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Author Topic:   Questions about safety with 15-20ft Whalers

MightyAnchovie posted 09-28-2002 01:17 AM ET (US)
I'm looking to get my fist boat and do not have a lot of cash. I am thinking of spending between 5-8K and want a boat that will be used for bay fishing and trolling in Southern Mississippi. I would also like to use it to get out to the islands that are between 4-12 miles from shore.
My question is about the Sport, Standard, and Rage.
Those are the boats I've found in the price range I am looking for. I'm wondering what anyone out in cyberland would have to say to a guy looking at those boats for the purposes I have in mind.
I'm sure somebody out there will tell me to look for a Montuak.... believe me... I am looking!!!

Clark Roberts posted 09-28-2002 07:08 AM ET (US)
Mighty, keep looking for that Montauk and be ready to drive a distance if necessary! Your patience will be rewarded, just hang in there and forget the Rage completely!!! Just my opinion, mind you... Happy Whaler hunting... Clark ... Spruce Creek Navy
JBCornwell posted 09-28-2002 08:37 AM ET (US)
I agree completely with Clark, Anchovie.
Neither a Rage nor any other sit-down-only boat is suitable for the use you describe.
A Montauk exactly fits your need.
Good luck.
Red sky at night. . .
JB :)
jimh posted 09-28-2002 10:07 AM ET (US)
Since the question is framed in the context of safety, I would suggest that the Sport or Standard configuration may actually be safer than the Montauk.
The Sport seating places the operator and passengers lower in the boat. This reduces the center of gravity of the boat and should improve the roll stability.
The Sport gunwales are lower than a Montauk so boarding the boat from the water (if throw overboard) would be easier with a Sport.
JBCornwell posted 09-28-2002 11:44 AM ET (US)
Point well made, Sir, but I think that rail configuration would matter a lot in safety.
Even if a Sport had side rails and a bow rail, console grab rails offer added safety to Montauk occupants.
It is very nearly true that one must jump with intent to go overboard of a Montauk.
I question how a Sport has "lower gunwales" than a Montauk unless it is without side rails. That would cancel, in my mind, any safety advantage of the Sport.
Red sky at night. . .
JB :)
whalerdude posted 09-28-2002 12:22 PM ET (US)
I have a montauk and feel extremely safe in it.
A particularly good feature is the handling of the boat. I feel that I am always in control of my boat.
Docking is easy. It skips over large chop with little crashing.
It is a brilliant boat design.
MightyAnchovie posted 09-28-2002 04:48 PM ET (US)
Thanks to all! I am in total agreement regarding Rage. There is just too much negative press on it. I'll keep looking for a Montauk!
masbama posted 09-30-2002 01:38 PM ET (US)
My neigbor here in Mobile has a fine Montauk we needs to sell. Well maintained, many options. Give me contact info if interested.
MightyAnchovie posted 10-01-2002 12:34 PM ET (US)
This is to "masbama"
I am interested, but you email adress does not funtion. Drop me a line at mlatin@aol.com
Chove
TRIDENT posted 10-07-2002 02:43 PM ET (US)
A Montauk would be perfect for the Mississippi sound. Day trips to Ship Island! Keep looking until you find a Montauk that will fit your budget, they are out there.
I_love_my_boats posted 10-07-2002 03:08 PM ET (US)
Here's why I swear by my 17:
We were running back to a nasty inlet on a rip tide after a great night of blue fishing offshore, and, after flying over 1/4 mile of breakers, we hit a hole, left the water and crashed into the back of a standing wave, just outside the jetty. We sliced right through the back of the wave and, knocked down and fully swamped, came out the other side with the engine still running! We limped ashore, bailed her out and went home, never to forget that moment for the rest of our lives! Thank God it was a Whaler!
frank_king posted 10-09-2002 09:58 PM ET (US)
mighty i live in biloxi and work at crown leisure in diberville....
i also have a montauk.... i often go out to horn island and some times ship island.
come by and check out my boat
Andy Holmes posted 10-11-2002 06:46 PM ET (US)
You might want to give serious consideration to the 17' standard model. I have been out in some rough conditions and never felt unsafe in any way. You sit low in the boat, however with the side and bow rails, it is extremely secure. It would require a real effort to get out of the boat. It is fairly easy to reboard, over the gunwale between the bow and side rails. I particularly like the sit-down seating as I have four kids and do not want to encourage them to be up walking around. We've found it to be a great family boat, particularly for just cruising around sightseeing. Fishing would definitely be better in the Montauk.
LuckyLady posted 10-12-2002 03:56 PM ET (US)
You sure can't go wrong in getting a 17' Montauk!
I fish out of Kawaihae on a 23'Alii Kai here on the Big Island of Hawaii.
We are subject to 20-35mph Tradewinds daily along with the 3-5' waves.
Many times I've watched the 13'and 17' Whalers completely disappear between the waves while trolling for Ono and Mahi and then show up on the next crest.
I have been so impressed with their performance, that I bought a 1964 16'7" Nauset hull for $400. Am in the process of puting in stringers,bulkheads and etc..
The reason for cuting down to a smaller boat: Need something that is easlier to launch and keep up for one person. However, I don't look forward to getting wet some of the time, then again we have such warm wonderful weather year around, and lots of fish to compensate. Aloha!
jhill posted 10-22-2002 11:48 AM ET (US)
I live at the otherend of the state but trailer my Montauk down to the coast. Last summer on Mobile bay i experienced 4,5 and an occasional 6 foot waves. Never took one over the bow. Great boat. Worth waiting for.

