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Author Topic:   Montauk 170 as Water Ski Boat

boxerdog posted 04-25-2006 10:21 AM ET (US)
Considering buying a new 170 Montauk. I'm 190 lbs and like to waterski. Has anyone tried to ski behind one on a slalom ski with 3 people (driver and spotter) in the boat? Mounted a pylon? Would get the boat with a max 90 HP. Currently selling an immaculate 1998 Dauntless w/150 and 2005 13'Sport to consolidate to one boat. Wondering if the boat will have enough power to tow me....Thanks for any info
mikeyairtime posted 04-25-2006 02:28 PM ET (US)
I'm 200 lbs and 6'4" and my 170 with 90HP 4 stroke pulls me no problem with my wife(who doesn't understand the trim control so I have to pre set it which doesn't help, love ya honey) and two kids. It doesn't pop me out of the water the way a tournament boat does but it works. We spend a week at the Colorado river every summer doing nothing but skiing with the 170.
mikeyairtime posted 04-25-2006 02:29 PM ET (US)
BTW, I have a pylon on my 170 as well.
bigjohn1 posted 04-25-2006 05:28 PM ET (US)
I betcha that either Merc's High-five or the Trophy Plus 4-blade would go a long way towards improving the 170's ability to jerk up a skier.
jimh posted 04-25-2006 08:30 PM ET (US)
[Just like your other inquiry about the 170 MONTAUK, this article has been moved to the POST-CLASSIC discussion.]
jimh posted 04-25-2006 08:47 PM ET (US)
[Please use the POST-CLASSIC discussion to initiate discussions about Boston Whaler boats which were first designed and produced after c.1990.]
jimh posted 04-25-2006 08:48 PM ET (US)
Also see:
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/002621.html
for more discussion of water skiing with a MONTAUK 170.
jumpjet231 posted 05-04-2006 08:50 PM ET (US)
I'm 215 and my '96 with a 100 2s would get me out of the water after a little dragging. No pylon here.
highanddry posted 05-05-2006 03:28 AM ET (US)
I really doubt a Montauk could pull an agressive hot dog slalom skier. Slalom ski boat speeds range upwards of 36 MPH and barefoot speeds upward of 40. Are you talking about dragging around or real hot dogging. J
bigjohn1 posted 05-05-2006 08:50 AM ET (US)
The real question is would a new Merc 90EFI on a light 170 Montauk jerk up a 190lb slalom skier and pull him at a descent recreational skiing speed. I'll assume you are on a 68-69" ski since you weigh 190lbs. Since the boat will have a flatter 4-stroke powerband, put a Merc High 5 prop on it. I would think you'd get PLENTY of low-end pulling power but perhaps only around 36-37 mph at the top end (since you're pulling a skier and have two passengers in the boat).
swist posted 05-05-2006 11:36 AM ET (US)
I waterskied once in my life. It was at a work outing. The tow boat (don't remember the make) had a 6 zillion horsepower engine. Even with the driver's best attempt at feathering the throttle, I was instantly jerked onto my stomach every time I tried. Monday morning, someone affixed a sign "The Whale" to my office door.
I think I could get up behind my Mtk 170/90 hp.
