Boston Whaler owners??

adfluvial angler · 02-08-2004, 06:23 PM

Can any of you Boston Whaler owners tell me how you like your boat? What year/make do you have and what do you like and what would you change?

Until yesterday, I was ready to order either a NR Seahawk or Duckworth Navigator, then I saw a Whaler at the Spokane Boat Show. We aren't jet boat people so I could get by with a glass boat ... my friend from Craig AK swears by his Whaler and I liked the 170 Montauk I saw yesterday.

The only problem I see is a conflict with a center console and a weatherproof enclosure.

Thanks for your replies.
Steve

ampersat · 02-08-2004, 06:33 PM

I'll be watching this thread with great interest. One day I might inherit a 17' Montauk in need of a makeover. The center console setup is great for the bay and flats fishing of coastal Texas but not really suited to northwest fishing. However, it is in pretty poor shape and I'd have the chance to remake the interior should I choose to do so.

So what do ya'll think about the center console setup?

FROGGY · 02-08-2004, 07:24 PM

I never fished out of them, but I will tell you they are a tough, almost unsinkable boat. I used them while I was in the military. We had twin outboards, extra fuel bladers, and twin .50 cals front and rear. It was common for us to run them right into river banks, or even ships to do a " hot insert". We had them everywere from stormy seas in Korea, to the bay in San Diego. A real tough boat.
I highly recommend the .50 cals, people tend to leave you a little room

kayakfisher · 02-08-2004, 07:37 PM

I have an 18' Wellcraft center console...very much like a BW...and it is quite seaworthy.

Also is self bailing, full of foam so it is hard to sink. Cuts the waves just fine, and is actually a very nice handling craft.

There are times I feel like the center console takes up passenger room...but on the other hand I think it makes the ride seem a bit smoother. The ocean is where it is at home...

M.

Jignfloat · 02-08-2004, 07:43 PM

I have looked hard at that style boat for a year now, and I feel anything under 20ft has little to offer in the way of fishing off the stern. Since off the stern is the way of the columbia and tribs.....I lost interest in them. Not to mention , the 17 and 18ftrs are mostly shallow draft boats with minimal free board. You also mentioned NR Seahawk.....now thats a fishin machine.

Russ

Sir fish alot · 02-08-2004, 07:48 PM

If you are going to fish the salt, you can't beat it. I've been out 50-60 miles in a 17 footer. Didn't have a worry. I would rather be out there in one of those than a sled.

adfluvial angler · 02-09-2004, 06:06 AM

thanks for the comments ... any others?

danger · 02-09-2004, 07:47 AM

Yes I will comment. If you want to fish 99.9% of the water and type of fishing around the NW (inland) stay away from those things. Yes they are very nice boats and very seaworthy, but useless. My uncle has a 17' dauntless and fishing two guys out of it is a hassale. There is no room, no storage, no cover...nothing useful to sturgeon or salmonoids. They are also quite expensive. You would be much happier with a 12' dingy than one of those as far as inland fishing capability.

Dan(ger)

ET · 02-09-2004, 08:12 AM

[ 02-09-2004, 09:20 AM: Message edited by: ET ]

ET · 02-09-2004, 08:16 AM

Wow we seem to have a difference of opinion! Imagine that

Here is my two cents. I have an Arima. I love it. Nice and warm under the cover, plenty of storage in the cuddy. Lots of fishing room in the stern. Comfortable seats. Plenty of freeboard. Safe, I know it will get me home if I'm not a bonehead.

My best friend has a 17' Whaler-style center console. He loves it. Lots of fresh air. Easy to move around in, open access to bow. Handles rough water better than my Arima. Goes fast. Safe, it will get us home if we are not total boneheads.

Strange how we always seem to be in his boat on cold, rainy days and my boat on warm sunny days. I hate his boat, he loves it. He hates my boat(he calls it claustrophobic), I love it. To each his own. It is YOUR decision. If you're not sure what style you want, I suggest you spend more time on the water before you make the purchase.

