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I bought an Outrage 18 new in 1986, and fully researched all factory Outrage 18 offerings and accessories. There is no such boat ever manufactured by Whaler called an Outrage 18 "SDL"

It must be some homemade aftermarket offering, perhaps by a Whaler dealership, who put their own homemade name or designation on a conventional Outrage 18, using some locally manufactured accessory. I have seen a few situations where this marketing ploy was used.

As far as I know, i was the first person to design a special insert forward deck for an Outrage 18 back in 1990. I made mine out of solid 4/4 teak, and it was done to level out the bow deck for two people to cruise and sleep aboard the boat, under a full Mills canvas system. See photo. The deck also extends along both sides of the console for additional foot room, not visible in the photo.

http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/l...A==/?ref=1

I also know of a few people who observed this deck in person, and then outfitted their own boats with something along the same idea. One was an Outrage 18 (a boat since parted out and sold due to accident damage), and one was an Outrage 22, still in beautiful condition.

And since JRP has contributed to this discussion, I should also say I designed the teak deck extenting the bow area in his boat, which was previously owned by a good friend and cruising companion.

All of these bow platform extentions actually began with the 1961 Sakonnet, and then later with the 1971 Outrage 21 (Ribside), which was standard equipment on the Outrage I and Outrage II models. When I bought mine, this deck was missing, so I had to design and build a new one for my boat, also made from 4/4 teak. See photos.

http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/l...Tk=/?ref=1

http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/l...TE=/?ref=1