posted 03-05-2002 05:58 PM ET (US)            

One of the things I liked about my Sakonnet better than my Montauk was the front casting deck. One could store a lot under there. I have also seen custom raised rear decks that did the same.

I was lusting through my newly acquired '76 Whaler brochure today and came upon the optional raised front deck for the Montauk. It looks SO good with the teak hatch covers, and it would probably balance the boat better with that wonderful Suzi DF70 on the transom. (Sigh!)

posted 03-05-2002 10:04 PM ET (US)            

If I were to get a POD would it require more than one whaler? i.e. a pod of killer whales.

posted 03-05-2002 10:39 PM ET (US)            

The custom deck on the Nauset in Cetacea certainly is handsome. It reminds me of the painted pine deck on my Sakonnet, but much more elegant.

I have been deferring learning how to post photos, though I do know how to Email them.

I will attempt to post the photos of the OEM Montauk with front deck and the Sakonnet with front deck from the brochure. I have to crank up my slow scanner, so look for them tomorrow.

JimH: Does that present a problem?

posted 03-06-2002 09:56 AM ET (US)            

I've been thinking about bolting a bicycle
water bottle holder to the inside wall to hold
the CellSafe (they are sized to fit), and a
mesh bag on the same wall for the dork hats.

posted 03-06-2002 10:54 AM ET (US)            

The first is a cubby in the top of the console. Using a "Bekson Plate" he cut a hole to fit the plate through the top of the console and fit the plate in. From underneath he mated a rubbermaid container and sealed it to the flange of the plate. It makes a very handy place to put wallet, keys, etc.

The second is a system using 2 24 qt (I think)coolers in the aft section of the boat. Both have seatin cushions. On one he drilled and sealed several holes. In some of these he installed little disks with fins on them to act as ventilation. On another, larger hole, hit fitted a rubber boot. Inside the cooler he place his oil resivoir, and battery. He then ran the cables and tubing through the hole with the rubber boot. He left the other cooler empty for misc. storage.

Having the coolers in the aft quarter also gives a stern seating option with the cushions.

posted 03-06-2002 11:33 AM ET (US)            

If you're having trouble stowing all your gear then maybe it's time for a bigger boat.

But seriously, The key to having everything stowed is not to fall into the trap of feeling like you need to bring everything except the kitchen sink every time you go boating.

I got along quite nicely in my last Montauk (which was typically salmon fishing with 2 to 4 adults on board) This is how I stowed stuff:

For starters the battery was in the stern where it belongs, thus the console was available via 2 doors to store the like jackets and coffee thermos as well as hats, gloves, some fishing tackle items.

In front of the console I had the usual cushioned 86 quart Igloo cooler with both a deep tray and a shallow tray. In the bottom of the cooler I had the first aid kit, hand held spot light, flare kit, binoculars (which typically resided on top of the console or in the console during an outing). I kept the boats papers in the canister for the flares so they would be safe and dry.

In the deep bin in the cooler I kept miscellaneous lines, my mooring painter, extra dock lines and on top of this relatively soft pile I placed the fish finder when it was removed and being transported to and from the boat.

In the shallow bin I had a 3/16" slotted screw driver, a #2 Phillips screw driver, a pair of adjustable pliers, needle nose pliers, emergency radio antenna, down rigger releases, LORAN coordinates and notes recorded in a small note pad, a pen, 2 filet knives, spray nozzle for a hose, a small plastic divided container with miscellaneous screws, cotter pins, fuses, ect., a bungee cord or two, a bait cutting board and a spare drain plug.

In the RPS back I stowed the fish club, stainless steel hook remover, a soap container with a bar of pumice hand soap, some small miscellaneous lines coiled up. The tackle box just sat in the back of the boat with the battery boxes for the VRO tank and the battery.

Personal gear that came on board with guests was usually stowed in the console or in the cooler. The forward locker had a few bags of ice if we were fishing and this is where the catch went, draining overboard.

