Boston Whaler 210 Outrage

In case you missed the news, Botany Bay has been declared a recreational-fishing only area. Professionals will be bought-out with the not inconsiderable funds raised from the NSW angling licence. This is good news, though the new-for-2002 Boston Whaler 210 Outrage, the subject of this test, has bigger fish to fry in waters that are a tad deeper than the bay.

With my sights set on the wide blue yonder, I hastened across Botany Bay, noting at least one resident angler in a knockabout tinnie looking across, green with envy. There is definitely something special about the way a Boston Whaler rides. In fact, this boat travels with such composure that I felt as casual as Clark Kent doing 30-plus knots.

Outside the heads, a confused sea provided a true test of the Boston Whaler 210 Outrage. While there was no wind, there were holes between 1.5m swells that could easily swallow a lesser boat. With a touch on in-trim, I set the Whaler up for a long-range cruising speed of about mid-20kt into the headsea.

I also drove the Boston Whaler at every point on the compass but, well, there was nothing to fault. Foam-filled with a fine entry and big reverse chines, the 210 Outrage has a very special hull that can reel in the sea miles in a manner offshore anglers dream about.

Why don't local boatbuilders follow shape? The tooling for the intricate deck and hull moulds, and the patented construction method using closed-cell foam between these skins, requires a big investment. As it is, with the exchange rate not helping things, the US-made Boston Whaler will set you back a fair whack.

But you get what you pay for and would-be Whaler buyers should note that the armed forces, rescue and drug enforcement authorities, firemen and countless bluewater anglers swear by these boats. Having spent a half day in the new Outrage 210, add this scribe to the list.

HULL OF A TIME
Big on safety, Whalers remain level and don't sink by the transom when swamped. The foam-filled hull provides swamped capacity for 10 people. Unlike some other foam-filled boats, the closed-foam in Whalers doesn't absorb water. What it does absorb is noise.

Hence the great ride devoid of the characteristic thump that echoes through many "hollow" fibreglass hulls. The Accutrack hull also isn't your ordinary deep-vee, but a variable deadrise bordering on a cathedral shape due to giant reverse chines.

In some ways, the boat resembles a RIB, except that the bulbous above-water sections are moulded fibreglass not air chambers or sponsons. The hull also has full-length running strakes that help the boat onto the plane and, says Whaler, even benefit stability at rest.

But it's those giant reverse chines that make this one of the most rock-solid boats you will find anywhere. Offshore, it was hard to fathom that this was a mere 21-footer - we headed seawards at mid-20kt, not just running side-on to the swell or surfing it back home - with three men leaning into the gunwales. The boat shifted maybe 10°.

The stability of the Boston Whaler 210 is good news for anglers who want to fight, trace and tag billfish. The big reverse chines will be welcomed by passengers, too. You get as dry a ride as you will find in any centre-console. We had no spray, not even a whisper, on the windscreen.

But a lot of other details make this big centre-console appealing, things like self-draining decks, super-wide coamings, broad 2.54m beam and 60cm of internal freeboard. Less obvious is the engineering, the through-bolted deck fittings, impressive plumbing and electricals, plus the boat's range derived from a 360lt subfloor fuel tank.

FOR FISHING AND FUN
Boston Whaler makes the point, and it's not just clever marketing, that its boats are built to last and love a thorough thrashing. The deck gear, for example, is fixed through backing plates, the wiring is all tinned copper, the stainless steel screws and bolts are chrome-plated, and the framework for things like the optional factory T-top are double tubed for extra rigidity.

The Boston Whaler 210 also has toerails tracing the cockpit floor, recessed hardware including all above-deck hinges, heavy-duty rubrails, lots of grabrails and gelcoated internal liners and hatch lids to prevent mildew.

Further icing on the cake comes in the way of a Comfort Package and a Fishing Package added to this boat. With the company's optional Comfort Package, the bowpit had cushions on the moulded seating area and a cushioned seat with backrest on top of a portable cooler mounted ahead of the console.

Alternatively, you have the option of a forward sun lounge or a forward folding seat. The package also included padded coamings in the cockpit. Whichever way you go, the 210 has generous seating for a centre-console.

Fixed into the bow seating area are drinkholders and, in the centre section, a fully moulded anchor locker. With the cushions in place, the bow serves as a kick-back area. Without the cushions, you could fight a fish or stand-up and wave a saltwater wand.

