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Boston Whaler 230 Outrage: 2017 Boat Buyers Guide

This smaller sibling of last year’s 330 Outrage likewise is comfortable either fishing or for ­entertaining.
Boston Whaler 230 Outrage
LOA: 23′ | Beam: 8’6″ | Fuel Capacity: 110 gal. | Dry Weight: 3,800 lb. plus power | Max Horsepower: 350 | Seating/Weight Capacity: 10/3,100 lb. | Certifications: NMMA Courtesy Boston Whaler

It’s a brand manager’s dream: Spy the distinctive swoosh logo, and one knows how the boat’s going to look and handle. Spot one of the stylish boats — runabout, cruiser or center console — even at a distance, and one knows what name it’ll bear.

Boston Whaler.

Renowned for a half-century-­plus as unsinkable, Boston Whaler has earned an enviable reputation for blending hard-charging fishability with creature comforts — all on a firm foundation of safety. That’s reflected in resale value our survey respondents rank among its top features. (The brand is as widely regarded too, drawing the second-largest number of survey evaluations.)

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Boston Whaler’s foam-filled hulls and yacht-quality hardware, much of it custom-made, are benchmarks. Ruggedness and attention to detail are reflected in touches such as through-hull ­fittings bonded to the hull, hose fittings sealed and secured with adhesive and then ­double-clamped; that avoids through-hull water incursions that most commonly fill boats, which — unlike Boston Whalers — might not be unsinkable. That’s not needlessly redundant — that’s just rugged, Boston Whaler-style.

Where most fishing boats lack comfort and most pleasure boats lack fishing features, ­Boston Whaler proves you can have both. A safe boat — as those who study a Boston Whaler close up or gaze at one from a distance can tell you — doesn’t have to be a stodgy one.

230 OUTRAGE

Boxing fans give powerful heavyweights plenty of respect, but often thrill at the agility of fighters whose big performance erupts from smaller packages.

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Punching above one’s weight, it’s called, which is just how Boston Whaler describes its 230 ­Outrage. This smaller sibling of last year’s 330 Outrage likewise is comfortable either fishing or for ­entertaining.

The key to big things in smaller packages, of course, is making sure space is used deliberately. Anglers see that in a roomy cockpit with a new multifunction leaning post that comprises both a handy work station and ­extra aft-facing seating. A fold-out stern seat has a backrest ­bolster for crew rest breaks.

Anglers are almost certain to opt for the Fishing Package, with its fish-box pump-out, fishing station, raw-water washdown and transom-mounted rod holders.

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Up front, the bow area has plenty of space and seating, with in-floor and underseat storage. Standard is a bow cooler with cushion and backrest.

The 230 Outrage is fishing ready off the line, but you can dress it up with touches such as a fiberglass hardtop, premium navigation and fish-finding electronics, JL Audio speakers, and more.

More Info: bostonwhaler.com

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