25 Outlaw vs. 29 Outlaw for the Chain?
#1
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,656
Likes: 20
From: Lake Michigan
So I want get another boat for the Chain-O-Lakes and was considering a 25OL but then the wife put her 2 cents in and wants a twin for reliability, so now there is a 29OL in the equation.
I just wanted a low maintenance stout toy to run around in during the weekdays, I'm not really into weekend boating as much up there. Both would have to be able to tackle the entire Fox River system, from lakes, channels, to upper and lower rivers this includes Bars/Restaurants.
25 is an all stock 99 with a 502Mag MPI, bennet style dual ram tabs and captains call... basically nothing crazy and in my book, low maintenance.
29 is also an all stock 99 with 454Mag MPI's, K-Planes and Latham steering, also with captains call... more boat, more maintenance.
Also any opinions on where to keep either present time? They both sit on trailers and I do have a 1500 5.7RAM Truck.
She also just ask me how fast either one is...
Thanks for any and all feed back!
I just wanted a low maintenance stout toy to run around in during the weekdays, I'm not really into weekend boating as much up there. Both would have to be able to tackle the entire Fox River system, from lakes, channels, to upper and lower rivers this includes Bars/Restaurants.
25 is an all stock 99 with a 502Mag MPI, bennet style dual ram tabs and captains call... basically nothing crazy and in my book, low maintenance.
29 is also an all stock 99 with 454Mag MPI's, K-Planes and Latham steering, also with captains call... more boat, more maintenance.
Also any opinions on where to keep either present time? They both sit on trailers and I do have a 1500 5.7RAM Truck.
She also just ask me how fast either one is...
Thanks for any and all feed back!
Last edited by Back4More; 06-13-2025 at 12:27 PM.
#4
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 164
Likes: 150
From: LI,NY
I had a 99 25 outlaw with a stock 502mpi. Boat was mid 60s with the 23p prop. As far as towing a 29 with a 1500, that depends on the truck. The last 1500 I owned was rated for around 12k. It pulled my 353 but I went to a 2500 for safety sake. A 29 loaded with the trailer would be in the 10k range i suspect
#5
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,817
Likes: 373
From: IL
I'm on the chain as well, have a 33OL and pull it with a Ram 1500, also had a 2017 Silverado 2500 gas and not much difference, I think it would depend on the gear ratio on your ram, makes a difference in towing capacity, I think you'll be fine, but the towing police and sydwayz will feel differently, lol
Last edited by boatnt; 06-13-2025 at 12:46 PM.
#6
He'll be "fine as long as he only sticks to the back roads".
I hauled a buddy's 25' Outlaw about 40 miles across town several years ago. The trailer only had surge brakes on one of the two axles.
I warped the front rotors and had to replace them ON that trip.
Meh, if you have EoH brakes, I'd do it for a while (if you go with the 20) locally until the transmission blows up. You may want to buy a twin-powertrain truck.

Also, the 29 & 30 Bajas are very, very difficult to work on. When you check out the boat, go through the motions of replacing an impeller, pulling the drain hoses, replacing the belt, and getting your hands on the sensors. All of that is a LOT easier on a 25 single.
I hauled a buddy's 25' Outlaw about 40 miles across town several years ago. The trailer only had surge brakes on one of the two axles.
I warped the front rotors and had to replace them ON that trip.
Meh, if you have EoH brakes, I'd do it for a while (if you go with the 20) locally until the transmission blows up. You may want to buy a twin-powertrain truck.

Also, the 29 & 30 Bajas are very, very difficult to work on. When you check out the boat, go through the motions of replacing an impeller, pulling the drain hoses, replacing the belt, and getting your hands on the sensors. All of that is a LOT easier on a 25 single.
Last edited by Sydwayz; 06-13-2025 at 01:52 PM.
#7
He'll be "fine as long as he only sticks to the back roads".
I hauled a buddy's 25' Outlaw about 40 miles across town several years ago. The trailer only had surge brakes on one of the two axles.
I warped the front rotors and had to replace them ON that trip.
Meh, if you have EoH brakes, I'd do it for a while (if you go with the 20) locally until the transmission blows up. You may want to buy a twin-powertrain truck.

Also, the 29 & 30 Bajas are very, very difficult to work on. When you check out the boat, go through the motions of replacing an impeller, pulling the drain hoses, replacing the belt, and getting your hands on the sensors. All of that is a LOT easier on a 25 single.
I hauled a buddy's 25' Outlaw about 40 miles across town several years ago. The trailer only had surge brakes on one of the two axles.
I warped the front rotors and had to replace them ON that trip.
Meh, if you have EoH brakes, I'd do it for a while (if you go with the 20) locally until the transmission blows up. You may want to buy a twin-powertrain truck.

Also, the 29 & 30 Bajas are very, very difficult to work on. When you check out the boat, go through the motions of replacing an impeller, pulling the drain hoses, replacing the belt, and getting your hands on the sensors. All of that is a LOT easier on a 25 single.
but were are not supposed to work that much on stock engines right? so... why not !!!
#8
I pulled my 33 OL 4 hours to Table Rock with my half ton, and I swore if I got there alive Id never do it again, big mistake..........and I still disagree on the 29 and a half ton for any kind of lengthy pull
#9
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 451
From: Bourbonnais, IL
I think they’re both great boats but I’d recommend the 29. K-Planes, Latham steering and twin 454 Mags is a really nice package on that boat. Maybe it’s 10mph faster at WOT than the 25 but it also planes, accelerates and maneuvers around the docks much better. If the wife is telling you get the bigger boat I’d go pick that thing up for Father’s Day🍻