Barney posted 05-06-2006 10:32 AM ET (US)
I've pulled my son up on a cheap single ski several times, he weighs 140lb. Usually we have three including me in the boat, and I move everybody forward when starting. It does a better job than the Regal "Ski" boat did with a 4.3 liter V6. Jim
highanddry posted 05-07-2006 08:02 PM ET (US)
I think the comments here pretty much back up what I said. Nobody here is doing any sort of serious slalom or "hot dogging" behind a Montauk. Sure it will pull a skier, of course it will, we used to pull ourselves behind a 15 foot jon boat with a 15 horse Johnson and had a blast. Serious slalom skiers with competition skis running at real slalom speeds of 36 plus MPH or anyone interested in barefooting will find a Montauk completely lacking. J
highanddry posted 05-07-2006 08:14 PM ET (US)
I grew up sking. I competed slalom and even some tricks. I love to hotdog, jumping, helicopter turns walls of spray, and even today I can ski better than most. I have broken lines and yanked pylons out when going for 38 off. The Nantucket with 150 is barely adequate and it is not a very good ski boat. I am designing a pylon which will help greatly. Using a Connely Pilot "jumbo" slalon at 26 MPH I can pull the boat down to 22 on a hard cut. If my father is on the throttle he can almost compensate. Running 36 MPH on my classic Connelly Shortline competition slalon (circa 1976) I can yank the Nantucket around pretty good. A pylon would help stop that. My father, on the throttle, years of pulling skiers, can compensate and give me a reasonably steady 36 MPH speed even on my hardest cuts. I prefer sking on about a 60 foot line so I can get better lift for jumping. I have been clocked in my earlier times at over 60 MPH on slalom on a cut when the tow boat was holding a steady 36 on a shortline. The Nantucket does not have a lot of surplus power on the start, tabs would help here. I weigh about 180ish. My high performance sking days are behind me now. J
mikeyairtime posted 05-08-2006 09:52 AM ET (US)
So no one knows how to water ski huh? Dragging around? Upwards of 36 mph? All a male slalom skier needs is 36 and most go around 30. Dude, he's asking if the 170 will pull him on a slalom ski, not if he can ski tournaments with it. The 170 with Yamaha 4 stroke pulls me down the center bouys at a tick under 36 mph (wide open) and looses very little speed at 15' off. But that's just a regular old slalom run. What would I know.
mikeyairtime posted 05-08-2006 09:56 AM ET (US)
That's Mercury 90 hp 4 stroke, which is really a Yamaha.
highanddry posted 05-09-2006 04:29 AM ET (US)
"The 170 with Yamaha 4 stroke pulls me down the center bouys at a tick under 36 mph (wide open) and looses very little speed at 15' off. But that's just a regular old slalom run. What would I know. "
Well, what you know is that it CANNOT pull you at an actual 36 steady and that you have to run wide open to do that from your own words. I would not consider that acceptable for purchasing as a ski boat by some one who in the initial post claimed to like to water ski. I probably read to much into the post because of the pylon comment and that said person was a ski enthusiast.
Here is something though, those jumbo slaloms like the Pilot are meant to run at about 26 MPH and you can really cut up with them and it is easier on the baot and gas and on yo when you wipe out. J
Barney posted 05-09-2006 08:52 AM ET (US)
I don't ski myself, but my 20 year old son prefers wakeboarding behind our boat versus any kind of skiing. Much more fun he says. I like it as an operator because it's more controlled, a slower pace about 3500 RPM, and I can turn around in a small area and still pull him thru. Jim
Tom W Clark posted 05-09-2006 10:17 AM ET (US)
boxerdog,
The 170 Montauk will be just fine for your needs. Have fun.
highanddry posted 05-09-2006 01:49 PM ET (US)
I don't ski myself, but my 20 year old son prefers wakeboarding behind our boat versus any kind of skiing.
But that is an opinion that would not be shared by someone who be of the opinion that wake boarding is for the sissys with tatoos and tongue piercings. It is fun I am sure, but does not have the speed thrill of slalom. J
mikeyairtime posted 05-09-2006 08:04 PM ET (US)
I snow ski, my kids snowboard. I water ski, my kids wakeboard. I don't want to bum you out but by modern standards I'm an old geek.
Barney posted 05-09-2006 08:19 PM ET (US)
Just a suggestion,
looks fun anyway,
nope the boy ain't a sissy,
try something new you old farts!
My arms try to come off when I try,
If I could ski that would be a thrill in itself ;)
prm1177 posted 05-09-2006 09:26 PM ET (US)
We used to ski behind a 1965 13 with an Evinrude 33 HO 2 stroke. I think the issue would be if you like to jump wakes. the hull design of the Montauk will give you are relatively flat wake on plane.
That said, I used to pull skiers in a jet boat. Talk about the tail wagging the dog...
boxerdog posted 04-03-2007 09:08 AM ET (US)
OK.......thanks for all the input. Has anyone mounted a ski pylon on a new 170 Montauk? Is it possible?