The paddle was tucked into one side rail and the telescoping boat hook was in the other. Mooring lines, fore and aft were left attached to their respective lifting eyes, coiled and ready to go at a moments notice. I kept two fenders permanently tied to the stanchions of the port side rail because the kicker was mounted to starboard. If I felt the need for fenders to starboard I just moved them over rather than haul an extra pair around.

posted 03-08-2002 07:54 AM ET (US)            

Those are 54 qt. coolers.

They protect that little stuff (battery & oil tank) from being everybody's favorite step. They pretty much span the beam and thus offer not only seating but reclining space too. I mounted rubber feet to their bottoms,so they don't slide around, and shock-cord mount them to the deck like the one in front of the RPS. Starboard cooler houses the equipment; port is used for cold storage. Hint: I cut a hole in the lowest corner of the cold storage unit, sealed the foam, and keep a rubber sink stopper in it. This allows complete draining of melting ice, cleaners etc. And it so happens that the hole is just adjacent to the tunnel, so it's a quick run to the sump.

Unfortunately they are currently storing a foot of snow.

posted 03-09-2002 07:06 AM ET (US)            

Vancouver, WA is where my son Outrageman lives. Call him up and bother him! See, he doesn't have a Whaler, but he likes to look at them and talk about them!

posted 06-25-2002 09:43 AM ET (US)            

I didn't use the Igloo mounts. I wanted to be able to remove these coolers if necessary, and still have an unobstructed deck. So, I mounted rubber "furniture feet" under the coolers, and to the deck I mounted 4 (2 on each side) little stainless "U" hooks, similar to those used for securing canvas webbing to the hull. The rubber feet elevate the coolers so water has a clear drain path, and keep them in placve. Rubber shock cords are run from one "U", up through a hole in the cooler's handle frame, and back to the other "U". The "Us" are mounted just shy of the cooler's corners, and as close to the cooler (almost underneath) as possible. This avoids deck clutter and toe-stubbers. The system works great. Lot's of storage, no clutter, no damage to battery or oil resevoir, cables neatly bound etc. Wonderful for reclining in the sun etc. I wish I could post some photos, but I can't. Perhaps I can get OutrageMan to perform that magic.

posted 07-01-2002 07:06 AM ET (US)            

I don't remember. They're round plastic, and are peppered with small holes. I looked for a long time, but am reasonably sure I found them in a marine store/cataloge. There were 4 or 6 mounted in a card.

posted 07-02-2002 03:27 PM ET (US)            

www.diy-boat.com/Pages/issues/magpages/projects/projects.html

Mighty big hole though.

posted 07-03-2002 09:36 AM ET (US)            

And yup it's a big hole. Didn't have much choice as the previous owner had mounted some electronics in that area which left the console top looking like swiss cheese.

Necessity is the mother, you know.

posted 07-10-2002 04:26 PM ET (US)            

Is there any advantage to moving it to the
stern?

posted 07-10-2002 07:38 PM ET (US)            

The advantage of the console location is the weight is forward. This is supposed to be better, but I don't know why. It also looks neater, and keeps the aft cockpit clear. Disadvantages include the long run of the cables to the engine, and the loss of storage in the console. And if its in the stern to starboard, the weight help offsets torque lean.

People on this forum who have moved the Montauk battery forward feel that its an upgrade. I suppose they would not do it otherwise.

posted 07-10-2002 08:13 PM ET (US)            

The early Nausets, Sakonnets, ect had the fuel tanks in the console but the battery was always in the stern.

In truth there are advantages and disadvantages to both placements.

I strongly favor having the battery in the stern for the following reasons:

1) The battery will be accessible. Getting down on hands and knees to access either the side or rear door on the console is a real pain. If the battery is in the stern you can get to it as fast as unstrapping the lid of the battery box.

2) There will simply be more room in the console which is a very valuable commodity on a Montauk. On my two Montauks the console was the primary dry storage.

3) The battery cables will have a much shorter run. There will be less resistance in the run and the cost of replacing the cables will be much less. It will also be a far less likely to have a short or leak by nicking the cables if they are short and direct without going under water down the tunnel.

4) The battery will be better protected from pounding if it is in the stern. Choppy water will pound the Hell out of a Montauk and there is a huge difference between the ride in the stern and the ride at the console. Many people overlook this fact. If the battery is in the console it must be sitting on the floor or it will tear out the interior bottom of the console.

