posted 03-24-2005 12:26 PM ET (US)        

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I have read with interest the different weight/power opinions on this forum but I would love your advice on this set-up.

I have found a very interesting 1998 21' Outrage for sale with twin 1999 Merc 150's on the back. This hull, I believe, was set up to take twins (it changed in 1999) but would they be too heavy for it?

(I have tried to find official capacities and weights from Mercury & Whaler but so far nothing.)

Also, is anyone prepared to hazard a guess as to fuel economy running that hull with those Merc's?

Thanks for any help - W

posted 03-24-2005 12:42 PM ET (US)            

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The 1998 21' Outrage is rated for a maximum of 300 hp and a minimum of 150 hp. Whaler recommended 200 hp for this hull but a pair of 150s would be just fine. There is no maximum engine weight rating for Whalers from 1998.

The 1999 21' Outrage is a completely different boat.

A 1999 Mercury 150 (25" shaft) weighs 398 pounds. A 1999 EFI 150 weighs 415 pounds and the 150 Optimax weighs 452 pounds.

posted 03-24-2005 12:44 PM ET (US)            

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Wow! Quick and v detailed response - many thanks. So, upper limit of horsepower but no weight problems. Can any forum members see a reason why this set-up would cause problems?

Also, am I right in thinking this hull is the newer Accutrack deep-V design?

posted 03-24-2005 12:49 PM ET (US)            

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Will,

Yes, this is an Accutrack deep-Vee hull design. It was introduced for the 1993 model year and was continued through the 1998 model year. Looking back through the catalog pages I see several photos of this boat with a pair of 150 hp outboards. Nice boat.

posted 03-24-2005 11:20 PM ET (US)            

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Twins are a nice way to power a boat, even just a 20-21 foot boat. Twin engine run more efficiently, because they're usually in cleaner water--less disturbances coming off the hull. Also, a boat tends to drag some water along with it, its wake. The wake effect lessens as you move out from center line, so each of twin engines runs in water moving a bit faster than an engine on center line would. Twins give the boat more stability from yaw due to the offset from center line thrust. Really, there are many advantages.

The only drawback is the cost, more than a single. If you rig a single with an auxiliary, the cost is about the same as twins, typically, if the auxiliary is a full remote control, electric start, power trim and tilt set up.

Those 2.5-Liter Mercury V-6 motors are strong. They might use more fuel than a new single 250-HP, but they will be running easier and may last longer.

posted 03-25-2005 10:59 AM ET (US)            

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The 1993-1998 21' Outrage does *NOT* take 20" shaft motors. It takes 25" shaft motors unless you put a single on a boat that was optioned for twins. In that case it takes a 30" shaft motor.

This model seems unique in that in order to put twins on it one had to order the optional 30" transom to do so. In the standard configuration, it would only take a single 25" motor.

posted 03-25-2005 11:36 AM ET (US)            

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Hopefully that boat has trim tabs. With all that weight on the transom she's gonna porpoise. Otherwise, I like that model of Whaler very much. I would like to have one of those with a 250 E-tec on it.

phatwhaler out.

posted 03-25-2005 05:18 PM ET (US)            

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Re trim tabs - does the fact that you can alter the engines' trim not do away with the need for trim tabs? I was under the impression (quite probably wrong!) that trim tabs were of real need on I/O and inboard configurations?

Thanks for the correction re 20 vs 25 vs 30", Tom. Best, W

posted 03-25-2005 09:33 PM ET (US)            

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Another nice benefit of trim tabs is that you can adjust the trim without moving the prop from its most efficient position.

If you search for the Bennett Trim Tab web site, you can read their owner's manual online (or print it out--it's a PDF file, I believe). The manual might give you some idea what to expect from trim tabs.

posted 03-25-2005 11:32 PM ET (US)            

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Hey Sal and Tom,

My buddies 2005 22 Guardian has the 30" transom option, and runs twin 90 Johnson 4-strokes, 25" shaft.

My 17 Alert had the option for a 25" transom. I thought about it, for backing down in seas, but thought the high center of gravity would make the boat less stable, plus that big 4-stroke would be hard to see over!

FISHNFF