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Author Topic:   info/comments on '99 BW Montauk for Florida

remmm posted 01-19-2003 06:02 AM ET (US)
I'm looking at and have to decide whether to buy by Tuesday a "99 Montauk with a 90 Yamaha, low hours for general use in Florida. I'm looking for a boat that will store in a garage, can be trailered with a regular car, and is easy to handle and dependable for inshore bay, inlet, and light--smooth water offshore days, and OK for the Keys, and will hold its value a little. Boat will have limited use as I don't live in Florida. I've checked some out on the water and the owners all seem to like them, but people talk about pounding and a wet ride. Is the pounding effect in light chop, small waves or what?? Is it really that big a problem ?? Boat has fishing package and a bimini and price is $13.5. Would appreciate any commentrs as to suitability for what I want to do, price, pounding, wet ride and also on issues with Yamaha 90 that can be sitting for two three months without being fired up. H ow does this model drain if you take a wave--I thought they were self baling, but looked like a small bilge. Alot of qauestions, but it is a big purchase for me.Thanks
Bigshot posted 01-21-2003 10:09 AM ET (US)
Test drive one.
where2 posted 01-21-2003 12:46 PM ET (US)
Nothing like a test drive to weed out the pounding wet rides from the smooth dry rides, a real ride on salt water is the only way to tell.
As for self bailing, it's not really. I think the Dauntless may more of a self-bailing variety where there are scuppers at deck level just above the water line where you can get a rain shower and the rain runs off the deck all by itself. The 15 and 17 classic hulls will attain a rest position where even with the plug out they will not sink. However, it may not necessarily resemble a "self-bailing" boat where the deck is dry and above water. My 15' with the 70Hp engine reaches resting flotation with the plug out with about 2" of water on the rear floor, tapering off to none about where the console is. Pour another 5 gallon bucket of water in, and it will run out, but the deck is slightly awash in the rear.
andygere posted 01-21-2003 03:26 PM ET (US)
Contrary to what many non-owners say, the Montauk is one of the drier, smoother riding hulls in it's class. The problem is that most of the time they are being compared to bigger deep V boats. I use mine exclusively in the Pacific, and when run at the right speed for the sea conditions, it rides quite well. I think it is ideal for your intended use, and you won't be disappointed.
In terms of self bailing, for the most part it is. Even if you keep the plug in, if you take a wave over the bow (difficult to do) it will drain out the motor well when you nail the throttle.
weekendwarrior posted 01-21-2003 03:37 PM ET (US)
Hey I just saw your post, I hope it's not too late!
I'm in South Florida and typically use the palm beach (aka lake worth) inlet, a few hours north of the keys. I've got a 1996 17' montauk and I love the boat! It gets used for everything that you listed. In the intercoastal it's great for wakeboarding, cruising and crosses yacht wakes very nicely (you'll see a LOT of those here). In the inlet it's very stable and feels safe, even in the soupy rougher area at the mouth of the inlet when the tide is going the wrong way. In the ocean on nice days it's great. On windy days if there's a west wind and you're within a mile or so of shore then it's great. A little bumpy but we cruise 20-25mph with no complaints. If it's rougher and you're headed directly into big waves then it can get rough (pounding) or if you hit a big yacht wake head on going fast then you may get a bang or two. Especially if you're catching air and landing on the face of the next wave (ouch!). I've been out fishing in seas as big as 3-5' and while I was getting a little sick I did not feel like we were in danger of flipping. NOT the ideal boat for those conditions but it got us there and back in 1 piece. For the ocean here in the winter I'll say this; if you're willing to wait for days with west winds and you only want to cruise the coastline (1 mile out or so) then you will love the boat, absolutely fantastic! If you want to go offshore (more than 1 mile or so) frequently during the winter then you definitely should look for a deep-v hull. There are not that many glassy days here during the winter. As for self bailing, it is not but there is an automatic bilge pump in the back and it takes a pretty good sized wave to come over the front of this boat. The only 2 waves I've taken over the front so far were from yachts in the inlet which crossed directly in front of us and didn't slow down. Those thing can throw some BIG verticle wakes! I don't miss self bailing at all (my old boat was a self bailer).
