio. With a light boat, power-to-weight ratio can quickly sag if you add weight to the boat, like adding crew or gear.

Hulls that are powered close to the minimum rated horsepower generally are not highly sought after by buyers. For me, the perfect OUTRAGE 18 boat would have an engine with light weight and 135-HP.

Peter
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Re: Outrage 18 with 90-HP

Postby Peter » Sat Apr 23, 2016 2:36 pm

To some extent it also depends on what 90 HP outboard is on the transom. An Evinrude 90 (V4, 99 cubic inches) would be a far better choice than a Yamaha 90 (Inline 3, 69 cubic inches). I think the Mercury 90 is an inline 3 with about 85 cubic inches of displacement. Performance would be somewhere in between the Evinrude and Yamaha, closer to the Evinrude side.