posted 04-15-2002 09:09 AM ET (US)        

There is NO comparison in the ride of the new vs the classic. The new Montauk ride and handling is awesome. It's very stable and smoooooooooooooooth. Didn't get beaten up at all. I thought I was in a much larger boat. The finish is as good as the classic.

Cons: Only have three complaints (maybe four). I ordered the boat with the fishing package and the optional front bow cushion, swim platform & sun top. The fishing package comes with a compass, which in my opinion is cheap looking. (No problem I went down to West marine and purchased a new Ritchie model 1000 in white fits in the same hole and has a much larger dial..... would have cost Whaler another $75 to upgrade). Total cost of new compass was $130.

The boat came with a 90 HP four stroke. Whaler gives you two plastic 6-gallon tanks. I guess this was a place they felt they could cut corners. I had ordered a Pate 27 gallon tank in advance (and yes it does fit under the new seat). Whaler should work out a deal with Pate to offer this as an option.

My suspicions were right ...........to make this the ideal boat Whaler should have offered the 115 HP EFI. But my understanding is that there is a shortage on the 115's now and that may be the reason they will hold off offering it til next year.

My test run was made in the rain, fog and awful conditions. I took my computer aboard and WOT for only a few seconds read 38MPH. I am sure that the boat in normal conditions will do 40MPH ......WOT
Again my gripe with whaler was not the top speed it was the smoothness of the EFI and the torque of the 115HP. Oh on my test run there were 4 people on board of which three were men and i would guess the total weight of all was around 700 -725 lbs also two full 6 gallon gas tanks.

An annoying thing for me was that there is a bow cleat but nowhere to tie the boat up in the stern except for the stern tow eyes.

Another annoyance is the sun top. It only folds down to the stern right in front of the two little stern step-seats. I spoke to Mills and they are redesigning the sun top to fold down to the bow under the front rail. (The sun top from Whaler is NOT made by Mills) If I were ordering it again, I would NOT order the one from the factory I would order it directly from Mills Canvass (also Mills charges less than the factory about $200 less).

PROS:
THE RIDE ........THE RIDE.........THE RIDE
It’s awesome.

The fishing tackle box installed in the console is a nice addition (even though I am not a fisherman yet, it looks very nice) it alone makes you want to order the fishing package.

The additional room because of the wider beam is really nice ........you have the feel of space. Not cramped at all.

The trailer is very nice and trails very easy. I ordered (not from the factory) a swing tongue from EZ Loader trailers so that I could fit the boat in my girlfriend’s garage. Except for the hole I made in the rear sheetrock wall the boat just fit in. Remember if anyone orders a swing tongue YOU MUST BLOCK UNDER THE BOW FOR SUPPORT before swinging that tongue away.

A pleasant surprise was the the 4 stroke motor come with a SS Vengeance prop at no additional cost.

The boat sits nicely in the water .......it seems that the additional weight of the 4 stroke does not effect it. The four strokes on the classic made the stern sit very deep in the water.

All in all I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOAT. I hope that Brunswick makes more of the 115 HP so that they can start offering it on next years model. With the 115 it would blow all the competition off the map.

THANKS WHALER FOR MAKING SUCH A NICE BOAT.

Jimh - I will send some photos to you.

posted 04-15-2002 09:39 AM ET (US)            

Good Luck

posted 04-15-2002 01:03 PM ET (US)            

Congratulations and best of luck with the new boat.

By the way how was the ride ??? :-)

posted 04-15-2002 10:04 PM ET (US)            

You may be on to something with the theory about the 115-HP 4-stroke Mercury being in short supply. I tried to get a quote on that engine from the local BASS PRO SHOP. The salesman said, "no way" he could get one, there were none to be had. He said they got a few over the winter, but now all 115-HPs are going to the West Coast shops--not to the midwest shores.

posted 04-16-2002 06:54 PM ET (US)         

There is no way that the new Montauk won't calculate out to at least 115 HP, just like we knew the new Sport 13 would calculate out to 40HP instead of the initial 30 they used.

As mentioned, it's all in the price points of the introductory sale. I think this is very bad marketing strategy, as it eventually hurts the customer, an unwise thing to do. But it does help Mercury with moving the 90 4-strokes, which are are not as much in demand as the 115's. And, also as previously mentioned, they have nicely locked out the "same engine" Yamaha 100 4-stroke as a competitor for dealer installation.

If more HP is desired, I would buy (order) the new boat with a Mercury 90 2-stroke, which will be much easier to re-sell. It's a highly popular engine. Will BW sell the boat unrigged, as has been so widely advertized here with the Dauntless/Conquest/Outrage models? I just saw a new 28 Conquest leave a Dealership with a pair of Yamaha 225's. Why couldn't this be done with the new Montauk?

posted 04-16-2002 10:16 PM ET (US)            

Congratulations on your new boat. I had a pretty interesting day on Saturday the 13th too (see my Forum thread).

Every Whaler representative that I have spoken to feels that the 90 HP maximum rating in this boat/trailer/engine package is not going to change. They feel that the 90/4-stroke draws out all the performance that the boat design will reasonably handle. I do not know why that BW opinion has anything to do with rating the boat properly (i.e. a maximum rating of 115 -150HP). Within reason, determining the ideal engine for any boat should be the buyers decision.

