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Author Topic:   First boat, maiden voyage Montauk

surfkast posted 09-20-2005 12:53 AM ET (US)
Let me start off by saying this is a great forum and I learned a lot from everyone here. I just wanted to relay my experiences as a newbie boater.
After months of researching and waiting for used boats, I decided to buy a new Montauk 170. I had the Pate 27 installed and it came with bow cushion, fishing package, and 90 hp Merc 4S EFI. I picked it up Saturday, and trailered it down from Newport Beach to San Diego. As a newbie boat owner I was a little worried about trailering and if it would fit in my garage. Turns out everything was ok.
I pulled it home with a Toyota 4 runner 4cyl. The boat motor and trailer weighs about 2,500 lbs and my tow capacity is 3,500. As long as the freeway was flat, I really didn't notice the boat. When there were medium steep grades, I did slow down to about 50 mph. The 4 banger will work for now, but definitely a v6 or v8 would be nice. No problem pulling off the ramp though.
Luckily, the boat fit in the garage. I also have a bit of a slope in the driveway, but it didn't bottom out. Boat on trailer approx dimensions: Height 6'5", Length 20' with motor aside and swing away tongue, Width-(not sure, about 8', but I had plenty of room).
Took the boat out Sunday to La Jolla with some buddies, the launch went smooth (once I remembered the cutoff switch) and we were underway.
Lessons learned from the day:
-Slow down going through big swells - Going out of the jetty the swells are very mixed up 4-5 foot, I tried going too fast and really got slammed.
-Seasick friends - my buddy got sick from swells and we had to head back early. Next time, I'll get him some dramamine.
-docking with wind is not easy--had a tough time fighting the wind and trying to dock and even tougher time trying to get back on the trailer. I just kept backing up and trying again to calculate for the wind. Finally got pretty close and just cut the engines and threw my buddy a bowline.
Overall, it was an excellent day on the water and what a feeling it was cruising in a Boston Whaler on the open ocean! I think I made the right choice of boats.

Chuck Tribolet posted 09-20-2005 01:17 AM ET (US)
If your launch ramp has a courtesy dock, it's far easier
to just walk the boat onto the trailer with the bow and
stern lines than to drive it on.
If you have to drive it on, my trick is keep my head on
the center line of the boat, and drive the boat so my head
is also lined up with the center line of the trailer. That
way you aren't distracted by things like which way the boat
is pointing and concentrate on which way the boat is MOVING.
Idle speed is generally too slow -- wind and current win.
About 1200 RPM works for me.
EZguiders on the trailer help a lot.

Chuck
Sheila posted 09-20-2005 03:59 AM ET (US)
Hey, Surfkast, congratulations, and welcome!
We run our Boston Whalers out of Oceanside. Give me a shout if you ever want to do some buddy boating.
Chuck gives you good advice. Walking the boat on with lines is much cleaner and simpler than powerloading.
whale tauk posted 09-20-2005 10:50 AM ET (US)
Congratulations on the new 170 Montauk!
I'm guessing you went to La Jolla out of Mission Bay- I usually use Shelter Island even though it's always busier. The ramp/dock area is smaller but is more protected from the wind making loading easier. The PVC guides do help as well. BTW I haul mine to the ramp with a 123 hp 1955 Chevy pickup (4.57 gears).
whale tauk
bigjohn1 posted 09-20-2005 06:21 PM ET (US)
I have the 170 MONTAUK but with an EZ Loader trailer so I'm not sure how this will apply to the "other" trailer that is now being supplied with the boat. I am lucky enough to have a courtesy dock at my marina and by simply backing the trailer into the water till approximately 2/3 of the bunk is submerged does the trick for me. I can easily pull the boat up on the trailer by hand and my bunk position ensures the boat is perfectly centered when I crank her up to the bow stop. You may have to perform a
minor spacing adjustment on your bunks to ensure they "fit" perfectly.
surfkast posted 09-21-2005 03:04 AM ET (US)
Hi everyone, thanks for the tips. I have been meaning to launch up at Oceanside and try that out sometime. Is there more than one ramp? I've only launched at Dana Landing so far in Mission Bay. A lot of the issues I had was due to the fact that it was my first time trying to trailer a boat ever, so hopefully I'll get better with practice. I'll look into those guide posts as well.
The boat really performed nicely. The 4S engine was smooth, very quiet and you could barely tell it was on when we were idling. The 170 hull handled the big swells nicely and it was plenty stable with 3 guys fishing off of La Jolla. Now I have the fun task of looking at GPS, Fishfinder, bait tanks, etc. I tend to go crazy with accessories, so I haven't bought anything yet until I take it out a few times. I have an anchor and handheld VHF on borrow from a friend but that's it. Next purchase will probably be rod holders and bait tank. Thanks for all the tips on this board!
Bulldog posted 09-25-2005 02:34 AM ET (US)
Congrats on the boat, sounds like you did fine, we all have good and bad days! Sounds like you have the right idea, go slow with the accesories until you really know what you want!, remember it's supposed to be fun!...Jack

