Boston Whaler 330 Outrage

Rod storage includes a rack of five on the hardtop and eight rod holders along the gunwales. Courtesy Boston Whaler Visit Boston Whaler Build Your Boston Whaler Find a Boston Whaler Dealer

Looking at this boat, the one I was scheduled to test, from the dock of Marine Max Boston in Quincy, Massachusetts, the new Boston Whaler 330 Outrage appeared to be a classic Whaler design in just about every way possible. However, traditional and popular Whaler characteristics, including the unbroken sheerline and seamlessly integrated swim platform and transom design, hide the major difference between this boat model and every Whaler model that preceded it. You can’t see it until you get close enough to examine the hull at the waterline. And then the difference becomes surprisingly apparent. Two distinct V-shaped notches in the chines along the waterline tell a new story. They signify a major shift in hull-design philosophy for this iconic brand. Boston Whaler has entered the world of step-hull center consoles.

Comfy seating abounds in the bow area of the 330 Outrage, with storage for 16 rods under the forward console lounge. Courtesy Boston Whaler

Yes, for the first time in it hallowed history, Boston Whaler has designed and built fishing boats with step hulls. These have been rolled out on both the new 330 Outrage and the smaller sister vessel, the 290 Outrage. Whaler calls its new running surface the WhalerStep hull, which is a system of two steps, one running midships just under the center console and one a bit farther aft. In engineering terms, it’s called a T-step. Here’s how it gets that name: Whaler incorporated a small, flat pad aft of the second step to lend stability and prevent the skittishness in turns that plagued step hulls in the distant past. The T-step resolves any quirkiness and makes the WhalerStep hull easy to handle while at speed. While underway, I found that the twin steps of the WhalerStep running surface work to reduce friction by aerating the running surface and increasing lift, helping the boat achieve a more level running attitude while boosting speed and efficiency. Whaler’s own testing claims a 5 to 10 percent improvement in fuel economy versus the non-step Outrage model that preceded the 330 Outrage. 

What hasn’t changed with the new 330 Outrage is Boston Whaler’s unibond construction process in which the hull and deck are chemically adhered to each other to create a single structure. Then the boat is injected with closed-cell foam flotation to ensure it meets the builder’s legendary “unsinkable” standard. The hull itself, even with the T-step design, is still a deep-V that tapers to 23 degrees of deadrise at the transom, so it is very much a bluewater fishing machine that can tame rough seas for a smooth ride.

I took the 330 Outrage out into Boston Harbor on a windy, choppy day with somewhat sporty conditions in the wake of a passing storm system. The 330 Outrage proved its mettle in transiting confused bay chop with nary a shudder or rattle, and it maintained a level attitude with no pounding while running and turning at high speed. With the twin Mercury 425 hp Verado V-10 outboard package, the 330 Outrage climbed onto plane in roughly five seconds, then promptly accelerated to 30 mph in 8.2 seconds. Our original test runs produced top speeds in the high 50-mph range before we played with the trim and were able to top 60 mph at 6,200 rpm on a downwind run. Pretty impressive. We leaned into hard-over turns at 30 mph and the handling felt smooth and predictable throughout the cruising rpm range. I am happy to report the 330 Outrage is a solid-handling boat with no unpleasant surprises while manning the helm.

The fully equipped helm area is protected by a three-sided glass windshield that integrates with the hardtop. Courtesy Boston Whaler

The helm leaning post has two adjustable captain’s chairs with independent bolsters and armrests. Seating is very comfy and supportive. The steering wheel sits to port, where the captain has a great view of the water ahead while behind the protection of the full-glass windshield. Twin flush-mounted 16-inch Simrad NSS4 displays are within easy view and reach of the captain (one Simrad comes standard), as are the Mercury throttle system and joystick controls. A riser step flips down from the leaning post so the captain and co-captain can operate from a higher vantage point if desired.

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A pair of 57-gallon insulated fish lockers are equipped with pump-outs to evacuate blood, water and gruel at the end of the day. Courtesy Boston Whaler

As far as fishing features, the new 330 Outrage has you covered in spades, starting with a feature you might not notice at the dock: The 5-foot-long sunlounge forward of the console opens to reveal a giant rod-stowage compartment with rod racks that can hold up to 16 sticks. Aft of the helm seats, Whaler engineered a two-person rear-facing seat where many center consoles would house a tackle station. But lo and behold, the backrest folds down to create a work surface with a tab to hold a cutting board. So, you can cruise to the canyons in comfort and then flip down the backrest and get to work. The bench seat flips up to reveal an optional 40-gallon livewell. Three tackle drawers reside to starboard in the helm leaning post. The transom has a flip-down bench for cruising that folds out of the way when it’s time to set up the spread. A standard 44-gallon livewell resides in the transom. Twin insulated, pump-out 57-gallon fishboxes hide in the cockpit deck to ice down your catch. The gunwale topsides house eight rod holders that extend from the cockpit into the forward bow section. The hardtop boasts a five-rod rocket launcher. The portside dive door swings inward and is a great spot to land big fish instead of dragging them over the gunwale, and also provides an easy boarding option at the dock.

After spending the day cruising and exploring Boston Harbor, I came away feeling the new 330 Outrage took a (ahem) step in the right direction with the WhalerStep hull design. It’s packed to the gills with fishing features and has plenty of cruising comforts as well, all while maintaining solid, predictable performance and living up to Whaler’s unsinkable legacy. Whether the call is to chase striped bass or hit the local sandbar, I’d definitely “step” aboard again. 

Specifications Length:33’0″Beam:10’2″Draft:2’1″ (outboards up)Deadrise:23 degreesFuel:300 gal.Weight:9,800 lb. (dry)Max HP:600Price:$552,070 (w/ test power) Contact Boston Whaler

Boston Whaler – Edgewater, Florida; 877-294-5645; bostonwhaler.com

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