Classic 21' Outrage

[seakat]

I just looked at a classic 21'Boston Whaler Outrage, ribbed model. I always loved the look of these boats but they do have very low freeboard and are not deepV. Are these hulls really special? How do they ride? Are they an off shore boat? How do they compare in handling and fuel efficiency with modern boats? Should I continue to drool over these or should I set my sights on newer designs/boats?
I would really appreciate information from people who are familiar with this boat. Thank you.

[Bamaskeetshooter]

I had one for 22 years. They are great boats. Gunnel height has nothing to do with seaworthiness. Often high gunnels keep water in not out. The old rib models had a "green door" in the splash well to eject water that washed in the boat.

I ran one 40 miles off shore 100's of times. They are not the best riding boats in the world but push easy, reasonable dry and are very stable.

Make sure the floor, hull and transom are solid and run it like you stole it!

[Raybo Marine NY]

the floor is thin glass over foam.
The only wood is where Whaler put it for mounting purposes.
If the guy has the owner's manual it will outline where the wood is.
We did a crazy restoration on one and basically every piece of wood in the boat was no good- but that dont make
it a bad boat.

The decks are normally filled with millions of small cracks- thats due to that thin glass over foam thing I just mentioned.
We ended up glassing new skins so the boat basically got a brand new deck without having to deal with the foam.

In hindsight I would have gutted the whole thing, removed the foam, glassed some stringers in it and constructed it to
be more durable because my customer likes jumping waves and sending the thing airborne! Its holding up
but not what I expected him to be doing with a 30+ year old boat that he dumped a ton of money into.

[Shag]

I've had a 1971 for years and love it. They are a little rough in a head sea but are a hoot in a following sea. Gunwales are low but I like em that way. I run the he11 out of mine and it seems to enjoy it. Been doing some work on mine. Here's a thread I started and it has a couple pics of some other rib-sides. Just went down this weekend and re-did all the teak. I should have taken some pics.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/t...186290&start=1

[petrel]

It is an awesome boat! Mine is a '71. My father bought it out of a commercial fisherman's estate in '76. We offshore fished it from Wachapreague, VA to Hatteras, NC for ten years. He gave it to me when he moved up.

Mine is on it's third Mercury 2-cycle, it's fourth trailer, and it's third complete electronics upgrade. I'll make no bones about it, it beats, but it can take it! I've replace the bow railing supports twice, two vhf antennas, and one outrigger. Even broke a fuel tank loose from it's hold downs before. You can swamp it (I have once) but you can's sink it. When swamped, it floats level even in swells with water spilling over the gunwales and out of the back flap (as it drains itself)! If your back and your feet can take the ride, it will always bring you home.

Haven't used her offshore since '86. It is now our official "beach combing, inshore fishing, children's boat." It will be my children's first boat, when the time comes.

Listen to Bama and shag. The outrage is a great boat, but you must pick your days for your comfort. There a couple of pictures of mine (I think) on the whaler continuous wave site. Any questions, feel free to pm. Good luck!

[petrel]

Oops! correction to previous post. Fifth sentence, second paragraph, should read...but you CAN'T sink it... Sorry!

Had two of the 21 classics includiing probably one of the last made in 1981. A boat for the Whaler lover. Great for a bay boat where the usuall conditions are less than 2' chop. Waves over that and you will pay dearly. Make sure all the fillings in your teeth are in solid casue it will knock them out. I really liked mine and fished it in some very shallow water. Very stable at rest. Nice low sides make it easy to fish and dive out of. In all honesty you can certainly go far offshore in it but be preapred to go SLOW if you hit anything more than a 2' chop.

My biggest advice would be to WEIGH the boat before you buy it. The things can and will soak up a ton of water. Literally. There is no cure for a waterlogged hull. The Whaler Achilles heel also makes it "unsinkable".

Today there are a bunch of bay boats that make this Whaler look really dated. Half of the price you pay will be for the Whaler name and not for the functional value of the boat.