Boston Whaler 250 Outrage, Two Generations of Whaler's 25-Footer

Boston Whaler 250 Outrage: know which generation you are looking at

The Boston Whaler 250 Outrage name covers two quite different boats, and that matters more than any option list when you shop. The first 250 Outrage was unveiled in the summer of 2008 for the 2009 model year as part of Whaler's makeover of its center consoles. It measured 24 feet 6 inches with a 175-gallon tank. In 2016 Whaler introduced an all-new 250 Outrage, after the 330 and 280, at 25 feet 5 inches with 172 gallons, and that second generation is the boat Whaler still sells today.

HMY's PowerBoat Guide treats the model as a single 2009-to-current listing that has received many refinements, and calls it one of the best-looking and one of the most expensive center consoles in its class. Both generations share the core Whaler formula: a foam-filled, unsinkable hull, a deep-V running surface with 22 degrees of deadrise at the transom, and a balance of serious fishing gear and family comfort.

If you are searching for a 25-foot Boston Whaler, the 250 Outrage is the fishing-focused choice; Whaler's Dauntless and Vantage lines cover the family day-boat end of the range.

The 2009 original: hardtop console and ring deck

Salt Water Sportsman tested the original 250 at its 2008 unveiling in St. Petersburg. Its most striking feature was the optional fiberglass hardtop with a D-shaped frame recessed into the console and a tempered-glass windshield bonded to the frame, enclosing the helm on three sides like a small pilothouse. The console was big enough for twin 12-inch displays and housed a head compartment with a porcelain toilet and shower.

Specifications were 24 feet 6 inches long, a 9-foot beam, 1 foot 6 inches of hull draft, 22 degrees of deadrise, 5,050 pounds dry, 175 gallons of fuel, 26 gallons of water and a 400 hp rating. A single Verado 250 was the normal configuration, at $93,691, with twin Verados up to 200 hp each optional. Twin 200s pushed the boat to nearly 49 mph and cruised at 33.2 mph at 4,500 rpm on 17.4 gph. HMY adds that a single 250 Verado reaches 36 to 38 knots.

Fishing features included a deluxe leaning post with a pressurized 40-gallon livewell and prep sink, insulated in-deck fish boxes, an insulated self-draining bow compartment and optional fold-down trolling seats amidships. Interior freeboard was 26 inches.

The 2017 redesign: longer, heavier, more social

The current 250 Outrage grew to 25 feet 5 inches, kept the 9-foot beam and gained weight, at 5,350 pounds dry and 7,325 pounds with engines, fuel and water. Fuel capacity is 172 gallons, water 26 gallons, draft 20 inches and interior freeboard 28 inches. Whaler rates it for 12 people, a 3,642-pound maximum load and a swamped capacity of 2,980 pounds, the weight it will float upright with while full of water.

Power runs from a single Mercury Verado (Whaler now specifies a 350 hp minimum) to twin Verados totaling 450 hp. Mercury's data at launch showed a top speed of 52 mph with twin 225s at 1.09 mpg, a 4.8-second hole shot and a 30.1 mph cruise at 4,000 rpm returning 1.69 mpg. The 2016 MSRP was $110,506 with a single Verado 350.

The layout leans more social than the original. Forward lounges face each other in the bow, a two-person lounge sits ahead of the console and an aft bench folds away, while the console houses a portable head with pump-out, an easy-clean liner and a fold-down step.

• LOA 25 feet 5 inches, beam 9 feet, draft 20 inches
• Dry weight 5,350 pounds without engines
• 172 gallons of fuel, 26 gallons of water, 30-gallon livewell
• Bridge clearance 8 feet 7 inches with hardtop, 9 feet 8 inches with hardtop and radar
• 350 hp minimum, 450 hp maximum

How the current 250 fishes

Whaler describes 360 degrees of walkaround fishing space, and the deck delivers it. The deluxe leaning post carries a bait-prep surface, a pressurized 30-gallon livewell with lights and a blue interior, and three tackle drawers. Two large in-floor fish boxes have pump-outs, and there is dedicated storage for a 5-gallon bucket. Gunwale rod holders come standard and the optional hardtop is outrigger ready with more holders.

At the helm, the electronics surface accepts two 12-inch displays or a single 16-inch screen, with Simrad packages integrated from the factory. The 30-gallon well is smaller than the original's 40-gallon tank, a trade made for the larger seating areas, so tournament live-baiters may want to add capacity.

Boston Whaler MSRP, running costs and the cost of a 250

Buyers asking what a Boston Whaler costs should know that Whaler prices sit at the top of the 25-foot class. The 250 has roughly doubled in price since 2008, from $93,691 to an estimated $185,000 to $240,000 today depending on engines and options, and BoatValue's rough figure for a current boat is about $200,000.

Running costs are moderate. A twin-225 boat cruising at 30 mph burns roughly 18 gph, while a single Verado 350 uses less. We estimate $8,000 to $16,000 a year excluding fuel and depreciation, covering insurance, Verado service, bottom paint or rack storage, canvas and electronics, with twin-engine boats at the top of the range.

Resale is the payoff. Whalers depreciate slowly, and late second-generation 250s often trade within striking distance of their original price, which narrows the true cost of ownership.

Choosing a used 250 Outrage for sale

For a buyer on a budget, a 2009 to 2015 first-generation boat offers the same unsinkable hull, a bigger livewell and slightly more fuel for roughly half the money, but it has older Verados and a dated helm. For most families, a 2017-or-later boat with a single Verado 350 is the sweet spot: newer power, a more social layout and a better-finished console.

Twin-engine boats make sense for owners running well offshore. Check for the hardtop, which adds value and protection, and confirm the electronics package, which changed several times. Always survey the engines; a repowered first-generation boat can be a better value than a tired second-generation one.