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Author Topic:   1981 25 Outrage Repower

Maxface1975 posted 04-08-2014 10:50 AM ET (US)
Looking to repower my 1981 BW Outrage. It currently has a single 1989 Yamaha 225.
I'm planning on going with Mercury due to local pricing advantages/service.
I want to go with twin engines as I plan to fish far offshore with the boat (50 plus miles at times)
The options are
150 4 strokes (weight 455 each)
150 Optis (weight 431 each)
125 Optis (weight 375 each)
115 4 strokes (weight 399 each)

I am leaning towards the 125 Optis. I would like to go with the maximum rated HP (300HP), but am concerned about the effects of the additional weight on the transom.
Any thoughts on the above choices? The 150 4 strokes are the only counter rotating options.

Tom W Clark posted 04-08-2014 10:55 AM ET (US)
If using twins, you will need 20" shaft motors.
Does Mercury offer the 150 FourStroke in a 20" counter rotation?
Maxface1975 posted 04-08-2014 11:02 AM ET (US)
Yes they do.
However I was mistaken in the 20 inch shaft the Mercury 4 strokes are not counter rotating.
Peter posted 04-08-2014 11:06 AM ET (US)
Do any of the outboard manufacturers offer a 20 inch counter rotating model at any HP level?
Tom W Clark posted 04-08-2014 11:06 AM ET (US)
Then I'd go with the 125 OptiMax's for the weight savings. They will be more than enough power for that hull.
Maxface1975 posted 04-08-2014 01:38 PM ET (US)
For sake of completeness, any thoughts on the Optimax 115 Pro XS versus the 125 Optis?
Apparently the 115 Pro XS would be slightly cheaper and possibly a little more actual horsepower. Also the carbon fiber reeds, decals are different.
The engines weigh the same.
Teak Oil posted 04-08-2014 08:58 PM ET (US)
If you are 50 miles out you need to be able to plane on one engine to get back in.
I am not sure if a 125 could do that, a 150 Opti V6 probably could
Tom W Clark posted 04-08-2014 09:17 PM ET (US)
A 125 OptiMax will easily plane an Outrage 25.
Buckda posted 04-09-2014 01:48 AM ET (US)
A single 130 hp Johnson will easily plane my 25 Outrage Cuddy. Just For reference. I would imagine a 125 OptiMax would do the same.
The devil in re powering these hulls with twins is the counter-rotation on 20" shafts. Would love to find an elegant, cost-effective solution on that for mine as well.
Good luck. The hull should handle the weight of all your options.
jamesmylesmcp posted 04-09-2014 07:00 AM ET (US)
I repowered a 25 Revenge with twin 150 Optimax engines. Counter rotation was an easy fix as I changed out the driveshaft of a counter 25 inch lower with a 20 inch shaft. She sits about 2 inches lower at the stren than it did with twin 130 Yamaha engines. The boat will easily plane with one 150.
Tom W Clark posted 04-09-2014 09:41 AM ET (US)
Apparently the 115 Pro XS would be slightly cheaper and possibly a little more actual horsepower....at WOT
I wouldn't ask a model of outboard that was designed for very "peaky" performance on a small fast boat like a competition bass boat to be a workhorse on a large 25 foot Whaler.
Tom W Clark posted 04-09-2014 09:45 AM ET (US)
I made a counter rotating set of motors out of my 20" Mercurys on my 25 foot Whaler by acquiring a 25" counter rotating geacase and having 5" cut off the drive shaft and then splines milled into it.
The driveshaft did not even need to be removed from the gearcase and it cost me $100 in 2005.
Peter posted 04-09-2014 10:36 AM ET (US)
If it were my Outrage 25, I would go with the Optimax 150 rather than the Optimax 125. Significantly more displacement, more cylinders, and more reserve power equals greater load carrying capacity, lower cruise RPM, lower noise, and higher top speed potential. Maintenance should be only marginally higher (6 more sparkplugs to change out). I think the Outrage 25 should have no problem handling the weight of the 150s.
There won't be any question that the 150s can do the job well. The 125s with 3/5s total displacement and 1/2 the number of cylinders -- don't know, could be an expensive mistake.
Tom W Clark posted 04-09-2014 12:50 PM ET (US)
If your goal is to exceed 50 MPH, then yes, I agree with Peter, twin 150s would be better.
But as the owner if a 25 foot Revenge Walk-Through with twin Mercury 150s, which is a heavier boat than the Outrage 25, I can attest that this hull does not need 300 HP.
250 HP is more than enough if you can live with only 45 MPH top speed. My boat will do 37 MPH with only one motor, even over-propped by 4 inches of pitch.
The hull can handle the weight of my 400 pounds motors but they are counterbalanced by the cuddy cabin and foredeck on my boat and even at that, when I am fishing in the ocean, the transom is pretty damn low and waves will tend to lap over and fill the splashwell and sometimes the cockpit sole as well.
That is why a boat intended for use in the ocean should not have any more weight on the transom than necessary.
You could also consider having the transom rebuilt 5 inches taller to accommodate twin 25" shaft length motors. This will make it easy to acquire counter rotating motors and would improve its resistance to waves coming over the transom.