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Author	Topic: Montauk 170 as Water Ski Boat
boxerdog	posted 04-25-2006 10:21 AM ET (US) Considering buying a new 170 Montauk. I'm 190 lbs and like to waterski. Has anyone tried to ski behind one on a slalom ski with 3 people (driver and spotter) in the boat? Mounted a pylon? Would get the boat with a max 90 HP. Currently selling an immaculate 1998 Dauntless w/150 and 2005 13'Sport to consolidate to one boat. Wondering if the boat will have enough power to tow me....Thanks for any info
mikeyairtime	posted 04-25-2006 02:28 PM ET (US) I'm 200 lbs and 6'4" and my 170 with 90HP 4 stroke pulls me no problem with my wife(who doesn't understand the trim control so I have to pre set it which doesn't help, love ya honey) and two kids. It doesn't pop me out of the water the way a tournament boat does but it works. We spend a week at the Colorado river every summer doing nothing but skiing with the 170.
mikeyairtime	posted 04-25-2006 02:29 PM ET (US) BTW, I have a pylon on my 170 as well.
bigjohn1	posted 04-25-2006 05:28 PM ET (US) I betcha that either Merc's High-five or the Trophy Plus 4-blade would go a long way towards improving the 170's ability to jerk up a skier.
jimh	posted 04-25-2006 08:30 PM ET (US) [Just like your other inquiry about the 170 MONTAUK, this article has been moved to the POST-CLASSIC discussion.]
jimh	posted 04-25-2006 08:47 PM ET (US) [Please use the POST-CLASSIC discussion to initiate discussions about Boston Whaler boats which were first designed and produced after c.1990.]
jimh	posted 04-25-2006 08:48 PM ET (US) Also see: http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/002621.html for more discussion of water skiing with a MONTAUK 170.
jumpjet231	posted 05-04-2006 08:50 PM ET (US) I'm 215 and my '96 with a 100 2s would get me out of the water after a little dragging. No pylon here.
highanddry	posted 05-05-2006 03:28 AM ET (US) I really doubt a Montauk could pull an agressive hot dog slalom skier. Slalom ski boat speeds range upwards of 36 MPH and barefoot speeds upward of 40. Are you talking about dragging around or real hot dogging. J
bigjohn1	posted 05-05-2006 08:50 AM ET (US) The real question is would a new Merc 90EFI on a light 170 Montauk jerk up a 190lb slalom skier and pull him at a descent recreational skiing speed. I'll assume you are on a 68-69" ski since you weigh 190lbs. Since the boat will have a flatter 4-stroke powerband, put a Merc High 5 prop on it. I would think you'd get PLENTY of low-end pulling power but perhaps only around 36-37 mph at the top end (since you're pulling a skier and have two passengers in the boat).
swist	posted 05-05-2006 11:36 AM ET (US) I waterskied once in my life. It was at a work outing. The tow boat (don't remember the make) had a 6 zillion horsepower engine. Even with the driver's best attempt at feathering the throttle, I was instantly jerked onto my stomach every time I tried. Monday morning, someone affixed a sign "The Whale" to my office door. I think I could get up behind my Mtk 170/90 hp.
