CONTINUOUSWAVE

I am converting a [Boston Whaler RAGE 15] from a jet to an outboard, and I need advice, please.

I believe the typical approach to converting a Boston Whaler RAGE 15 to outboard engine power from jet drive will be to close off the transom and hull bottom and install an outboard engine set back bracket. Depending on the outboard you choose and the set back distance of the bracket, there may not be sufficient range of tilt motion to get the gear case of the outboard completely clear of the water.

In the website archives, particularly in the archives of our earlier discussion forum, you can find a lot of information on RAGE conversions to outboard engine power. Here is a search that will point to many results on this topic in the archives of the REPAIRS/MODS discussion in the old forum and elsewhere.

The general approach to closing the transom and installing a set back bracket is shown in a CETACEA page. There are also two articles in the REFERENCE section discussing using set back brackets. See

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/refere ... ckets.html

--and--

ahttp://continuouswave.com/whaler/refer ... acket.html

Finally, here is a very nice montage of images of a RAGE conversion to outboard:

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/sraab92 ... t=3&page=1

I received an email from RIVERKEITH expressing appreciation for my reply to his inquiry. I replied by wishing him good luck with the conversion of the RAGE to outboard power from jet drive.

When the RAGE series of boats were introduced, they sold very well. They came at a time when sales of Boston Whaler boats were somewhat moribund, and one present-day manager of Boston Whaler, who was working there then, told me a few years ago that the RAGE more or less "saved the company" from what I assume would have been financial problems.

I do have to observe that following the roughly five-year epoch of making the RAGE, which, according to my research at

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/refere ... .html#jets

lasted from c.1992 to c.1997, Boston Whaler has not produced a boat with an inboard engine and jet drive, that I can recall. This may allow one to make an inference about the overall success of the RAGE boats. It would be interesting to know if many of them are still in operation as jet-drive boats.

I had some friends from my sailing days who had a classic 35-foot sailboat that they often campaigned in the North Channel. We bumped into them one day in Tobermory in c.1997, and they were quite enthused about their new Boston Whaler RAGE boat they had just purchased for use as a tender to their sailboat. I have not seen them in ages, and I don't know if they still have the RAGE (or that gorgeous 35-foot canoe-stern cutter-rigged sailboat). But the RAGE series began with that sort of enthusiasm, which I would characterize as sort of an adult version of the then very popular jet ski boats.

Conversion to outboard engine is the only option for a 1995 Rage. [It will require much] glass work. Move the fuel tanks and batteries forward to keep some balance. It's not hard but it is time consuming. Before you fill-in the impeller well, brace it with aluminum C channel and fill with polystyrene.

ASIDE: I bought a 1992 Rage 14 in 2014, but health problems halted my rebuild progress. I am back at it now.

I removed the inboard engine to upgrade to a 701 as the 650 was abused. I installed an 11-gallon fuel tank, a new impeller, and a dual battery system with a charging combiner.. I modified the console with sound absorbing material, rot holders, and I added a Yeti cooler seat. I plan to add a sun top and a travel cover.

At this writing my 1992 RAGE 14 hull is upside-down getting ready for gelcoat and bottom paint job. A hull puncture occured when a bunker mount rusted and busted out during the long haul from the east coast to the western Rockies. The up-side was this gave me a chance to dry out 170-lbs weight in the thull.

With the new technology, I wish Boston Whaler would resume production of RAGE-like jet boats--and STICK with Yamaha power. It's the only one that was balanced and easy to fix with parts available worldwide.