Deck fittings include nifty navigation lights, recessed cleats, and a sturdy bowrail. While subtle to the eye, the non-skid for the flooring is so effective it polishes your hoofs.

There are no sidepockets to speak of, but you do get twin rod or gaff racks flanking the console.

More seats, quarter or jump seats, grace the transom corners. These might seem fishing unfriendly, but the stability of this boat is so good three guys could fish off one side. Gamefishers will fight fish from the gunwale and when drifting you can still feed a bait back or hit the berley pot.

Those aft seats actually work rather well when underway thanks to their backrest being high enough to provide support. The stainless rails tracing the edge of the splash well provides a handhold. Under the seat bases are the oil bottle (with deck filler), bait tank pumps and storage space for hardware. Off the transom hangs a little swim platform with ladder.

On the fishing front, the 210 Outrage comes with four flush-mounted stainless rodholders and two giant underfloor fishwells that, by removing a bung, can be flooded. Typical of the thoughtful design are the gas-assisted struts on the lids for these wells.

Overall floor space is superb on the Outrage. A team of four anglers won't be tripping over each other's toes. And the passageway either side of the console is nice and wide, promoting the use of the bow seating when at rest or even when trolling.

MODEL CENTRE CONSOLE
The console contributes to the sweet styling of the Boston Whaler 210 Outrage. It also provides protection while putting the skipper very much in control. Hydraulic steering is standard issue, along with a sturdy tilt stainless steel wheel. Crew get plenty of stout but stylish stainless grabrails.

The optional Fishing Package added a fishing or rigging station and a trick leaning post. A moulded module behind the leaning post/helmseat contained a truly massive recirculating livebait tank with a light, cutting board lid, knife and plier holders, pitch-baiting rodholders, built-in tackle drawers, and raw-water washdown.

The stainless rail trailing off the leaning post is at a perfect height to hold onto. Standing here, you ride in the most comfortable part of the boat.

No matter whether you have an even or odd number of crew you can distribute the load evenly. A vertical rod rack for four outfits is mounted off the side of the leaning post.

A flip-up bolster base lets you convert the leaning post into a two-person benchseat or a lounge that allows you to sit side-saddle and keep an eye on the trolling spread. There is a footrest but a T-top with rocket launcher is an option.

I would want outriggers, too.

The demo boat had Mercury gauges covering engine temperature, operating hours, trim level, motor revs, speed and fuel, plus a Ritchie compass. The Whaler switch panel for pumps, lights and accessories is waterproof. The two drinkholders will also come in handy While the console is beautifully styled, the height of the screen also gives wind protection. Inside the console were the boat's twin batteries, isolating switch, professional 12V circuit breakers and loads of dry storage.

I noted ample room for mounting serious electronics on the dash. And last but not least, the Quicksilver 3000 throttle shift for the Mercury 175XL EFI outboard deserves a mention. It has no annoying neutral gear lock like so many other shifts, making for easy parking.

WHALER POWER
Despite all the safety features, the 210 Outrage is available only with single engine installations, either a 175 or 200hp two-stroke motor. I do think the performance would be dumbed down with a four-stroke. However, it's my preference for a direct-injected Optimax outboard so as to reduce fuel consumption and engine exhaust.

With an EFI 175hp Mercury, the boat felt well-balanced, not at all bum heavy, and offered plenty of trim range. With just a touch on in-trim you could get the forefoot sluicing those 1.5m swells pounding the coastline. In reverse, no water washed back inside through the scuppers. The boat was similarly dry when quartering the sea.

Spinning a stainless 19in Mirage propeller, with three adults and a quarter of a tank of fuel, the Outrage 210 was an 84kmh boat, according to the speedo. Slick cruising came in at 4200rpm and 61kmh, faster than most gameboats, or 55kmh at 3800rpm. The hull held plane down to 3000rpm and, at trolling speed, the wake had some lovely big windows.

There's not a lot else to say other than this is one heck of a centre-console. It's the best boat I've driven in the 21ft range. Out of 60 boats in the dealer's yard, it was the one with the best ride by far. It feels smooth, it feels safe and it feels like it wants to head wide.

Judging by the way those jaws dropped on fishos I flashed past, it looks the goods, too. While I'm all for Australian-made, there isn't a 21ft centre-console that comes within an outboard roar of the 210 Outrage.