Reportedly, starting next year, if you want a Whaler, you will get it with a Mercury or not get it at all.

posted 04-16-2002 11:14 PM ET (US)         

But I still think they think we are all a bunch of stupid consumers. The much smaller original 16 is only a 500lb bare hull, and IT was rated for 100HP. There is no way this boat, which weighs more than the 150HP rated 18 Outrage, could be rated at 90HP!!!! Isn't this boat about the same dimensions and weight of the 2nd generation Accutrack 17 Outrage, which was rated for 135HP?

posted 04-18-2002 12:44 PM ET (US)            

Could you please cut out a 6 inch wide cross section from the midpoint of the hull to the center. It would be good to compare it to a section of the chainsaw whaler. Also, could give us a difinative answer to the color of foam. You could then throw a glueing party, where we all come and glue the piece back into place.

Thank You.

posted 04-21-2002 03:21 PM ET (US)            

Congratulations on your new boat. We are looking to buy next year and the new Montauk is at the top of our list. Please post performance and fuel economy specs once you get her broken in. I have aready reviewed the info from BW, but your real world experience will provide some great data.

posted 04-21-2002 03:34 PM ET (US)            

As for towing ability of a Ford Escape, I can only assume that it will have no problem with a Montauk. I tow my 20 OR with a V6 Toyota P/U and 31" tires. I am sure your vehicle will have no problem. Assuming you have a six cylinder.

posted 04-22-2002 10:33 AM ET (US)            

I sent Jimh a total of 10 photos so hopefully it will answer everyones request for photos.

If there is anything anyone wants a photo of, don't hesitate to request it and I will try my best .

posted 04-24-2002 07:28 PM ET (US)            

Many thanks. I am getting my 2002 Montauk 170 delivered on Friday so I am anxious to see the photos.

posted 04-30-2002 08:30 PM ET (US)            

Sorry, couldn't resist.

posted 04-30-2002 08:52 PM ET (US)         

It's not "Mac's" but "Merc's" that are "perfect!" [That was a joke for lhg!]

posted 04-30-2002 10:54 PM ET (US)            

Also, I'm a big hockey fan and with the playoff tournament underway, there is a game every night!

posted 05-02-2002 12:40 AM ET (US)            

I see the CETACEA 57 but no Tabasco shots.

Is there that much resentment for the new Whaler product and its owners?

I am sure glad I have my 2002 Montauk 170 in the water as a consolation for the lack of photography of Tabasco's twin.

posted 05-02-2002 01:00 AM ET (US)            

You or tabasco can go to villagephotos.com and upload (then link from this site) all the pictures you want for $4.00 per month:

villagephotos.com

Also, lots of other sites that host pictures... this one I am familiar with.

Tabasco, email me the pictures and I will be glad to post them for you.

chrisdearmon@comcast.net
cdearmon@cdcengineers.com

jimh seems like a busy man..... quit complaining and do it yourself.

Just my opinion
Chris

posted 05-03-2002 04:56 PM ET (US)            

I asked the same question regarding the RPS before I ordered my new Montauk and the answer had to do with the continued cost of keeping the old RPS in production versus the new one which is shared with other models. Apparently Whaler wanted to keep this boat in a certain price bracket and did not want the price creeping upwards. It would have been an option that I would have gladly paid extra for.

The new reversible seat is better built than similar types that I have seen on most other boat brands, but maybe BW could have also been a little more original, such as by adding even a shallow storage area under the seat cushion.

posted 05-06-2002 08:02 PM ET (US)            

Furthermore, since Boston Whaler has announced the new 170 Montau...
(I can't bear to use such a Classic name on such a Nouveau hull)
on their web site without benefit of photographs then there must be a reason, which we should respect, and honor by not posting any further pictures of this model in public until __________. (Please fill in the blank)

posted 05-11-2002 09:59 AM ET (US)            

You need to go out in that new Montauk you just bought and have a few beers.

posted 05-13-2002 12:08 PM ET (US)            

I have the pics--I'll rush them to the head of the line for the next CETACEA, or maybe add them to the 17-Montauk article.

It's fine if you don't want to post the photos but then please say so......... and why your not posting them.

I think we all need an explantion.

posted 05-13-2002 06:23 PM ET (US)            

Like Gep said, I don't think this has anything to do with new vs classic. I think the new Montauk has been treated very well here by both the moderator and the forum participants. Heck its even being recommended to people.

Now lets get back to talking about boats.

posted 05-14-2002 11:54 PM ET (US)            

I have been sending you eMail about your photographs for almost a week. It would help get things rolling here if you would answer your eMail.

I am only posting this notice here because there may be some problem with eMail that has prevented you from receiving all of my previous messages. They've all been delivered to the eMail address you have registered with.

posted 05-15-2002 08:51 AM ET (US)            

Beaugrand7@aol.com

Please use the word MONTAUK as the subject matter and it will surely be opened. I along with most people get lots of Junk mail which i discard without reading.

posted 05-17-2002 11:12 AM ET (US)            

You did a wonderful job of putting it all together.

posted 05-17-2002 11:56 AM ET (US)            

Tabasco, of all your "cons" the lack of cleats in the stern would upset me the most, possibly to the point of not buying the boat. It's a shame to spend that kind of money and not have a decent way to secure it properly at the dock. Tieing to the towing eyes isn't really a practical proposition, in my opinion, and no substitute for decent cleats.

I was going to suggest you add pins at the stern (ala the early Whalers) but there doesn't seem to be any bulkhead to mount them to. The bow cleat looks a little small too, but maybe that's just the photo perspective.

I guess if you trailer all the time it is no big deal, but I'm still surprised at this oversight.

The compass thing wouldn't bother me, except I might ask that they deliver the boat without a compass so I could install my own. It's better to just buy the one you like anyway.