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Author	Topic: 1981 25 Outrage Repower
Maxface1975	posted 04-08-2014 10:50 AM ET (US) Looking to repower my 1981 BW Outrage. It currently has a single 1989 Yamaha 225. I'm planning on going with Mercury due to local pricing advantages/service. I want to go with twin engines as I plan to fish far offshore with the boat (50 plus miles at times) The options are 150 4 strokes (weight 455 each) 150 Optis (weight 431 each) 125 Optis (weight 375 each) 115 4 strokes (weight 399 each) I am leaning towards the 125 Optis. I would like to go with the maximum rated HP (300HP), but am concerned about the effects of the additional weight on the transom. Any thoughts on the above choices? The 150 4 strokes are the only counter rotating options.
Tom W Clark	posted 04-08-2014 10:55 AM ET (US) If using twins, you will need 20" shaft motors. Does Mercury offer the 150 FourStroke in a 20" counter rotation?
Maxface1975	posted 04-08-2014 11:02 AM ET (US) Yes they do. However I was mistaken in the 20 inch shaft the Mercury 4 strokes are not counter rotating.
Peter	posted 04-08-2014 11:06 AM ET (US) Do any of the outboard manufacturers offer a 20 inch counter rotating model at any HP level?
Tom W Clark	posted 04-08-2014 11:06 AM ET (US) Then I'd go with the 125 OptiMax's for the weight savings. They will be more than enough power for that hull.
Maxface1975	posted 04-08-2014 01:38 PM ET (US) For sake of completeness, any thoughts on the Optimax 115 Pro XS versus the 125 Optis? Apparently the 115 Pro XS would be slightly cheaper and possibly a little more actual horsepower. Also the carbon fiber reeds, decals are different. The engines weigh the same.
Teak Oil	posted 04-08-2014 08:58 PM ET (US) If you are 50 miles out you need to be able to plane on one engine to get back in. I am not sure if a 125 could do that, a 150 Opti V6 probably could
Tom W Clark	posted 04-08-2014 09:17 PM ET (US) A 125 OptiMax will easily plane an Outrage 25.
Buckda	posted 04-09-2014 01:48 AM ET (US) A single 130 hp Johnson will easily plane my 25 Outrage Cuddy. Just For reference. I would imagine a 125 OptiMax would do the same. The devil in re powering these hulls with twins is the counter-rotation on 20" shafts. Would love to find an elegant, cost-effective solution on that for mine as well. Good luck. The hull should handle the weight of all your options.
jamesmylesmcp	posted 04-09-2014 07:00 AM ET (US) I repowered a 25 Revenge with twin 150 Optimax engines. Counter rotation was an easy fix as I changed out the driveshaft of a counter 25 inch lower with a 20 inch shaft. She sits about 2 inches lower at the stren than it did with twin 130 Yamaha engines. The boat will easily plane with one 150.
Tom W Clark	posted 04-09-2014 09:41 AM ET (US) Apparently the 115 Pro XS would be slightly cheaper and possibly a little more actual horsepower....at WOT I wouldn't ask a model of outboard that was designed for very "peaky" performance on a small fast boat like a competition bass boat to be a workhorse on a large 25 foot Whaler.
Tom W Clark	posted 04-09-2014 09:45 AM ET (US) I made a counter rotating set of motors out of my 20" Mercurys on my 25 foot Whaler by acquiring a 25" counter rotating geacase and having 5" cut off the drive shaft and then splines milled into it. The driveshaft did not even need to be removed from the gearcase and it cost me $100 in 2005.
Peter	posted 04-09-2014 10:36 AM ET (US) If it were my Outrage 25, I would go with the Optimax 150 rather than the Optimax 125. Significantly more displacement, more cylinders, and more reserve power equals greater load carrying capacity, lower cruise RPM, lower noise, and higher top speed potential. Maintenance should be only marginally higher (6 more sparkplugs to change out). I think the Outrage 25 should have no problem handling the weight of the 150s. There won't be any question that the 150s can do the job well. The 125s with 3/5s total displacement and 1/2 the number of cylinders -- don't know, could be an expensive mistake.
Tom W Clark	posted 04-09-2014 12:50 PM ET (US) If your goal is to exceed 50 MPH, then yes, I agree with Peter, twin 150s would be better. But as the owner if a 25 foot Revenge Walk-Through with twin Mercury 150s, which is a heavier boat than the Outrage 25, I can attest that this hull does not need 300 HP. 250 HP is more than enough if you can live with only 45 MPH top speed. My boat will do 37 MPH with only one motor, even over-propped by 4 inches of pitch. The hull can handle the weight of my 400 pounds motors but they are counterbalanced by the cuddy cabin and foredeck on my boat and even at that, when I am fishing in the ocean, the transom is pretty damn low and waves will tend to lap over and fill the splashwell and sometimes the cockpit sole as well. That is why a boat intended for use in the ocean should not have any more weight on the transom than necessary. You could also consider having the transom rebuilt 5 inches taller to accommodate twin 25" shaft length motors. This will make it easy to acquire counter rotating motors and would improve its resistance to waves coming over the transom.