Nov 26, 2025
Nov 19, 2025
Boston Whaler Introduces Stepped Hulls for First Time Ever on Select Models
- BoatBlurb Contributor
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Boston Whaler has introduced stepped hulls for the first time ever on the all-new 290 Outrage and 330 Outrage.
The two new models debuted at the 2026 Miami International Boat Show, but details were until the Brunswick-owned brand made an official release for the new WhalerStep hull technology this week.
The new hull designs mark a major departure from the company's longstanding tradition of building cathedral hulls, like the original 13-foot introduced in 1958, and deep-V hull designs in recent decades.
In the release, the company said: "Stepped hulls are not new to boating. In extensive voice of customer research, ride quality and fuel efficiency consistently ranked as the top priorities among offshore boaters. We knew a stepped hull would give us a way to improve both as long as we could engineer them to meet our standards."
The new 330 Outrage with WhalerStep will incorporate a T-step design intended to reduce drag while improving water flow, efficiency, and ride quality. The new designs retain the company's Unibond construction process and its "unsinkable" design philosophy. A keel-like appendage extends aft from the second step to improve grip and stability during turns.
The 330 Outrage was selected as the first model to be designed with WhalerStep since it "sits at an ideal intersection of offshore capability and everyday versatility. Owners rely on it for long offshore runs, changing sea states, family cruising, and entertaining. That balance between serious offshore fishing capability and comfort for everyone aboard has always defined the series, and it's what makes efficiency, ride comfort, and driver confidence especially important."
"The new 330 Outrage represents a significant leap forward for Boston Whaler," said Lenn Scholz, President of Boston Whaler. "It honors the rugged DNA that has defined the Outrage line for decades, while introducing meaningful, whole-boat innovations that enhance performance, comfort, and control for today's boaters."
The new stepped hull represents a notable evolution not only for the Outrage line, which dates back to 1971, but to the well-respected brand itself who launched the original "unsinkable" Boston Whaler 13 in 1958. While the company has transitioned from its original cathedral-style hulls to deep-V hulls over the decades, it has never previously offered a true stepped-hull design in a production model.
Generally speaking stepped hulls reduce the amount of hull surface in contact with the water, which in turn lowers drag and improves overall efficiency. The company said one of the primary challenges during development was achieving those efficiency gains while maintaining predictable handling and stability in offshore conditions. Boston Whaler said its engineering team spent nearly a decade researching hydrodynamics, conducting simulations, building prototype hulls, and refining the design before developing the final WhalerStep hull. Depending on the model, the technology can improve fuel economy by as much as 20 percent compared to similarly sized non-stepped hull designs.
The new 290 Outrage carries an LOA of 30'6" with a maximum horsepower rating of 700 hp, while the 330 Outrage measures 33' and carries a maximum horsepower rating of 850 hp. Both models feature a 23-degree transom deadrise. Full details on the 290 Outrage are still pending.
Boston Whaler has consistently been one of recreational boating's most active and forward thinking brands. In the last two years alone, the company has launched the all-new 365 Conquest, the 210 Vantage, the 330 Vantage, and now two fresh Outrage models.
You can take a deep dive into the history of Boston Whaler's design philosophy in the video below:
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