Flagship model of the Outrage range, the 25-footer was even considered the best boat ever produced before the yard was taken over by Brunswick. We found one, restored by the Hyèrois dealer Mas Marine, which we compared to the new 250 currently in the catalogue. Photos : Virginie Pelagalli.
It’s in the old Boston Whalers that we do the best sailing… The adage is indeed supported by a handful of enthusiasts of the American shipyard, who swear only by the old hulls.
This is why we wanted to put two 25-foot Outrages face to face, one from 1988, the other from 2016, i.e. almost thirty years of difference between the two. This isn’t the first time we’ve featured an old Boston Whaler. The pages of our “Used” section are sometimes devoted to it, because there is a real renewed interest in these boats which age well.
Most of them are located in the south of France, not far from Hyères, where the Mas Marine dealer restores old models of the unsinkable brand.
A nearly refurbished 1988 model
It is indeed within the workshops of Mas Marine that this 25 Outrage was refurbished. Acquired in 2006 in Italy by a Porquerollais who fell in love with the line of these models, the boat arrived in a state of near wreckage at Mas Marine where it was to spend a full winter being pampered.
The gel-coat is polished, the stainless steel bricked and the wood stripped. This is one of the specificities of these models: the wood is still present, in particular at the level of the console doors or on the wide gunwales in the cockpit.
This 25 Outrage has also undergone some modifications to improve comfort on board. This is the case of the front part, originally flush-deck, which has since received a chest.
This equipment offers a double utility to the owner, since it serves both as storage and as a gigantic sundeck – so vast that the 2016 version cannot compete.
We can also note the presence of a davit specifically developed by Mas Marine, since the original model did not have one. Even if it presents well, this Outrage 25 cannot deny its age. The silhouette is dated, with a cream-coloured gel-coat that is less dazzling than that of current boats.
A restoration followed by a re-engine
Likewise, some details are specific to this generation, and are part of the charm. This is the case of the fuel gauge directly connected to the tank and not attached to the dashboard.
On the engine side, this Outrage was re-engined in 2006, at the time of its restoration, with two Mercury L4s of 200 horsepower each. Attention to detail has been taken to the extreme, including the brand logo, which has been slightly modified since its inception.