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Author	Topic: First boat, maiden voyage Montauk
surfkast	posted 09-20-2005 12:53 AM ET (US) Let me start off by saying this is a great forum and I learned a lot from everyone here. I just wanted to relay my experiences as a newbie boater. After months of researching and waiting for used boats, I decided to buy a new Montauk 170. I had the Pate 27 installed and it came with bow cushion, fishing package, and 90 hp Merc 4S EFI. I picked it up Saturday, and trailered it down from Newport Beach to San Diego. As a newbie boat owner I was a little worried about trailering and if it would fit in my garage. Turns out everything was ok. I pulled it home with a Toyota 4 runner 4cyl. The boat motor and trailer weighs about 2,500 lbs and my tow capacity is 3,500. As long as the freeway was flat, I really didn't notice the boat. When there were medium steep grades, I did slow down to about 50 mph. The 4 banger will work for now, but definitely a v6 or v8 would be nice. No problem pulling off the ramp though. Luckily, the boat fit in the garage. I also have a bit of a slope in the driveway, but it didn't bottom out. Boat on trailer approx dimensions: Height 6'5", Length 20' with motor aside and swing away tongue, Width-(not sure, about 8', but I had plenty of room). Took the boat out Sunday to La Jolla with some buddies, the launch went smooth (once I remembered the cutoff switch) and we were underway. Lessons learned from the day: -Slow down going through big swells - Going out of the jetty the swells are very mixed up 4-5 foot, I tried going too fast and really got slammed. -Seasick friends - my buddy got sick from swells and we had to head back early. Next time, I'll get him some dramamine. -docking with wind is not easy--had a tough time fighting the wind and trying to dock and even tougher time trying to get back on the trailer. I just kept backing up and trying again to calculate for the wind. Finally got pretty close and just cut the engines and threw my buddy a bowline. Overall, it was an excellent day on the water and what a feeling it was cruising in a Boston Whaler on the open ocean! I think I made the right choice of boats.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 09-20-2005 01:17 AM ET (US) If your launch ramp has a courtesy dock, it's far easier to just walk the boat onto the trailer with the bow and stern lines than to drive it on. If you have to drive it on, my trick is keep my head on the center line of the boat, and drive the boat so my head is also lined up with the center line of the trailer. That way you aren't distracted by things like which way the boat is pointing and concentrate on which way the boat is MOVING. Idle speed is generally too slow -- wind and current win. About 1200 RPM works for me. EZguiders on the trailer help a lot. Chuck
Sheila	posted 09-20-2005 03:59 AM ET (US) Hey, Surfkast, congratulations, and welcome! We run our Boston Whalers out of Oceanside. Give me a shout if you ever want to do some buddy boating. Chuck gives you good advice. Walking the boat on with lines is much cleaner and simpler than powerloading.
whale tauk	posted 09-20-2005 10:50 AM ET (US) Congratulations on the new 170 Montauk! I'm guessing you went to La Jolla out of Mission Bay- I usually use Shelter Island even though it's always busier. The ramp/dock area is smaller but is more protected from the wind making loading easier. The PVC guides do help as well. BTW I haul mine to the ramp with a 123 hp 1955 Chevy pickup (4.57 gears). whale tauk
bigjohn1	posted 09-20-2005 06:21 PM ET (US) I have the 170 MONTAUK but with an EZ Loader trailer so I'm not sure how this will apply to the "other" trailer that is now being supplied with the boat. I am lucky enough to have a courtesy dock at my marina and by simply backing the trailer into the water till approximately 2/3 of the bunk is submerged does the trick for me. I can easily pull the boat up on the trailer by hand and my bunk position ensures the boat is perfectly centered when I crank her up to the bow stop. You may have to perform a minor spacing adjustment on your bunks to ensure they "fit" perfectly.
surfkast	posted 09-21-2005 03:04 AM ET (US) Hi everyone, thanks for the tips. I have been meaning to launch up at Oceanside and try that out sometime. Is there more than one ramp? I've only launched at Dana Landing so far in Mission Bay. A lot of the issues I had was due to the fact that it was my first time trying to trailer a boat ever, so hopefully I'll get better with practice. I'll look into those guide posts as well. The boat really performed nicely. The 4S engine was smooth, very quiet and you could barely tell it was on when we were idling. The 170 hull handled the big swells nicely and it was plenty stable with 3 guys fishing off of La Jolla. Now I have the fun task of looking at GPS, Fishfinder, bait tanks, etc. I tend to go crazy with accessories, so I haven't bought anything yet until I take it out a few times. I have an anchor and handheld VHF on borrow from a friend but that's it. Next purchase will probably be rod holders and bait tank. Thanks for all the tips on this board!
Bulldog	posted 09-25-2005 02:34 AM ET (US) Congrats on the boat, sounds like you did fine, we all have good and bad days! Sounds like you have the right idea, go slow with the accesories until you really know what you want!, remember it's supposed to be fun!...Jack