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Author Topic:   1998 Outrage 170 T-Top

galtsfan posted 09-06-2006 05:48 PM ET (US)
I just bought [a 1998 Outrage 170] for what I thought was a good price. I took it on a shake down cruise over the Labor day weekend. After a short time in a light chop I started smelling gas fumes. I cut trip short, trailered the boat, lifted the bilge cover and I found I have an 89 octane cocktail of fuel and water. This is where the odyssey began. I started opening access panels to see if I could find a hose that is loose or a ruptured fuel cell but I couldn't see either from the accesses. So I called Boston Whaler customer support to price a fuel cell thinking that is the worst case. I asked what's involved in replacing the tank. Will I have to pull the T-Top and console? Can I use a lift and keep them attached? [The Boston Whaler Customer Support Specialist] says. "You have a T-Top on a 17 foot Outrage?" I say yeah! I downloaded the specification sheet and it was an option that the previous owner had installed. He says they didn't sell any with T-Tops because, get this, they dicovered that the T-Top option made it unstable in rough seas. They obviously sold some with this option. Are there any other Outrage 170 owners out there that have a T-Top?
Royboy posted 09-08-2006 11:10 PM ET (US)
Not too sure what a 170 Outrage looks like (I think that designation with the trailing zero is a later maketing thing), but my 17 Outrage II is a 1999 model and it's a big heavy 17' 6" beast of a boat, for its size. Mine doesn't have a T top, but I've been thinking I might add one. As such, I'm very interested in your experience with yours. Do you have any pictures? How does she handle in the rough? Do you have trim tabs?
I've noticed that Whaler lists the T-top in the parts drawing for this model, but yours is the first I've heard of that has the option. The Outrage 17 isn't all that common (at least not in these parts, although I have seen a couple) so maybe there are more out there than I realize. I would imaging some may have added T-tops as an aftermarket add-on too.
Roy
galtsfan posted 09-17-2006 08:58 PM ET (US)
I called BW customer support back and gave them my hull ID. He cross referenced it and said it did in fact leave the factory with the T-Top option. He then said that he had one, (guess it was a different guy than the one I talked to before) and that there was only a problem when turning sharp into a gail force wind at high speed. I guess the T-Top could act as an airfoil causing the instability. At any rate, that didn't sound like something that I couldn't avoid. They have to plan for the worst case senario in todays litigious society.
Royboy posted 09-17-2006 09:53 PM ET (US)
I would think you'd have to be doing something foolish for it to be a problem. Can you post a picture somewhere (like photobucket), or email me one? I would much prefer a T-top vs. a bimini on this boat.
As for replacing your fuel tank, I do believe the console and the T-top have to come off. You could probably take themoff as a unit if you have something suitable to lift them with.

quote:
lifted the bilge cover and I found I have an 89 octane cocktail of fuel and water.
I assume you're talking about the round cover that's on the deck right at the helm? You should be able to see one end of the fuel hose and the vetnt hose from there. The other ends of these are under the cover near the fuel fill in the port gunnel.
Drain the whole works from the aft fishbox. There is a small plastic plug in the forward wall of the box, just below the rigging tunnel. Pull this plug (and the regular fishbox plug) and collect the fluid that comes out (under the boat with a bucket) and you'll have a better picture of what's going on in there.
Roy
galtsfan posted 09-18-2006 08:31 PM ET (US)
Hi Roy did you get those pictures?
Royboy posted 09-19-2006 01:19 PM ET (US)
Yes I did, and I sent you a reply back. What a nice boat! I notice that with the T-top there is no railing around the windscreen (as on my boat), and by the looks of it the T-top is only attached to the console. Are there a couple of deck attachments up front that I'm not seeing?
Thanks,
Roy
galtsfan posted 09-21-2006 04:58 PM ET (US)
Hi Roy, actually the two rear poles attach to the fuel cell cover. There are two more attachments at the side of the console in front which attach the T-Top/console to the raised portion of the fuel cell cover. Then there are the two braces comeing out of the front of the console which channel the wiring harness and antennas VHF/GPS to the top. Plus, there are solid aluminum plates on either side of the console bolted to the T-Top, it's really very sturdy.
Royboy posted 09-21-2006 08:38 PM ET (US)
If you could be so kind as to take a couple more pictures to show these mounts, I'd really appreciate it.
And what about your fuel woes? Did you locate the drain I described? Does any actual fule come out, or only smelly water?
Roy
Jakwolf posted 09-22-2006 01:38 AM ET (US)
Hey, could one of the two of you share the photos with the rest of us poor uneducated Outrage II owners. :^)
galtsfan posted 09-22-2006 10:39 PM ET (US)
Due to popular demand I've got pictures posted on Photobucket viewable here: http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l214/galtsfan/Boat/
If your interested.
Royboy posted 09-23-2006 08:18 AM ET (US)
http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l214/galtsfan/Boat/