RIPPLE · 02-09-2004, 08:40 AM

I can speak very highly to the durability and stability of the Boston whaler. I do not think this is the size range that you are considering, but our family owned two different 13' Whalers for over 15 years. The first one was a father son project boat that we found with several holes worn completely through the hull due to battery acid. Learned about fiberglass repair sanding and varnish at about age 10 and wound up with one incredible boat. We later moved up to a newer 13' with a 50 merc that served us well. Growing up with those boats and learning the Columbia and Willamette from O' City to Bonneville to Cathlamet, we did or best to destroy them. 4 - 6 passengers was not uncommon. Two people leaning over the side to net a springer was a piece of cake, even when one was 250 #'s. Following the big cruisers upriver back and forth accross their wake, getting completely airborne while the prop cavitated clean out of the water, (what can I say, we were kids). It may not sound like it, but we respected the water, we knew exactly what those boats could and couldn't do, and we were safe. Sorry to ramble and recount my childhood but the point is, that we absolutely abused those little boats and they never failed us! They have their drawbacks, as every boat does, but for durability and stability imo Boston Whalers are #1.
:grin: RIPPLE :grin:

Barviewrocks · 02-09-2004, 09:22 AM

When considering a boat for the ocean and crossing bars such as Tillamook, I am a total paranoid rookie. But I always wondered about these open bow/ cabin style boats such as the Boston Whalers verses our past discussions about desiring closed bow designs. How about some opinions from those that actually got into trouble with a Boston Whaler design? I have heard (hearsay only) that if they got swamped by a breaker or wave, they pop right back up flooded. I do not know what happened after that (the stories usually end there). I would think if you were to get swamped by a wave on the bar, chances are you would be washed overboard and away from the boat. For this reason, I wonder how and why these boats are so popular on the east coast and how do they get away from getting swamped by breaking waves? Or do they?

ampersat · 02-09-2004, 09:39 AM

A few years ago I was fishing Tbay with a buddy and the CG blasted out to the jaws. Turns out a whaler had swamped in the breakers. Supposedly, the bouyancy in the floor caused the boat to flip right over. It might have gotten flipped by a wave though; I wasn't there and didn't see it happen myself.

This is from the thread on the incident:
"A friend of mine was fishing the south jetty and saw it happen. 3 guys in a boston whaler got into the breakers near the jetty. Those whalers have so much flotation in the floor that when they swamp, they capsize pretty easy. A 24' bayliner tried to help but nearly went over and then backed off."

[ 02-09-2004, 10:53 AM: Message edited by: ampersat ]

Knucklebuster · 02-09-2004, 10:22 AM

Well, here is my 2 cents. I have had an 18' Outrage for about 4 years. The boat is great for fishing in the Puget Sound and it can take a beating. Only problem with it is that it doesn't have a top. I priced them out for a center console such as mine and it is way to pricey for my blood.
Overall though, I love the boat. Very safe and I have been in some pretty rough weather in the Strait of Juan De Fuca. I've taken a huge wave over the bow that completely drenched myself and my crazy buddy, and we shook it off. Self bailing, and I also installed a bilge.
But still woould like to have a top.

adfluvial angler · 02-09-2004, 12:52 PM

Seems like the main issue is keeping the family and gear dry, maybe I'll wait to buy one when I have a place on the South Carolina Coast -- ha!

grumman16 · 02-09-2004, 02:25 PM

When I first seriously started thinking about buying a boat (~5yrs ago), I was convinced that a whaler is what I wanted. I had a grandfather that had a cabin on Cass lake in Minnesota and he owned 3 whalers (13', 17' Montauk, and a 20 cuddy). Having spent summers up there watersking and fishing, I absolutely loved those boats.

The problem is I wanted to fish year around in Oregon with this boat. For warm sunny days in warm water lakes with nice sandy beaches, a whaler is great. Running around the Willamette/Columbia in january when there are trees floating in the river - not so great. Also trolling and fishing on achor the layout isn't optimal.

I ended up getting a 16' Grumman with a side console and later got a fisherman's top. This was a good first boat to learn on and was the right price at the time. I just recently upgraded to Willie Asaltor. Main reason for this was a bigger boat with full windshield, tall top, and more room in the back for fishing. As far as I can tell this is the best style boat for fishing on the willamette/columbia.

If the ocean or sound is your main concern, then a whaler would be a good choice, but you better have good raingear. Even then its hard to fish a lot of guys out of it.

I'd still love to have one. Especially an old Montauk with the old Mahogany woodwork. It would be more for sentimental reasons then practical though.

