Boston Whaler rage Jet boat motor.

[Karsten]

So I have a friend that has one of these I believe with the OMC Motor......Well, he has had his issued and figured when or if the motor shot craps he would need to convert it to O/B.

He was out on the lake fishing when he went to change located and all he got was a start and then a load clunk and nothing........Piston, rod or something gave up the ghost I magine

Just wondering if there is a replacement motor. upgrade, conversion or other option than to start building the hull and transom for an O/B

Thanks for any thoughts,

Karsten

[XstreamVking]

Rebuilt power head to replace the blown motor would be the easiest.....I think the rage's had a 115 engine. Could upgrade to a 140.

[FMP]

2.0 looper?

[colinJ]

The later model rage 18 had a 351 v8, I think the earliest one was a yamaha 650. I have seen a rage 18 converted to O/B with 2 115 hp engines. It was off shore a good 4 miles; I guess if you want to take a bow rider offshore this is the one.

[Karsten]

Well, it appears it wasn't the motor as they had 1st though. The anchor didn't hold and they were catching fish in way swallow water...about 20 inches at the stern when they opted to move and started the motor. He thinking it sucked something up from the bottom and through the impeller.....Nothing there but possibly a bent shaft.

Thanks for the thoughts and I was thinking he was going to have to start filling holes, and hang an O/B or he would just dump up and find something else to fish with.

Karsten

[RobF]

i dont think they respond well to outboards, you can convert them to yamaha or kawasaki jet ski engines though

[blkmtrfan]

There were also some later 15 Rages that had the 175 Merc Sport Jet

https://www.thehulltruth.com/boats-s...-4900-obo.html

I believe that the 351 Ford Rages were a larger 18 boat

[tux974]

I had this one with an OMC and was going to install a 175 Merc but sold it.
When I got it had cooling issues. The OMC where know to have cooling issues and that is what hurt the motors, they did not cool well and ran too hot.
I rebuilt the motor and made the necessary changes to correct the issues which were no more then replacing plus drilling all cooling fittings and installing larger dia hoses to run more water thru them. Once the cooling was corrected it was a great, fun and reliable little boat for our waters.
Will say it was a pain to work on found it easier to pull the engine (3 bolts) to do any major work.
I have seen some install O/B, need to remove platform install a setback and reinforce the transom with some knees. Once that is done you will have a huge storage compartment...