All of that said, if you're going to be using this boat only in the keys then keep in mind that it's likely calmer there than here during the winter but ask the locals for the details. Also Yamaha has a very good rep so as long as the motor was cared for I would not have any problems taking a Yamaha motor.
If you're still awake after all that reading, please allow me to summarize. I love the boat and I have zero regrets about choosing this boat for this area. Definitely take a test ride if you can to see if it's up to your liking, but I given your description of how you'll use it I suspect that you will like it.
weekendwarrior posted 01-21-2003 03:40 PM ET (US)
Hey I forgot to mention, I'm guessing the older models may have a rep for being wet because they don't have a ridge in the front to deflect splashes back down towards the water (there is an older model down the street from me). My '96 has a big ridge around the front and any waves I hit are deflected right back down towards the water. I can see how the older models would be wet without this ridge as any waves you hit would likely be sprayed up in front of you. The ridge fixes this. You can't miss it, just look under the front of the boat if it's a newer model.
The Chesapeake Explorer posted 01-21-2003 09:28 PM ET (US)
Well. the Montauk ,Its a 17' ft boat, less a few inches. Yes the Whaler will not "cut thru" waves as well a deep V 25' but its a 17 footer'. You can not expect a ride like a 25 footer in any 17 foot boat. I think it rides better then any other boat its size. look at a 17 ft. Bayliner or other "sit down and steer boat" I would have had a heck of a time with some of those boats where I have been in my time on my Whaler. The real magic about the 17 Whaler is that it can ride out some real bad water, you just have to slow way down...and no its not a ride for everyone. But its a 17' boat. That means easy handling at the boat ramp, into the garage, and on the road. I will tell you another secret about the 17' Montauk..if its too rough a day to go out..its also going to be too rough in a 25 ft boat! The price of 13 five for a 99 inprobably very good shape with a trailer and Yamaha 90 is very reasonable considering this package will last a long time. Sorry its Tuesday night hope its not to late to help you out.

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Author	Topic: info/comments on '99 BW Montauk for Florida
remmm	posted 01-19-2003 06:02 AM ET (US) I'm looking at and have to decide whether to buy by Tuesday a "99 Montauk with a 90 Yamaha, low hours for general use in Florida. I'm looking for a boat that will store in a garage, can be trailered with a regular car, and is easy to handle and dependable for inshore bay, inlet, and light--smooth water offshore days, and OK for the Keys, and will hold its value a little. Boat will have limited use as I don't live in Florida. I've checked some out on the water and the owners all seem to like them, but people talk about pounding and a wet ride. Is the pounding effect in light chop, small waves or what?? Is it really that big a problem ?? Boat has fishing package and a bimini and price is $13.5. Would appreciate any commentrs as to suitability for what I want to do, price, pounding, wet ride and also on issues with Yamaha 90 that can be sitting for two three months without being fired up. H ow does this model drain if you take a wave--I thought they were self baling, but looked like a small bilge. Alot of qauestions, but it is a big purchase for me.Thanks
Bigshot	posted 01-21-2003 10:09 AM ET (US) Test drive one.
where2	posted 01-21-2003 12:46 PM ET (US) Nothing like a test drive to weed out the pounding wet rides from the smooth dry rides, a real ride on salt water is the only way to tell. As for self bailing, it's not really. I think the Dauntless may more of a self-bailing variety where there are scuppers at deck level just above the water line where you can get a rain shower and the rain runs off the deck all by itself. The 15 and 17 classic hulls will attain a rest position where even with the plug out they will not sink. However, it may not necessarily resemble a "self-bailing" boat where the deck is dry and above water. My 15' with the 70Hp engine reaches resting flotation with the plug out with about 2" of water on the rear floor, tapering off to none about where the console is. Pour another 5 gallon bucket of water in, and it will run out, but the deck is slightly awash in the rear.