-G16

casteal · 02-09-2004, 03:41 PM

I don't like them, Maybe because I don;t like them. Have a relative that broke one in half flotation and all. He needed the flotation. have talked to several other that tryed to use them in skinny water and got tire of poking holes in them, floation and all. But the several things we all can get from the other comments are: They are god awful expensive, They like to take water over the bow (like all low bowed rough riding tri hulls), If you are going to keep a boat 15 years or better like I do fibergless get brittle.

Have fun

KingCap · 02-09-2004, 04:32 PM

Well I guess I should put my 2 cents worth in. I have owned two 17` Montauks since 1982. They are great boats to fish out of but they are cramped for more than 2 people . I have been in some hell raising water in the Staits of Juan De Fuca and I have also been flipped over a TBay at the South Jetty so I can speak from some experience about their toughness.My own opinion is that they are like big bobbers on the water .They ride high because of their flotation and that can cause problems at times . These boats do ride hard in choppy water .They are stable and for the most part safe.I now own a 22` Northriver Scout with a Yamy 250 HPDI and feel a lot more at ease fishing waters I normally would not fish from a Montauk.

And Amerstat I was there when that whaler went over at the South jetty and that bayliner was lucky he didn`t go over to ,I thought at one point he was going to.pretty hair raising when you see it happen so close to you.

Whaler are great boats but like everything they have their limits.

KingCap · 02-09-2004, 04:34 PM

Well I guess I should put my 2 cents worth in. I have owned two 17` Montauks since 1982. They are great boats to fish out of but they are cramped for more than 2 people . I have been in some hell raising water in the Staits of Juan De Fuca and I have also been flipped over a TBay at the South Jetty so I can speak from some experience about their toughness.My own opinion is that they are like big bobbers on the water .They ride high because of their flotation and that can cause problems at times . These boats do ride hard in choppy water .They are stable and for the most part safe.I now own a 22` Northriver Scout with a Yamy 250 HPDI and feel a lot more at ease fishing waters I normally would not fish from a Montauk.

And Amperstat I was there when that whaler went over at the South jetty and that bayliner was lucky he didn`t go over to ,I thought at one point he was going to.pretty hair raising when you see it happen so close to you.

Whaler are great boats but like everything they have their limits.

Whaler · 02-09-2004, 08:15 PM

Hi Steve,
I own a 2003 Boston Whaler Montauk (17') and my dad owns a 2003 North River Mariner (17') and we fish from both boats regularly. If we are going to fish in the ocean we always take the Whaler which is perfectly comfortable out 8 to 10 miles. The Whaler is comfortable in nice weather for two people fishing but gets crowded with three or more. For cruising around load her up with 6 or 7 people and have a blast. Forget the drain plug at home? Not a problem, just go. Take a wave over the stearn? No problem, just pull the drain plug and let her drain. I love my Whaler and love to show people just how much fun and safe they are. If you want to go for a test drive just let me know.
With that said, if you just want to fish and fish year round in the local rivers and bays then I would seriously consider a sled. My dad's North River is more comfortable and convenient to fish out of and the rocky beach is not a concern. His top is easy to put up and there is better rod storage and fish cleaning area. It is also easier to stay warm and out of the rain. It is just simply a better layout for fishing when trolling or while in a hog line. The bottom line from our experience is Ocean=Whaler, River=Sled.
Take care and be safe on the water.
Rodger

Whaler · 02-09-2004, 08:19 PM

Hi Steve,
I own a 2003 Boston Whaler Montauk (17') and my dad owns a 2003 North River Mariner (17') and we fish from both boats regularly. If we are going to fish in the ocean we always take the Whaler which is perfectly comfortable out 8 to 10 miles. The Whaler is comfortable in nice weather for two people fishing but gets crowded with three or more. For cruising around load her up with 6 or 7 people and have a blast. Forget the drain plug at home? Not a problem, just go. Take a wave over the stearn? No problem, just pull the drain plug and let her drain. I love my Whaler and love to show people just how much fun and safe they are. If you want to go for a test drive just let me know.
With that said, if you just want to fish and fish year round in the local rivers and bays then I would seriously consider a sled. My dad's North River is more comfortable and convenient to fish out of and the rocky beach is not a concern. His top is easy to put up and there is better rod storage and fish cleaning area. It is also easier to stay warm and out of the rain. It is just simply a better layout for fishing when trolling or while in a hog line. The bottom line from our experience is Ocean=Whaler, River=Sled.
Take care and be safe on the water.
Rodger

salmurai · 02-09-2004, 11:10 PM

I fished out of a 13 footer for coho at Campbell River BC in September. Waves would come in over the bow, so we just pulled the plug to let the water back out. Worked great. I did hear about a guy who flipped one and found it difficult to hang onto, so he recommended they put handles on the bottom.