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Author	Topic: 1998 Outrage 170 T-Top
galtsfan	posted 09-06-2006 05:48 PM ET (US) I just bought [a 1998 Outrage 170] for what I thought was a good price. I took it on a shake down cruise over the Labor day weekend. After a short time in a light chop I started smelling gas fumes. I cut trip short, trailered the boat, lifted the bilge cover and I found I have an 89 octane cocktail of fuel and water. This is where the odyssey began. I started opening access panels to see if I could find a hose that is loose or a ruptured fuel cell but I couldn't see either from the accesses. So I called Boston Whaler customer support to price a fuel cell thinking that is the worst case. I asked what's involved in replacing the tank. Will I have to pull the T-Top and console? Can I use a lift and keep them attached? [The Boston Whaler Customer Support Specialist] says. "You have a T-Top on a 17 foot Outrage?" I say yeah! I downloaded the specification sheet and it was an option that the previous owner had installed. He says they didn't sell any with T-Tops because, get this, they dicovered that the T-Top option made it unstable in rough seas. They obviously sold some with this option. Are there any other Outrage 170 owners out there that have a T-Top?
Royboy	posted 09-08-2006 11:10 PM ET (US) Not too sure what a 170 Outrage looks like (I think that designation with the trailing zero is a later maketing thing), but my 17 Outrage II is a 1999 model and it's a big heavy 17' 6" beast of a boat, for its size. Mine doesn't have a T top, but I've been thinking I might add one. As such, I'm very interested in your experience with yours. Do you have any pictures? How does she handle in the rough? Do you have trim tabs? I've noticed that Whaler lists the T-top in the parts drawing for this model, but yours is the first I've heard of that has the option. The Outrage 17 isn't all that common (at least not in these parts, although I have seen a couple) so maybe there are more out there than I realize. I would imaging some may have added T-tops as an aftermarket add-on too. Roy
galtsfan	posted 09-17-2006 08:58 PM ET (US) I called BW customer support back and gave them my hull ID. He cross referenced it and said it did in fact leave the factory with the T-Top option. He then said that he had one, (guess it was a different guy than the one I talked to before) and that there was only a problem when turning sharp into a gail force wind at high speed. I guess the T-Top could act as an airfoil causing the instability. At any rate, that didn't sound like something that I couldn't avoid. They have to plan for the worst case senario in todays litigious society.
Royboy	posted 09-17-2006 09:53 PM ET (US) I would think you'd have to be doing something foolish for it to be a problem. Can you post a picture somewhere (like photobucket), or email me one? I would much prefer a T-top vs. a bimini on this boat. As for replacing your fuel tank, I do believe the console and the T-top have to come off. You could probably take themoff as a unit if you have something suitable to lift them with. quote: lifted the bilge cover and I found I have an 89 octane cocktail of fuel and water. I assume you're talking about the round cover that's on the deck right at the helm? You should be able to see one end of the fuel hose and the vetnt hose from there. The other ends of these are under the cover near the fuel fill in the port gunnel. Drain the whole works from the aft fishbox. There is a small plastic plug in the forward wall of the box, just below the rigging tunnel. Pull this plug (and the regular fishbox plug) and collect the fluid that comes out (under the boat with a bucket) and you'll have a better picture of what's going on in there. Roy
galtsfan	posted 09-18-2006 08:31 PM ET (US) Hi Roy did you get those pictures?
Royboy	posted 09-19-2006 01:19 PM ET (US) Yes I did, and I sent you a reply back. What a nice boat! I notice that with the T-top there is no railing around the windscreen (as on my boat), and by the looks of it the T-top is only attached to the console. Are there a couple of deck attachments up front that I'm not seeing? Thanks, Roy
galtsfan	posted 09-21-2006 04:58 PM ET (US) Hi Roy, actually the two rear poles attach to the fuel cell cover. There are two more attachments at the side of the console in front which attach the T-Top/console to the raised portion of the fuel cell cover. Then there are the two braces comeing out of the front of the console which channel the wiring harness and antennas VHF/GPS to the top. Plus, there are solid aluminum plates on either side of the console bolted to the T-Top, it's really very sturdy.
Royboy	posted 09-21-2006 08:38 PM ET (US) If you could be so kind as to take a couple more pictures to show these mounts, I'd really appreciate it. And what about your fuel woes? Did you locate the drain I described? Does any actual fule come out, or only smelly water? Roy
Jakwolf	posted 09-22-2006 01:38 AM ET (US) Hey, could one of the two of you share the photos with the rest of us poor uneducated Outrage II owners. :^)
galtsfan	posted 09-22-2006 10:39 PM ET (US) Due to popular demand I've got pictures posted on Photobucket viewable here: http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l214/galtsfan/Boat/ If your interested.
Royboy	posted 09-23-2006 08:18 AM ET (US) http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l214/galtsfan/Boat/