Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by bwoutrage22 on 09/01/12 - 6:29 PM

I recently purchased a 22' Outrage with the cuddy - beautiful boat! However, it has a 225hp Mariner and I'm thinking that it's just too much power for that boat. Does anyone know the recommended motor size for that size boat?

Posted by cwk6 on 09/01/12 - 6:32 PM

I don't think that's too much. Remember, the throttle doesn't always have to be wide open. Run at a good crushing speed to save fuel, and when you get that glassy smooth day, let'r rip and have a blast.

Posted by Joe Kriz on 09/01/12 - 7:52 PM

I had a 175 on mine but wouldn't go any lower.

If I would have had to replace the motor, it probably would have been with a 200 hp E-Tec small block at 433 pounds.
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...icle_id=30

I would also put a kicker on it for my needs.
http://users.sisqtel.net/jkriz/Outrag...age22.html

The Outrage 22' is rated for a Max HP of 240 so you are not overpowered.
http://www.whalercentral.com/userphot...album_id=1

See Andy's boat with the small block 200 Hp E-Tec and a kicker.
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...ser_id=271

Posted by Buckda on 09/02/12 - 6:27 AM

Let me clarify:

Your specification was a motor that was smaller AND more fuel efficient. My argument is on the premise that your new motor would be ... a new motor. In which case, pretty much ANYTHING you buy will be more fuel efficient. ... by a lot.

So I'd stick with 225 HP, and choose my platform/brand based on a variety of factors....

...but I think 225 is just about the perfect HP setup for that boat, and why so many of them are using 225 HP motors.

Posted by mtown on 09/02/12 - 6:34 AM

My 22 cuddy is 1988 with a Yamaha 200 2-stroke of same year. It is plenty of power but thirsty.With your 225 you are probably able to cruise at a lower RPM saving some fuel. I think I would go 4-stroke if I bought new,
but the weight of the e-tec does make it attractive.

Posted by Buckda on 09/02/12 - 6:40 AM

#10

Where are you using your boat (offshore, inshore, bay, river, inland lake?), and how are you using your boat? (loading, trolling/fishing, cruising, skiing, etc).

All of that will matter.

Personally, 200 would be the ABSOLUTE minimum I'd put on this hull, even if I were using the boat in rough, offshore water and could rarely, if ever, run the boat at full throttle.

I've seen a 22' Revenge with twin 90 Honda's and it was a nice setup, but suffered from low top end speed when you wanted/needed it and quite a bit of stern squat from the weight.

Also, if you go lower than 200 HP, resale value WILL be negatively impacted. Most buyers want to see near the max rating for HP on a boat...so your buyer pool will be diminished, or have less motivation to pay full asking price due to that factor. I always ask for a discount if a hull is not max powered. I figure if you get a discount for not buying max power, then I get a discount too for your boat not being powered at max power...

Posted by bwoutrage22 on 09/02/12 - 6:48 AM

#11

I primarily use the boat on the Piscataqua river and stay close to the shore off the cost of NH. I haven't ventured up/down the coast yet but that time will come. The river has a serious current so the higher hp will help. I also don't plan on selling the boat for many years, she's exactly what I've been looking for in a boat so unless I do a major upgrade - she's with me for the long haul.

I use the boat to fish, cruise, overnight and occasionally ski/wakeboard off the back. It's great for all of that - and with a 77-gallon tank (thanks for that info Joe) - I can really take it far.

Posted by Buckda on 09/02/12 - 7:04 AM

#12

I have a friend with a 22' Revenge WD who repowered from a 225 HP Evinrude 2-stroke carbureted motor to a 225 HP E-TEC and saw greater than 50% improvement in fuel economy..you should see similar results with any power platform you choose..so you can see significant fuel savings and still keep the power.

You know where I stand....but ask yourself: If you're in it for the long haul, do you want to have the power you might need as your boating evolves, or not have it, and want it, if you choose to go outside/offshore, etc.

It's not an easy question, and can be a function of economics, preference and a host of other factors...but everyone who faces a repower decision should ask themselves that question - and be honest.

