Boston Whaler 330 Outrage Review, Two Generations Compared

Boston Whaler 330 Outrage, two boats under one name

Anyone searching for a Boston Whaler 330 Outrage for sale needs to know one thing first: there are two very different boats wearing the badge. The first-generation 330 Outrage arrived for the 2016 model year as the replacement for the 320 Outrage, a foot longer with a 700 hp rating, built on a conventional variable-deadrise deep-V; Salt Water Sportsman listed it at $261,091 with twin Verado 350s. At the February 2026 Miami show, Whaler launched an all-new 330 Outrage on its patented WhalerStep twin-step hull, with new styling, a revised helm and more power.

Both share the essentials that define every Whaler since Dick Fisher founded the company in 1958: foam injected between hull and liner for level flotation, a hullside dive door, a standard hardtop and a deck that tries to serve anglers and families equally. The 2026 boat lists a swamped capacity of 4,500 pounds. But the ride, the speed and the price are different enough that you should decide which generation suits you before you start comparing listings.

The 2016 deep-V: social bow and dive-ready console

The first-generation boat measured 33 feet 1 inch with a 10-foot 2-inch beam, a 9,000-pound dry weight and a 23-degree transom deadrise. Below the waterline its variable deadrise ran down to a flat running pad that testers found gave quick hole shots and minimal bow rise. BoatTest's boat on twin 350 hp Verado L6 outboards planed in 3.9 seconds and reached 30 mph in 8.9 seconds.

Its top speed was 52.2 mph (45.4 knots) at 6,400 rpm. The efficient cruise sat at 4,000 rpm: 29.6 mph (25.7 knots) on just 19.5 gallons per hour, about 1.5 mpg and 411 statute miles of range. Those are excellent numbers for a conventional deep-V of this size.

Whaler rethought the bow on this boat. An aft-facing bench about 5 feet 7 inches wide replaced the old cooler seat, a double-wide console lounge sat ahead of the console, and inside the console lounge a deep garage storage area could take racks for four dive tanks, buckets and full-length rods. In the cockpit, pulling the aft-facing seatback revealed a cocktail table, and a summer kitchen with an electric grill and inverter was optional.

The 2026 WhalerStep hull and what it changes

The new 330 Outrage measures 33 feet even with the same 10-foot 2-inch beam but weighs 9,800 pounds dry, carries a maximum of 850 hp and rides on WhalerStep, Whaler's twin-step running surface. Two steps ventilate the bottom with a layer of air bubbles to reduce wetted surface and drag. Whaler also added a strake along the centerline from the second step to the transom, acting as a tracking keel for directional stability at speed.

The difference is dramatic. BoatTest's 2026 boat, on the optional twin 425 hp Verado V10s, reached 61.7 mph (53.6 knots) at 6,500 rpm with a test weight of 13,158 pounds. Best cruise was 4,500 rpm and about 41.8 mph (36.3 knots) on 31.3 gph, roughly 1.3 mpg and 360 statute miles of range. BoatTest's report puts 0 to 30 mph at roughly 9.5 to 10 seconds.

A flatter running angle and reduced bow rise also improve visibility over the bow. Standard power is twin 300 hp Verado V8s, with the V10 425s and joystick piloting as options.

Fishing hardware with the family aboard

Neither generation is a hardcore tournament boat, and neither pretends to be. The new boat carries a centerline transom livewell, with Whaler quoting 44 gallons in its feature copy and its standard-equipment list quoting 50 gallons, plus an optional deluxe leaning post with a further 21-gallon livewell. There are insulated in-deck fish boxes with pump-out, eight gunwale rod holders, three in the transom and five on the outrigger-ready hardtop, with radial outriggers and fold-down trolling seats as options.

Where the 330 shines is versatility. The bow lounges, stowable cocktail table, foldaway aft bench and convertible seatback mean the same boat can troll for mahi in the morning and host a sandbar party in the afternoon. A dive door with removable ladder and optional tank racks make it a strong dive boat too.

Helm, console head and electronics

The helm on the WhalerStep boat uses a pair of 16-inch Simrad NSS4 touchscreens with Mercury VesselView integration, a JL Audio system and a tempered glass windshield with a powered vent and wiper. The console hides an enclosed head with a VacuFlush toilet, sink with pull-out sprayer and holding tank, reached through a lockable acrylic door.

On the first-generation boat, BoatTest measured 5 feet 10 inches of headroom in the head and asked for a grab handle at the step down, a fair note for owners with older guests. There is no cabin on either boat, so overnighting means a sleeping bag on the bow.

Prices, running costs and depreciation

A new 2026 330 Outrage with typical options lands around $500,000 to $620,000, and the V10 package, joystick, Seakeeper and electronics upgrades push it to the top of that range. First-generation boats trade from about $175,000 for an early 2016 boat to around $440,000 for a well-optioned 2024.

Annual running costs of roughly $17,000 to $32,000 cover insurance, storage, twin outboard service, bottom paint if kept in the water and a typical season of fuel. Whaler resale is consistently strong, and the first-generation boats are now the value play for buyers who prefer a conventional deep-V ride.

Which generation to buy

Choose a first-generation boat if you want a predictable conventional deep-V, excellent fuel economy at 25 to 30 knots and a lower purchase price. It is one of the best all-round 33-foot family center consoles of its era.

Choose the WhalerStep 2026 boat if you run long distances, value speed and want the newest helm and electronics. It is faster at every comparable throttle setting and keeps all the Whaler safety features, but you will pay new-boat money and should learn how a stepped hull wants to be trimmed in following seas.