5) There will be less of spark hazard as well as no corrosive battery fumes if the battery is in the stern.

Now the flip side:

1) If the battery is in the console the boat will be somewhat neater in appearance. But the appearance of all that wiring in the console will not be so neat. I am a guy who looks under hatches and behind doors. That’s my nature. I really like to see things clean and neat. Open up the console door on a Dauntless and see what you see.

2) The battery will be less vulnerable to “drowning” in the event the boat is swamped. Well, actually battery box lids will form a pocket of air over the battery terminals for a while and prevent a short from occurring. Furthermore, a battery immersed in sea water will, in fact, continue to function for a short period of time, enough to get the motor going and the water sloshing over the transom.

3) The weight will be forward. Well a group 24 battery weights about 45 pounds. There's usually lots a things in a Montauk that can be shifted to alter the weight distribution as much as a battery relocation to the console. Actually, on a Montauk, moving weight forward is not necessarily desirable. Being stern heavy is more of a problem on a Currituck or Sport model.

My advice is to leave the battery in the stern, or if it’s in the console, move it to the stern and free up some dry storage space.

posted 07-30-2002 09:41 AM ET (US)            

That's the idea! You'll really like the seating/storage option the installation gives you.

posted 08-11-2002 12:15 PM ET (US)         

I have the distinction of being the first Montauk owner that ever put in are rear casting deck. The first winter after I purchased the boat I ordered the deck which they shipped direct from Rockport. Got together with 4 buddies (all whaler owners) to put it in. Sent several hours trying to figure out how to get in between the rear rails but curved in just enough it would not slip down, could not take rear rail as deck blocks access to screws to remount. Called Rockport and talked to the shop that fabricated the rear deck. That's when I found out that while deck had been listed as an accessory for the montauk, I was the first to actually try and put one in after a motor had already installed! The ones in the pictures were installed before the motor was hung on. You guessed it they reccomended pulling the motor.

We finally cut two pieces of wood just a 1/2 inch wider than the clearance needed to set the deck straight down between the rails. We gently spread the rails apart and wedged them apart and installed. The other option was to pull the leaning seat and unbolt the console and move it forward. On the Striper the seat was just a cooler and the short sit down helm sat further forward. By removing the cooler you could slid the deck in below the rails.

Without the seat/pylon in you have space above and below.

posted 08-11-2002 12:18 PM ET (US)         

I have the distinction of being the first Montauk owner that ever put in are rear casting deck. The first winter after I purchased the boat I ordered the deck which they shipped direct from Rockport. Got together with 4 buddies (all whaler owners) to put it in. Sent several hours trying to figure out how to get in between the rear rails but curved in just enough it would not slip down, could not take rear rail as deck blocks access to screws to remount. Called Rockport and talked to the shop that fabricated the rear deck. That's when I found out that while deck had been listed as an accessory for the montauk, I was the first to actually try and put one in after a motor had already installed! The ones in the pictures were installed before the motor was hung on. You guessed it they reccomended pulling the motor.

We finally cut two pieces of wood just a 1/2 inch wider than the clearance needed to set the deck straight down between the rails. We gently spread the rails apart and wedged them apart and installed. The other option was to pull the leaning seat and unbolt the console and move it forward. On the Striper the seat was just a cooler and the short sit down helm sat further forward. By removing the cooler you could slid the deck in below the rails.

Without the seat/pylon in you have space above and below.

posted 09-08-2002 04:23 PM ET (US)            

Prior to taking delivery I asked the dealer if he could instal some kind of rear bench/locker. His solution is amazing. He ordered a standard fiberglass bench for a Carolina Skiff and mounted it against the transom. The bench now stores the battery, 6 PFD's the fenders and a paddle with room to spare.

It is a slightly less eligant way of adding the rear storage that has been shown on here before with the custom made Montauk rear bench.

Some purists might argue I have added too much weight to the rear but the static trim seems fine (the water line on the engine when raised seems to be on the old marks). And more importantly for me the boat is now more functional and less cluttered than before. (Now all I need to do is replace my old Evinrude 90 with something lighter and I will have off set this)