Help me choose; 252 Islander or 25 Outlaw?
 

Looking at two boats in my area; a 2000 252 Islander and a 2001 25 Outlaw. Both have the 454 MAG, have almost exactly the same amount of hours (upper 300s) and come with a tandem axle trailer. The Outlaw seems to be in a bit worse shape cosmetically, and it is priced about a grand less than the Islander.

Do these have the same hull?
Will one be noticeably faster than the other?
Is the bow seating of the Islander deep enough to sit in while running at speed?

I realize that neither of these will make me the speed champion of my local lakes, nor is that what I'm after. I want a boat that runs well, has decent top speed, and will provide for a good day out on the water for my wife and occasionally a few friends. Sleeping onboard really isn't planned, so I was leaning toward the Islander.

I'd appreciate it if you could give me your opinions.

Thanks

It all depends on what you are intending to do...

If you want more room for people, the Islander is the way to go...

If not, I'd go the outlaw route...In fact I wish I had a cuddy....

I saw a real clean 2007 275 Boss on FB Powerboat swap shop in Dallas over the weekend...It had 120 hours and was priced a little high in my mind, but the seller said she is willing to play with the price.

I'm assuming your in Texas by your screen name.

Not sure if this will work or not...If you want me to try to put you in touch, let me know.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/6797...5&notif_t=like

Outlaw for Ocean and Great Lakes, Islander for inland Lakes and Waterways.

Thanks for the link; looks like a nice, clean boat. However, even if she comes down a bit it's above what I want to spend. Too bad though, b/c I am in Dallas.

Getting back to Islander vs. Outlaw, is the hull the same / handles the same?

They do not have the same hull. Look closely at the back of the boat from a side view picture. Notice the Outlaw has a square transom. The Islander has a molded in swim platform that counts in overall length, but it doesn't really have 25' of hull length like the Outlaw.
The 252 Islander would have a similar hull to the 23' Outlaw.
The 272 Outlaw would have a similar hull to the 25 Outlaw.

Always make sure you use the "same yardstick" when looking at OAL of boats. According to USCG rules, molded in swim platforms are considered "boat length" but they are not "hull length/running wetted surface."

Brian,
I know he's not looking that new, and I don't claim to be an expert, but is it true once you get into the Liner boats with Baja the hulls are the same? Bottoms anyway....

PS - Just biding my time to get into one of those 37' ATs

You never know until you try! She got the boat in a divorce, you might be surprised by what she would take!

I can't say for certain, I know a little about Bajas due to friends that owned them; but not enough to give you a good answer.

I ran a 252 Islander for three years and really like the boat it was easy to seven people on the boat and still have enough room, mine had the bow filler cushion which made the open bow like another sun pad. I ran on a large lake that could get rough at times and never had any issue with ride quality mine had trim tabs so you could keep the bow down to smooth our the ride. If you will have others with you most of the time and are not to concerned with speed I would choose the Islander.

Well, the Outlaw I was also looking at just sold, so might have to be the Islander anyway.
This Islander does have tabs.
While speed is not my primary concern, what should the 252 with a 454 mag run at WOT with two people and a full load of full? I don't know what prop they have on it, as the ad's pictures crop the prop off each time so I guess we can assume stock prop.

Thanks for the help.

Probably 55. Why not spend 8000.00 more (just a guess) and bump up to a 322 with twin 454mag/mpi's have room for everyone and all your stuff and run 70mph ?

Not trying to be a D, but because I don't want to.

The 252 with 385 HP will run around 62-63 loaded. The 25OL does have a longer running surface as has been mentioned. The 252 Islander is a great boat. I've been on board one with 9 other people for a canal "booze cruise" and there was plenty of room. I've got a buddy with a 2000 for sale, nice graphics (no pink or teal) and a BRAND NEW zero hour short block 454 MAG (from Mercury) with a warranty. Let me know if you wanna have a look see. It's not in Dallas.

Where are you going to be boating?

I've been giving him some options to Perry....May have a new member on PBN to shoot the chit with soon!

Outlaw- Aluminum swim platform V's slipping your Azz off of the fiberglass molded in one if you swim a lot. PLUS Fewer friends to deal with because only 5 can ride. or 6 skinny beeeeches

Sure, send me some info on your buddy's boat.
We are in Rockwall, so will be boating primarily on Ray Hubbard. The current plan is to use it as a trailer boat this year so we can check out all of the local lakes before pulling the trigger on a slip at one of them. Based on what I've heard and read so far, probably will avoid Lake Dallas due to traffic.

I've got access to hydro turf; no worries on the slippage ;)

Unless it continues to rain for another two months you won't need a trailer. I don't think Ray Hubbard even has a ramp that's still open. The lake hasn't been this low since it filled in the 60's. All DFW area lakes have come up 1-2 feet in the last couple of weeks. Lewisville/Lake Dallas is a mud hole, the most dangerous lake in the state (annual deaths) and full of over served douch bags. Nothing about that lake is cool. I live 15 minutes from it, have had my 272 for 15 years and been on it twice.