...and of course, it's your boat, your boating, etc. so what works for you, works for you, and no worries on that! Have fun..it's what we bought our boats for anyway!

Posted by wannabe on 09/02/12 - 8:28 AM

#13

bwoutrage22 wrote:
Thanks for all of the replies. What's the thought of replacing the Mariner with a 150hp honda 4-stroke?

Alot of guys are installing 150 hp. on 18 foot Outrage hulls if that tells you anything.

Posted by Joe Kriz on 09/02/12 - 11:12 AM

#14

A smaller motor will not give you better fuel economy.

It takes about the same amount of fuel for any size motor to get from point A to point B pushing the same weight.

Why? The smaller motor will be working much harder to get to point B then the larger motor.
Because of this, the smaller motor may not last as long as it would always be working harder then the larger motor.

I fish. I troll for fish sometimes 8 hours a day using my kicker.
Even though any of the new large motors would work just fine for trolling, why put 8 hours a day on the expensive large motor just for trolling?
For me, a kicker is the only way to go plus it is a backup motor should anything happen.
That is why the lighter the main motor the better along with a lightweight kicker.
Here are weights of kicker motors.
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...ticle_id=7

As Buckda mentioned above, it all depends on your needs.

Posted by bwoutrage22 on 09/02/12 - 12:38 PM

#15

As I've never owned a boat this size - I'm so very thankful for all of the insight you've all given me considering I am in love with my new Whaler. With that said - if I put a kicker on there, which sounds like a great, smart idea - what does that really entail? Would I have to have it hard wired into the controls so that I can choose which motor to run and when? I'm confused at how that really works. I get the reason why you have one but the process from not having one to having one is confusing. Thanks.

Posted by Joe Kriz on 09/02/12 - 1:06 PM

#16

We have lots of information from all the links on the left sidebar.
Take a few hours and look through all those links.

Here is the one for installing a kicker.
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...icle_id=48

I have done the above to 4 or 5 boats now and personally would not be without a kicker.

Posted by mtown on 09/02/12 - 1:07 PM

#17

That all depends on what you want it for. My 22' is rigged for a kicker [by a previous owner], has seperate throttle controls on the console ect. I never saw the kicker mounted but assume it was pull start as there is not a seperate ignition at the console. When I did use a 9.9 4-stroke kicker on my 20' Mako, it was simply attached with the mounting dogs to the transom, and had a seperate fuel tank on deck. I could not use my main fuel tank as it was in the pre-mix days. When I trolled with the kicker it was aimed straight ahead and I left the main motor down so it acted as a tiller for steering. My use was mainly as a get home, as I ran 20 miles offshore with that boat. Thankfully it was never needed for that reason.

Posted by Phil T on 09/02/12 - 1:09 PM

#18

Having travelled the Piscat, Isle of Shoals and from Cape Ann to York, I agree with others, 200 E-TEC or higher.

What brands are offered by dealers near you? Often price will help you make the final choice. Shop hard.

Posted by bwoutrage22 on 09/02/12 - 1:17 PM

#19

It's not as though I'm shopping for a new motor - it already came with a 225hp Mariner with great service records so I was contemplating getting a newer, smaller motor but the more I read, the more I realize this motor is probably perfect for this boat. I will definitely get a kicker.

Posted by Joe Kriz on 09/02/12 - 1:42 PM

#20

Here's a photo of my prior 1989 Outrage 22' with a kicker and dual binnacle controls. One control for each motor.

http://www.whalercentral.com/images/O...kicker.jpg

Posted by Joe Kriz on 09/02/12 - 1:57 PM

#22

If you are talking to me, that is the same exact boat you have in the same exact size.

1989 Outrage 22' Cuddy.
http://www.whalercentral.com/images/O...kicker.jpg

Edited by Joe Kriz on 09/02/12 - 2:01 PM

Posted by powdahbonz on 09/02/12 - 5:17 PM

#25

I saw that boat on MA CL---looked like a good buy...stick with what you have and track your consumption of fuel #s. Off-season pressure test that tank-welcome to the Outrage club!