Whaler - Montauk - Ride?

[Yakfly]

I have an angle on an older Montauk, needs a little TLC, but concerned about the ride. Are they as bone jarring, teeth rattling and wet as I hear? I like the size, but I like my spine too. Any thoughts?

Thanks

[mdrew9]

Yes I have a 1975 Newport and its a very rough ride.

[mansfieldsign]

If the price is right then why not? Nice, safe boat -- with modest (fuel prices) engine requirements. Easy to trailer. They seem like a nice pick for general inshore boating and fishing in the kind of weather/seas most of us are out in anyway. Just me thinking out loud. Good Luck

[detra]

I cannot speak to the newer montauk's but I have a 1973 nauset, and I can't say enough about this boat. It will handle just about anything, there isn't a safer boat made. It's a bit rough riding, but few other boats of that size would even be out in the conditions that whaler owners routinely go out in.

If you would like extensive info on the montauks check out

continuouswave.com/whaler/

There is more info here than you could possibly want or need.

Good luck,

[mdrew9]

I have to agree with Mansfield, It takes nothing to move these things because they don't displace much water. So you can get away with lower hp motor. and at $100 a hp thats a big deal.

[Tightloops2]

detra is on the money. I also had a '73 Whaler/Nauset 17' series. Previous owner decked it out for flyfishing. It set up great for that. For a first boat I could not have had a better platform. Great gas economy. I'm going to guess that the Montauk a slightly better ride than the Nauset. For inshore fishing its a great boat. Once you start travelling longer distances, the disadvantages become more evident.
The old boat could get in and of launches made for smaller boats.
What are the specifics of the one your looking at?

[mansfieldsign]

An interesting fact about this boat is, there seems to be is a constant market for a used one. Especially Dads with a couple of kids, and about 2.5 hrs of free weekend water time. Selling and moving up to a bigger boat wouldn't be a problem.

[rhodyflyguy]

they are fairly rough. where would you be fishing? i've only been in BI sound in one. pretty wet. you couldn't stand up, and the waves weren't big. it is great for saltponds, though. wave height and steepness are a big factor in any boat. i assume if the waves are small near you and they aren't steep, you'd be fine with a Whaler.

[StanH]

I have a 17' 1989 Newport (90 hp). It does give you a wet ride. However, I can not say enough about how well this boat handles. I've been in some rough water, and always felt safe. It has a real stable platform, for fishing. You can walk around this boat and not worry about having 2 or 3 people looking over the same side of the boat. To avoid the pounding, my passengers and I, always stand behind the console when running. No problem.

Stan

[Yakfly]

Thanks for the replies.

I would use the boat, in/around Cape Cod; Pleasant Bay, perhaps on nice days outside Chatham inlet. Stage Harbor, South Beach/Monomy area. Bass River, south side area. Barnstable Harbor, Wellfleet, Cape Cod Bay. Basically anywhere the fish are biting that's not too far from land. If I'm feeling brave maybe Boston Harbor, although the boat traffic there causes move waves than the ocean does.

I'm looking for an easy to trailer launch/retrieve boat that's not too large, suitable for some inshore coastal fishing and that I can plunk in some freshwater lakes/ponds too. The Montauk seems to fit those requirements except my concern about ride quality. There will be occaisional days when I'll take my wife and daughter out for a ride to the beach or something and I don't want them to be miserable. Although we started boating when my daughter was 3 in a little 16foot tiller handle aluminum tin can and still had fun.

[Tightloops2]

Its probably a great choice.
The same areas I fish.