Texoma is where the cool kids hangout.

As far as Ray Hubbard goes, Chandler's Landing has an open ramp, as does Bayview. Apparently Bayview just added 120' to their existing ramp.
If the rest of the lakes have no ramp access and I don't want to go back and forth to Texoma just yet, that leaves me in a pickle. Not sure I want to be on Hubbard all year long, especially with one end of it full of trees poking through the water!

If you are buying a boat in the area DFW or North Texas areas, Do yourself a favor and have the boat(s) checked out very thoroughly by a experience marine tech. I promise our area can be filled with improper winterizations to no winterizations from do it yourselfers to so call craiglists mechanics to places selling used boats.

So many certified marine shops including myself do not see that many end users for winterizations anymore. Our winter months freeze now more than ever. Also a lot of used boat shops do not know anything about marine engines but think they do. I am giving you solid advice plus their is only a handful of marine shops that do good work anymore. Good luck

Also some boats in the area have a form impact damage that has been repaired cheap as possible. 5 years of very low lake levels and counting.

Chandlers Landing has (had) about two feet of water in the cut before it started raining 2 weeks ago. I've got buddies with bigger boats in there that can't leave the marina. Hubbard is a mud hole and quickly turning into Lake Lewisville as far as traffic and urban boating idiots. Water quality sucks and the bottom is black silt muck. You don't want to get out of the boat anywhere close to the bank.

PM sent.

Mechanic-wise, I am confident in my skills to do just about anything. Built a few engines in my time, and tore down even more. Winterization is no problem; its in my DNA as I grew up in Cleveland, OH.
As for the work done prior to me taking ownership, I agree 100%. Thorough inspection / survey. A few hundo is well worth the piece of mind.

When I was at Chandler's this weekend, the North side docks seemed like they had plenty of water under them. South side no way, but the rest looked accessible. Also, watched a few guys dunk their boats in via the ramp.

Ever been to Bob Sandlin? Any good?
Texoma is what, 2 hrs from Dallas? Don't want to make that drive regularly until we have a house to go.

It's 45 minutes for me....and well worth it. I leave my boat up there. Much better trip not wagging the 272 along.

Bob Sandlin is a fishing lake, lots of stumps and rednecks that don't like thru hull exhaust.

The cut is the problem at CL. Heck it maybe passable now the lake is up 2 feet but the cut has nasty boulders in it.

How is the level at Texoma?

Texoma is currently 4.60' low. Here you go Boss. You can drill down on any lake here. Bookmark this one.

http://waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/statewide

ahhh have that bookmarked for Hubbard. For some reason I just associated Texoma with OK, not TX.

Love my 252 Islander for all the things it can do with that open bow and has a great ride as many have said.
We use it for skiing, wake boarding, tubing, taking a crowd to lunch and an occasional blast to 55mph......mine only has the 310 hp 7.4.
The 385 hp version should have a 23P Mirage Plus from what I remember as standard.

Going to have a 97 outlaw 27' 502 mpi mag tabs capt call good colors with trailer on block here in dallas next month or so if your still in the market at that time .

Stepped in what? What's for sale again?

From what I understand the cuddy cabins aren't that great for camping until you get into the 30'+ range, and the open bow is almost everybody's favorite place to ride in my islander.

No offense taken, if you don't want that kind of a boat, you just don't want it.....No biggie.

The 25 outlaw actually has a very usable cabin, good size bed and couches either side where you dont hit your head sitting on them.

In all honesty the cabin on my 29 was Much more user friendly then the Gun. But we don't use it much now w the lake house.

The Islander in question is being held with a deposit from a guy coming in from out of state. Pretty sure its gone so keep me mind when you sell.

Thats a tough call i have spent time with the islander too , the 272 super roomy seems like they all had vortec 7.4s thought it was a little underpowered with a full 8 person load .a 252 islander with a 502 and a good prop would be a score if it had the right colors .

Holy moly 50k ? She wasnt kidding he got hurt

I notice that on my first TG, 33 OL cabin is a little easier to get into, and was taller, Like others have said its all in how you boat, cuddy VS bow rider

Sorry to dump this in here, but there isn't a Rinker subsection in which to ask. Is the Rinker 262 Captiva (2002) with a 496 MAG HO a decent option? I realize it isn't an offshore or go-fast, but for inland lake cruising and touching 60...will it work? Any comments on Rinker in general?

They rolled off. The showroom floor back then for startlingy low money .that boat new was probably less than that giirl is asking for that baja now . In a nutshell you will probably get more bang for the buck now (unless you pay too much ) and take the hit on the backside when its time to move on .