adfluvial angler · 02-10-2004, 06:02 AM

Great comments everyone, thanks a ton. Looks like aluminum is the answer for now. Now I have to decide on the hp!
aa

snit · 02-10-2004, 07:52 AM

I "grew up" in a '76 (bought new), 17' montauk. We took that boat everywhere. Tournament bass fishing on all the Eastern Washigton resevoirs, to Swistsure Bank (several times). Our family vacation was at Pillar Point on the Straits every year for 17 days and that boat was just awesome! We'de go out of Westport several times a year, and even down to "bluedot" south of Cape Flattery 'butt fishing. If the guy on the stick was paying attention, there was hardly any water over the bow, even in the snottiest weather, but they're a 2 man boat only. Great for mooching out of, but they're like an "open sled", great fishing "tool" but lacking in comfort for the NW weather.

We sold the 'ol girl a couple of years ago, and she's now in Hawaii being used as a dive boat by some friends of ours. My dad now has a 17' Almar and a 20' Fishrite, and I just sold my 18' Fishrite and I bought a 20' Intruder. They all are forward helm/s with tops. We went for comfort this time :smile: !

BigWaterBigFish · 02-11-2004, 06:04 PM

What I might suggest is find someone that has a Boston Whaler similar to what you want and ask them the pros and cons and ask to go out with them. There is a wonderful gentleman who fishes at Sellwood in a 17' Montauk, usually has a large Rottweiler in the front of the boat. Now he is quite the fisherman and has most of the things figured out on how to fish long, lean and as many lines as possible from that boat. You might siddle up to him some day on the river and ask him a question or two. He was hit with a sneaker wave off of Tillamook a few years back and got clear in part to the reliablity and design of that Whaler. When he first signed on to Ifish last year his first log told the story. It is true that there is more room outside of the Whaler than inside, and they can be a bit rough at times and the freeboard is pretty low ... but if you learn the boat and have confidence in your skills, you can fish, crab, dive, in any depth of water, any weather and anywhere. There is a reason most militaries of the world use them still for various operations and may commercial resorts (see Oak Bay Marine Group in Canada for one example) use them exclusively. Now, I own a Striper for the reason that I could not afford the larger Whaler that had a cuddy and it serves me well going off shore and busting over the waves on a dead run ahead of the fog to come in across the bar but when the **** turns bad and I look out across the bar, it's the man in the Whaler that only has the measure of his own courage or foolishness to contend with.

BigWaterBigFish · 02-11-2004, 06:10 PM

oh yeah ... I forgot to add something since folks want to make an example of the guy that flipped the Whaler at Tbay a few years back ... yeah, and they all survived cause the boat floated. Talk to the Coasties, ever notice that most of the rescues where the boats are losted (and sometimes the fisherman) are aluminum boats. Check out the stats on Oregon/Washington Coast fatalities and those on the lower Columbia ... 1) always wear your flotation vest, 2) leave the beer drinking to after your on solid ground, 3) if your boat sinks cause it's metal and full of water, what are you going to hold on to till help comes?

ampersat · 02-11-2004, 06:18 PM

Aren't all new boats required to have level floatation now? (meaning that you can fill the boat with water and it will float at the gunnels because of the installed floatation)

CARTMAN · 02-12-2004, 08:16 AM

I used to fish lake erie in a whaler. Loved it. I am not a big plastic boat fan but wouldn't hesitated to by a whaler if I found one that fit my needs. Take your time with your decision. They are a great boat.

