Author
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Topic: Montauk 17 in rough seas?
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MikeB |
posted 08-11-2001 07:15 PM ET (US)
I have a Montauk 17 that I purchased from a cousin. This boat looks like it would make a great inshore boat but how will it do in 3 foot seas? The ocean can get rough quick when a thunder storm rolls in.
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maverick
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posted 08-12-2001 07:55 AM ET (US)
i have owned 2 Montauks and now have an 18 Outrage. The Montauk is a fine and seaworthy boat that will take great punishment and still keep its smirk. i have been in and out Organ inlet in one....try 12 to 14 seas with about 3 ft + of chop on that + current undertow and 15 knot wind and a huge storm on your hind end and black skies. Great boat but HANG ON...rides a bit BOUNCY as an old WWii Navy friend says but she WiLL get you there and hold together TOUGH if your navigation skills are good enough and you are lucky like i was on that fateful day in Organ inlet. Whew. Good lesson for me. Maverick |
BlindHog
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posted 08-12-2001 10:01 AM ET (US)
It all depends on conditions. Three feet waves are no problem at all if the wave lenght is long enough. Make that wave length three feet and those three foot waves will crash over the bow of any boat.I routinely take my Cohasset 16 20+ miles offshore and never worry about. The only time I've taken a wave over the bow is when the seas where 3-4 feet coming into a channel when the tide was going out. With the enging turning 1,200 RPM, the plug out and the bilge pump on, we made it out no problem. I've also taken a 15 whaler fishing in 12 foot seas and was much more comfortable then the big boys because I could ride over the top of the waves as the 50 ft fishing boats would crash into the next wave. |
compounder
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posted 08-12-2001 10:09 AM ET (US)
"Organ inlet" sounds pretty interesting! |
dann2015
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posted 08-12-2001 12:27 PM ET (US)
I routinely fish offshore in my Newport 17 Center Console (same hull as a montauk) off the South Carolina coast. I have fished up to 30 miles out on a nice day. As a previous poster said, it depends what the waves are like. If they are long swells then the boat rides fine. If there is any kind of wind or chop, the boat will just about beat you to death. Here in South Carolina we usually have short chop which is downright uncomfortable in a 17 Whaler. In all honesty, just about any other 17 footer will be a more comfortable ride. However, the way I see it the Whaler does have 2 advantages for offshore use compared to other small boats. First, it's a very stable boat. Second, once you get over about 7 or 8 knots it's just about impossible to stuff the bow. Consequently, the ride in following seas is a lot dryer and more importantly a lot safer than other small boats because you really don't have to worry about taking a wave over the bow. I have been in waves over 5 feet (and I don't exagerrate wave heights like 95% of people) and have never felt unsafe. A Montauk is a safe boat, but I would never describe the ride as comfortable. The boat will get you home safely as long as it doesn't beat you to death first. |
alvispollard
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posted 08-12-2001 04:32 PM ET (US)
Often fish in 3-5' waves with swells much larger. No problem as long as you pay close attention to the sea conditions. I have found the montauk can lull you into trouble because of it's unique design. It can take a lot more water than most people's expertise in large waves. Great boat in a trailing sea. I usually plan my fishing day to come back in to the inlet with the waves if possible. A 1100 gph bilge pump is a necessity if you fish in larger waves and short waves like Lake Erie. Great trailerable boat. Nothing like it on the market. |
triblet
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posted 08-13-2001 12:45 AM ET (US)
One more vote for big swells are no problem, pounds in the short windchop, but gets you home. The true swells it just goes up and over, as long as you don't go real fast. But it will pound on short interval wind chop (even as low as 1' if the interval is just wrong, fortuately, that's rare). I've gotten the boat airborne at 1200 RPM (about 4 knots) when the interval was just wrong. Suddenly everything got quiet (no hull noise) then Everrude picked up 500 RPM and lots of exhaust noise, then it banged down. It happened a couple of times that day coming home across Carmel Bay. Another time we came home in 6' breaking windchop. When it capped, it didn't just blow foam, it crashed down. The wind chop was coming broad on the port bow, and I had to watch real carefully there for one that was about to dump into the boat. A couple tried, I ducked them. An Outrage would probably ride better, but it wouldn't fit in my garage. Chuck |
mjd65
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posted 08-13-2001 01:48 AM ET (US)
If you have a Whaler and the guts you can do anything. A little common sense can’t hurt either!Lake Breeze Rage
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Mark D
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posted 08-13-2001 07:22 AM ET (US)
The first time I used my 17' Montauk I got caught in severe thunderstorm (at night) on the Chesapeake. We had waves coming over the bow. It was quite an experience. With God's help we got back safe and sound. However I would never want to do it again. Yes, the 17' Montauk performed wonderfuly |
Bigshot
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posted 08-13-2001 11:13 AM ET (US)
By far one of the most stable and dry 16'7" boat out there. Will it loosen a few fillings in rough seas, yes. Good thing is you will live to see the dentist. |
TightPenny
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posted 08-14-2001 06:22 PM ET (US)
I take mine out into the Atlantic through the Barnegat Inlet all the time.The swells do not bother it, and quite frankly I get a better ride outside in 80 feet of water nine miles out of the inlet than I do in 10 feet of water in the Bay that has a totally irregular wake induced chop. As to the initial question, 3 feet seas is not a problem, but watch the wind chop, it can make for a bouncy day. |
gvisko
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posted 08-14-2001 06:42 PM ET (US)
i take my montauk tru moriches inlet into the ocean almost every weekend, moriches inlet is one of the worst on the east coast closed to navigation use at own risk . it cuts tru 4 ft waves like butter no ploblem gvisko |
MikeB
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posted 08-14-2001 09:33 PM ET (US)
Thanks for all of the response. I have a 20 ft. Wellcraft fisherman on the Georgia coast that is a great boat but hard to pull with my six cylinder F150. I am thinking about selling the Wellcraft and repowering the Montauk with a new Yamaha 90. I will then be able to chase the fish on the Georgia, Florida, and Alabama coast. MikeB |
Maximus
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posted 08-15-2001 10:04 PM ET (US)
You will break before the boat will. |