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Author	Topic: Questions about safety with 15-20ft Whalers
MightyAnchovie	posted 09-28-2002 01:17 AM ET (US) I'm looking to get my fist boat and do not have a lot of cash. I am thinking of spending between 5-8K and want a boat that will be used for bay fishing and trolling in Southern Mississippi. I would also like to use it to get out to the islands that are between 4-12 miles from shore. My question is about the Sport, Standard, and Rage. Those are the boats I've found in the price range I am looking for. I'm wondering what anyone out in cyberland would have to say to a guy looking at those boats for the purposes I have in mind. I'm sure somebody out there will tell me to look for a Montuak.... believe me... I am looking!!!
Clark Roberts	posted 09-28-2002 07:08 AM ET (US) Mighty, keep looking for that Montauk and be ready to drive a distance if necessary! Your patience will be rewarded, just hang in there and forget the Rage completely!!! Just my opinion, mind you... Happy Whaler hunting... Clark ... Spruce Creek Navy
JBCornwell	posted 09-28-2002 08:37 AM ET (US) I agree completely with Clark, Anchovie. Neither a Rage nor any other sit-down-only boat is suitable for the use you describe. A Montauk exactly fits your need. Good luck. Red sky at night. . . JB :)
jimh	posted 09-28-2002 10:07 AM ET (US) Since the question is framed in the context of safety, I would suggest that the Sport or Standard configuration may actually be safer than the Montauk. The Sport seating places the operator and passengers lower in the boat. This reduces the center of gravity of the boat and should improve the roll stability. The Sport gunwales are lower than a Montauk so boarding the boat from the water (if throw overboard) would be easier with a Sport.
JBCornwell	posted 09-28-2002 11:44 AM ET (US) Point well made, Sir, but I think that rail configuration would matter a lot in safety. Even if a Sport had side rails and a bow rail, console grab rails offer added safety to Montauk occupants. It is very nearly true that one must jump with intent to go overboard of a Montauk. I question how a Sport has "lower gunwales" than a Montauk unless it is without side rails. That would cancel, in my mind, any safety advantage of the Sport. Red sky at night. . . JB :)
whalerdude	posted 09-28-2002 12:22 PM ET (US) I have a montauk and feel extremely safe in it. A particularly good feature is the handling of the boat. I feel that I am always in control of my boat. Docking is easy. It skips over large chop with little crashing. It is a brilliant boat design.
MightyAnchovie	posted 09-28-2002 04:48 PM ET (US) Thanks to all! I am in total agreement regarding Rage. There is just too much negative press on it. I'll keep looking for a Montauk!
masbama	posted 09-30-2002 01:38 PM ET (US) My neigbor here in Mobile has a fine Montauk we needs to sell. Well maintained, many options. Give me contact info if interested.
MightyAnchovie	posted 10-01-2002 12:34 PM ET (US) This is to "masbama" I am interested, but you email adress does not funtion. Drop me a line at mlatin@aol.com Chove
TRIDENT	posted 10-07-2002 02:43 PM ET (US) A Montauk would be perfect for the Mississippi sound. Day trips to Ship Island! Keep looking until you find a Montauk that will fit your budget, they are out there.
I_love_my_boats	posted 10-07-2002 03:08 PM ET (US) Here's why I swear by my 17: We were running back to a nasty inlet on a rip tide after a great night of blue fishing offshore, and, after flying over 1/4 mile of breakers, we hit a hole, left the water and crashed into the back of a standing wave, just outside the jetty. We sliced right through the back of the wave and, knocked down and fully swamped, came out the other side with the engine still running! We limped ashore, bailed her out and went home, never to forget that moment for the rest of our lives! Thank God it was a Whaler!
frank_king	posted 10-09-2002 09:58 PM ET (US) mighty i live in biloxi and work at crown leisure in diberville.... i also have a montauk.... i often go out to horn island and some times ship island. come by and check out my boat
Andy Holmes	posted 10-11-2002 06:46 PM ET (US) You might want to give serious consideration to the 17' standard model. I have been out in some rough conditions and never felt unsafe in any way. You sit low in the boat, however with the side and bow rails, it is extremely secure. It would require a real effort to get out of the boat. It is fairly easy to reboard, over the gunwale between the bow and side rails. I particularly like the sit-down seating as I have four kids and do not want to encourage them to be up walking around. We've found it to be a great family boat, particularly for just cruising around sightseeing. Fishing would definitely be better in the Montauk.
LuckyLady	posted 10-12-2002 03:56 PM ET (US) You sure can't go wrong in getting a 17' Montauk! I fish out of Kawaihae on a 23'Alii Kai here on the Big Island of Hawaii. We are subject to 20-35mph Tradewinds daily along with the 3-5' waves. Many times I've watched the 13'and 17' Whalers completely disappear between the waves while trolling for Ono and Mahi and then show up on the next crest. I have been so impressed with their performance, that I bought a 1964 16'7" Nauset hull for $400. Am in the process of puting in stringers,bulkheads and etc.. The reason for cuting down to a smaller boat: Need something that is easlier to launch and keep up for one person. However, I don't look forward to getting wet some of the time, then again we have such warm wonderful weather year around, and lots of fish to compensate. Aloha!
jhill	posted 10-22-2002 11:48 AM ET (US) I live at the otherend of the state but trailer my Montauk down to the coast. Last summer on Mobile bay i experienced 4,5 and an occasional 6 foot waves. Never took one over the bow. Great boat. Worth waiting for.