Barney	posted 05-06-2006 10:32 AM ET (US) I've pulled my son up on a cheap single ski several times, he weighs 140lb. Usually we have three including me in the boat, and I move everybody forward when starting. It does a better job than the Regal "Ski" boat did with a 4.3 liter V6. Jim
highanddry	posted 05-07-2006 08:02 PM ET (US) I think the comments here pretty much back up what I said. Nobody here is doing any sort of serious slalom or "hot dogging" behind a Montauk. Sure it will pull a skier, of course it will, we used to pull ourselves behind a 15 foot jon boat with a 15 horse Johnson and had a blast. Serious slalom skiers with competition skis running at real slalom speeds of 36 plus MPH or anyone interested in barefooting will find a Montauk completely lacking. J
highanddry	posted 05-07-2006 08:14 PM ET (US) I grew up sking. I competed slalom and even some tricks. I love to hotdog, jumping, helicopter turns walls of spray, and even today I can ski better than most. I have broken lines and yanked pylons out when going for 38 off. The Nantucket with 150 is barely adequate and it is not a very good ski boat. I am designing a pylon which will help greatly. Using a Connely Pilot "jumbo" slalon at 26 MPH I can pull the boat down to 22 on a hard cut. If my father is on the throttle he can almost compensate. Running 36 MPH on my classic Connelly Shortline competition slalon (circa 1976) I can yank the Nantucket around pretty good. A pylon would help stop that. My father, on the throttle, years of pulling skiers, can compensate and give me a reasonably steady 36 MPH speed even on my hardest cuts. I prefer sking on about a 60 foot line so I can get better lift for jumping. I have been clocked in my earlier times at over 60 MPH on slalom on a cut when the tow boat was holding a steady 36 on a shortline. The Nantucket does not have a lot of surplus power on the start, tabs would help here. I weigh about 180ish. My high performance sking days are behind me now. J
mikeyairtime	posted 05-08-2006 09:52 AM ET (US) So no one knows how to water ski huh? Dragging around? Upwards of 36 mph? All a male slalom skier needs is 36 and most go around 30. Dude, he's asking if the 170 will pull him on a slalom ski, not if he can ski tournaments with it. The 170 with Yamaha 4 stroke pulls me down the center bouys at a tick under 36 mph (wide open) and looses very little speed at 15' off. But that's just a regular old slalom run. What would I know.
mikeyairtime	posted 05-08-2006 09:56 AM ET (US) That's Mercury 90 hp 4 stroke, which is really a Yamaha.
highanddry	posted 05-09-2006 04:29 AM ET (US) "The 170 with Yamaha 4 stroke pulls me down the center bouys at a tick under 36 mph (wide open) and looses very little speed at 15' off. But that's just a regular old slalom run. What would I know. " Well, what you know is that it CANNOT pull you at an actual 36 steady and that you have to run wide open to do that from your own words. I would not consider that acceptable for purchasing as a ski boat by some one who in the initial post claimed to like to water ski. I probably read to much into the post because of the pylon comment and that said person was a ski enthusiast. Here is something though, those jumbo slaloms like the Pilot are meant to run at about 26 MPH and you can really cut up with them and it is easier on the baot and gas and on yo when you wipe out. J
Barney	posted 05-09-2006 08:52 AM ET (US) I don't ski myself, but my 20 year old son prefers wakeboarding behind our boat versus any kind of skiing. Much more fun he says. I like it as an operator because it's more controlled, a slower pace about 3500 RPM, and I can turn around in a small area and still pull him thru. Jim
Tom W Clark	posted 05-09-2006 10:17 AM ET (US) boxerdog, The 170 Montauk will be just fine for your needs. Have fun.
highanddry	posted 05-09-2006 01:49 PM ET (US) I don't ski myself, but my 20 year old son prefers wakeboarding behind our boat versus any kind of skiing. But that is an opinion that would not be shared by someone who be of the opinion that wake boarding is for the sissys with tatoos and tongue piercings. It is fun I am sure, but does not have the speed thrill of slalom. J
mikeyairtime	posted 05-09-2006 08:04 PM ET (US) I snow ski, my kids snowboard. I water ski, my kids wakeboard. I don't want to bum you out but by modern standards I'm an old geek.
Barney	posted 05-09-2006 08:19 PM ET (US) Just a suggestion, looks fun anyway, nope the boy ain't a sissy, try something new you old farts! My arms try to come off when I try, If I could ski that would be a thrill in itself ;)
prm1177	posted 05-09-2006 09:26 PM ET (US) We used to ski behind a 1965 13 with an Evinrude 33 HO 2 stroke. I think the issue would be if you like to jump wakes. the hull design of the Montauk will give you are relatively flat wake on plane. That said, I used to pull skiers in a jet boat. Talk about the tail wagging the dog...
boxerdog	posted 04-03-2007 09:08 AM ET (US) OK.......thanks for all the input. Has anyone mounted a ski pylon on a new 170 Montauk? Is it possible?