andygere	posted 01-21-2003 03:26 PM ET (US) Contrary to what many non-owners say, the Montauk is one of the drier, smoother riding hulls in it's class. The problem is that most of the time they are being compared to bigger deep V boats. I use mine exclusively in the Pacific, and when run at the right speed for the sea conditions, it rides quite well. I think it is ideal for your intended use, and you won't be disappointed. In terms of self bailing, for the most part it is. Even if you keep the plug in, if you take a wave over the bow (difficult to do) it will drain out the motor well when you nail the throttle.
weekendwarrior	posted 01-21-2003 03:37 PM ET (US) Hey I just saw your post, I hope it's not too late! I'm in South Florida and typically use the palm beach (aka lake worth) inlet, a few hours north of the keys. I've got a 1996 17' montauk and I love the boat! It gets used for everything that you listed. In the intercoastal it's great for wakeboarding, cruising and crosses yacht wakes very nicely (you'll see a LOT of those here). In the inlet it's very stable and feels safe, even in the soupy rougher area at the mouth of the inlet when the tide is going the wrong way. In the ocean on nice days it's great. On windy days if there's a west wind and you're within a mile or so of shore then it's great. A little bumpy but we cruise 20-25mph with no complaints. If it's rougher and you're headed directly into big waves then it can get rough (pounding) or if you hit a big yacht wake head on going fast then you may get a bang or two. Especially if you're catching air and landing on the face of the next wave (ouch!). I've been out fishing in seas as big as 3-5' and while I was getting a little sick I did not feel like we were in danger of flipping. NOT the ideal boat for those conditions but it got us there and back in 1 piece. For the ocean here in the winter I'll say this; if you're willing to wait for days with west winds and you only want to cruise the coastline (1 mile out or so) then you will love the boat, absolutely fantastic! If you want to go offshore (more than 1 mile or so) frequently during the winter then you definitely should look for a deep-v hull. There are not that many glassy days here during the winter. As for self bailing, it is not but there is an automatic bilge pump in the back and it takes a pretty good sized wave to come over the front of this boat. The only 2 waves I've taken over the front so far were from yachts in the inlet which crossed directly in front of us and didn't slow down. Those thing can throw some BIG verticle wakes! I don't miss self bailing at all (my old boat was a self bailer). All of that said, if you're going to be using this boat only in the keys then keep in mind that it's likely calmer there than here during the winter but ask the locals for the details. Also Yamaha has a very good rep so as long as the motor was cared for I would not have any problems taking a Yamaha motor. If you're still awake after all that reading, please allow me to summarize. I love the boat and I have zero regrets about choosing this boat for this area. Definitely take a test ride if you can to see if it's up to your liking, but I given your description of how you'll use it I suspect that you will like it.
weekendwarrior	posted 01-21-2003 03:40 PM ET (US) Hey I forgot to mention, I'm guessing the older models may have a rep for being wet because they don't have a ridge in the front to deflect splashes back down towards the water (there is an older model down the street from me). My '96 has a big ridge around the front and any waves I hit are deflected right back down towards the water. I can see how the older models would be wet without this ridge as any waves you hit would likely be sprayed up in front of you. The ridge fixes this. You can't miss it, just look under the front of the boat if it's a newer model.
The Chesapeake Explorer	posted 01-21-2003 09:28 PM ET (US) Well. the Montauk ,Its a 17' ft boat, less a few inches. Yes the Whaler will not "cut thru" waves as well a deep V 25' but its a 17 footer'. You can not expect a ride like a 25 footer in any 17 foot boat. I think it rides better then any other boat its size. look at a 17 ft. Bayliner or other "sit down and steer boat" I would have had a heck of a time with some of those boats where I have been in my time on my Whaler. The real magic about the 17 Whaler is that it can ride out some real bad water, you just have to slow way down...and no its not a ride for everyone. But its a 17' boat. That means easy handling at the boat ramp, into the garage, and on the road. I will tell you another secret about the 17' Montauk..if its too rough a day to go out..its also going to be too rough in a 25 ft boat! The price of 13 five for a 99 inprobably very good shape with a trailer and Yamaha 90 is very reasonable considering this package will last a long time. Sorry its Tuesday night hope its not to late to help you out.