Boston Whaler 18 Outrage - The Hull Truth

Surfhunter · 09-24-2006, 09:55 PM

today, I looked at a 1986 18 Outrage with a 2001 150HP HPDI on it. I was surprised to see that the motor well had to be plugged otherwise it would fill up with a substantial amount of water. Is the HPDI a lot of weight for this boat, or is the hull water logged?

I know some water is normal but this was coming up above the smaller cut-out and up onto the flat part of the motor well. The boat has spent it's life in the water and had a full fuel tank. There were not significant stress cracks and the boat otherwise looked good.

MONSTAWHALA · 09-24-2006, 10:35 PM

That boat should easily be able to handle the weight of that motor. Im not sure I understand though, is the water coming over the TOP of the motor well or just in through the drains?If it is coming in through the well drains then it should be ok.
But honestly , having owned Whalers for most of my boating life , I would HIGHLY recommend that you have the boat surveyed so that a surveyor can use a moisture meter on it. There will probably be some moisture which may be reasonable, but Buying a 20 year old Whaler warrants a survey. You may want to ask the question on :

http://www.continuouswave.com/whaler

There are alot of 18 Outrage owners on there, who can give you first hand comments on that boat.

Whaler27 · 09-25-2006, 08:59 AM

Had a 1987 Johnson 150 on my 18 Outrage years ago. Single battery and oil tank in the motor well. The Johnson weighed about 400 lbs. The water line at the transom ran through the bottom of the motorwell drains. A small puddle would collect at the depression in front of the drains.

With a 475 lb 150 HPDI on the transom, I would expect the motor well drains to be just about under water putting some part of the motorwell beyond the drain depressions under water.

SIM · 09-25-2006, 09:35 AM

Surf,

If the battery(s) and oil tank are mounted near the engine, if they are moved to the console this helps with water situation. We have a 18 Outragehere with the same engine. Also a 18Outragewith a F150. On either if I move to the transom the water will start to trickle in on both. (200 lbs i wish)[img]../images/emoticons/biggrin.gif[/img]

Andy

topfish · 09-25-2006, 10:28 AM

I had a 1989 18' Outrage. Originally it had a 120HP Evinrude. I replaced the outboard with a 130HP Honda which I think weighed around 485#. I had bottom paint and had to paint the bottom paint higher in stern area due to extra weight. I had no problems with the engine well scuppers bringing in water. I had a rear seat but my dual batteries were in the center console.

SIM · 09-25-2006, 10:38 AM

I should have added.......our 18'sare in freshwater, which will have a higher static water line then the same boat in salt water.

Andy

c_mccann · 09-25-2006, 11:24 AM

I ssecond water in the hull. All older whalers have water in the hull, not a fatal problem, it just has to be drained out, it takes a couple of months to get it all out, a good winter project. That hull has a low splashwell, but a very bouyant transom, so that outboard, though a heavy one, should work fine.

Surfhunter · 09-25-2006, 12:20 PM

The Motor well has 3 drains, one down low in a small cut-out and two more on the sides that came onto the flat part of the motor well which looked to be about deck level. I pulled one of the side plugs and water filled up onto the upper flat section of the motor well, but would have stopped well before coming over the motor well and onto the deck.

I am certain the hull is wet, but think it must be holding together structurally since there were no major stress cracks, like I have had on my previous Whalers.

Thanks for the input

Surfhunter · 09-25-2006, 12:30 PM

FYI - The battery and Oil tank are in the console

high'n'dry · 09-25-2006, 01:33 PM

JFYI, Boston Whalers new and old seem to ride low in the rear. It is apparently intentional. My 3 year old trailered 190 with Opti 150 sits with the suppers and transom well outlets at or just above water line in freshwater. As soon as the boat is loaded they dip below esepecially if people sit in the rear seats. I have dual bateries in the console, oil tank factory rigged in the stern. There is no water in my hull, this is normal.

Tailwalker · 09-25-2006, 01:49 PM

The hull has to be water logged. I had an 89 18 whaler with a 150 yammy and never even had to have any of the 3 plugs in the hull. The boat rode high and dry. Only the little square well in the lowest part of the splash well would get any water in it but that was it and my batter was in the back.

Personally I would never buy one that has been kept in the water but that's my opinion. I have owned several and am looking for a nice used one now and am only looking for an unpainted hull that has been kept on a bunk trailer or in a boatel.

Water can do bad things to that foam over time, whether you dry it out or not.

Schmaltz~Herring · 09-25-2006, 03:14 PM

Quote:

c_mccann - 9/25/2006 11:24 AM

I ssecond water in the hull. All older whalers have water in the hull, not a fatal problem, it just has to be drained out, it takes a couple of months to get it all out, a good winter project. That hull has a low splashwell, but a very bouyant transom, so that outboard, though a heavy one, should work fine.

ALL OLDER WHALERS, I don't think so. You mean EVERY Whaler from 1958 to WHEN????
DUHDUH