posted 02-27-2002 10:00 PM ET (US)            

The Outrages are more comfortable and faster to go way off, and they have more range. They also are a lot more boat to tow, launch, maneuver, fuel, load, maintain and store.

My Montauk is much easier to tow, launch, fuel, load, maintain and store. It is also much more agile and able to go in skinnier water. It is not a boat for wusses or candybutts when the water stands on edge, but it is safe.

If I had to settle for only one of my boats, it would be the Montauk.

BTW, I don't think you would like the performance of the OR-19 with only 115hp.

posted 02-27-2002 11:02 PM ET (US)            

Now, if I had to choose between my Montauk and your proposed 18' Outrage with a 115 hp....Montauk all day long. Ditch the power go for a six-pack of ponies, 150 on the 18 Outrage gets you conflicted.

posted 02-27-2002 11:14 PM ET (US)            

After the Montauks I stepped up to the Outrage. It was one of those things where you think: "how did I ever live without one?" No way I would go back to a Montauk for what I do. It is superior in everything it does except, perhaps as a slalom ski boat (bigger wake) and there's not a lot of difference there either.

The other thing is I kept the Montauk in the Garage but I had to pay to store the Outrage. Needs a bigger tow vehicle as well. Burns more gas. Remember, the 18 Outrage is essentially half again as much boat than a Montauk. Half again as much displacement, half again as much horsepower, 1 foot wider, 2 feet longer, all with the same console and seat. Just a great boat.

posted 02-28-2002 08:52 AM ET (US)            

I am making the change from Montauk to 18' Outrage this weekend. I loved my Montauk and took several years to decide on the change. After fishing out of both, I believe the
Outrage will do a better job offshore. I'm
obviously no expert but most of my 'expert'
friends would say 115 not the right power -
I agree with the others ... go 150.

posted 02-28-2002 12:09 PM ET (US)            

If you fish way offshore and nowhere else the OR-18 is certainly a better boat. I sure have loved my ORs in that application.

I fish everything from local lakes to the Great Lakes and occasional offshore. I also tow anywhere from 20 miles to 2000 miles to do so. For that, versatility is the name of the game. Versatility's name is Montauk.

posted 03-03-2002 11:50 AM ET (US)            

cc, I have never been in an 18 Outrage with a 115. I have spent some time in a 1988 18 Outrage with a Johnson 1988 140 however. I had a friend who I talked into buying an this Outrage. The 140 would seem to be plenty of power and at the top end it was, but although it was totally reliable, it did not like to run in the mid range. It would go slow and it would go fast but it was hard to get it to go 20-25 mph. I don't know why. It also got worse gas mileage than my V-6 Johnson 150. The two boats were otherwise identical.

If the 115 on the boat you are looking at is also a 1990 model then it's a 90° block.. It may be fine. It certainly will move the boat. It will not be good for water skiing (at least not slalom skiing) nor will it have a high top speed. But really, who cares about top speed? What it will not have is a lot of acceleration. Perhaps more importantly, it will have to be run much harder than a V-6 to achieve the same cruising speed. In fact it has been run harder if it's 12 years old. You might think about that.

You say this boat is "...about as perfect as you can get." Well, send me some photos and I'll tell you what I think. But seriously, the fact that this boat has what many consider to be a substandard power motor may work to your advantage.

You should use this fact to negotiate a better price with the seller. This boat is not as attractive because of the small, motor and if I were you I would I would make an issue of this fact and use it to justify a low offer. If you can engage the seller at all, and by this I mean if you offer a low amount and he counter offers anything at all, then you know you've got him. You will agree on a price half way between your first offer and his asking price.

Now, perhaps we can just cut to the chase: What is the asking price of this boat? What year is the motor?

Worst case scenario: You don't buy the boat. Big deal. They'll be others.

Best case scenario: You buy the boat for cheap and the motor meets all your needs, is durable for many more years to come and you are happy.

The middle ground: you buy the boat for cheap and put new power on it (either now or in the future) Sure you spend more money but in the end you get what you really want and it will have much better resale value when you decide to move up.