Cartman

jcarufo · 02-12-2004, 04:23 PM

We bought a 70's work hull 17ft Montauk a couple of years ago from a Doc I work with for a couple of thousand dollars with galvanived trailer. Being owned by a MD nothing worked. We stripped everything except the center console to the hull, put 28 gallons of gas under a front raised deck with storage on both sides and a 150qt cooler fish box cut in. Rod racks across the front of the center console. We installed a Todd flip back seat with about 120qt storage under it (that also functions as a live bait tank if needed). The hardest thing was setting up up a bilge pump and wash down as there are no through hull fittings made that are long enough. With the 90hp Honda we get about 8 miles per gallon at 35mph+ and it floats like a cork. It cruises over the Columbia Bar and has been to Swiftsure the last two years with no issues. I've never felt safer on the ocean, but we wear Mustang survival suits too. As others have said it fishes two people great (four rods in Canada with two downriggers), three or four over the bar with creative placement. In the river, putting it on anchor is a team effort, but we also own a 'V' bottom and drift boat for their appropriate fisheries. If you can find an older one cheap and are handy and not afraid of the weather you can have a fantastic, economical, safe ocean fishing machine that's trailerable with a car. If you want to stay dry, buy the Arima or wear Mustangs. The problem is that the diversity of the fisheries here are great and one style of boat just won't do them all, at least not well. I've fished over both the Tillamook and Columbia bars in questionable water in larger sleds and didn't feel comfortable, or safe for that matter. To each his own, I guess.
Jean

ampersat · 02-12-2004, 06:25 PM

What sort of issues do you have getting it set up on anchor on the rivers? Seems like a boat that floats as high as a Whaler wouldn't have much water drag and would be a cinch to get to stick.

Salmonator · 02-12-2004, 06:40 PM

Ampersat, this might be irrelevant to you but I thought my 20' trophy would be a bear to anchor in the Columbia. It turned out to grab as easy or maybe easier than my 22' sled with less current swing. I very rarely have to put socks out.

HOGTIDE · 02-12-2004, 09:26 PM

I had a 17' Montauk in the mid 80's. I think it was the most wonderful open boat I have ever run. Light fast and stable. 90HP & Stainless Prop made it fly!The reverse chine and cathedral hull made it run dry and stable for a boat of modest size. I currently have a 20' boat that is a foot wider, but donot have half the bigwater confidence in it as I had in the Whaler.

In the bouy 10 Hay-Day of the 80's that boat had a thorough testing. It did everything the ad campaign promised and more. Sucked up some breaking walls of water that would have deep-sixed a normal boat. Pull the plug and continued to fish!

The down side of that Whaler was the Center Console consumed too much fishin' room...a problem to get around and it didn't lend itself well to all of the 3 people anchoring and trolling I do. For big water running it was the best, but for most of our rainy Western Oregon style sittin-fishin a more open boat works better.

Note: Whaler now has a new model called Nantucket. 19' long and an 8' beam...just might be the ticket....and compared to our crazy inflated priced aluminum boat market, Whaler price and quality has become attractive.

treegolfer · 02-12-2004, 10:20 PM

I bought my first Whaler, 1969 17', in 1971. Used it offshore and the Columbia and many other waters around the state. My second was a 1977 21' Revenge cuddy cabin that I bought new in 1977. Used this boat offshore out of Newport and Hammond. Downsized in 1982 to a new 17' Montauk. Whalers were a different approach to boatbuilding. Their theory was that you can't keep all the water out of a boat in rough conditions, no matter how high the freeboard. They wanted to keep this water from disabling the boat, so they went with positive flotation and low freeboard to keep the powerhead out of the water. I was very impressed with what these boats could do for their size, safely. However as I got older, I have to say I got to the point that I wanted a little more protection and comfort on the water. In my experience, they don't hold up cosmetically as well as other glass boats without being really careful. The outer layer of glass is not as thick because it is more of a shell to contain the foam between it and the inner molding. Think the hull is as strong or stronger than other glass boats because of its sandwich construction. To keep it pretty, you have to stay away from rocks and hard surfaces(docks, ramps, gravel beaches). Still think they are a very safe boat design that will handle almost any water around and keep you in touch with the weather when you are using it.

treegolfer

Salty Walty · 02-12-2004, 11:46 PM

I own an 19' Outrage and could not be happier. It has a deep V and is a fishing machine. They are one of the few boats I have been in where I thought that they could handle more than I could. Dress warmly and not for the faint of heart. PM me if you want more info.
PS. Aluminum doesn't float.