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Author Topic:   2008 170 MONTAUK 170 Refresh

jimh posted 02-20-2008 09:02 AM ET (US)
I recently learned that the Boston Whaler 170 MONTAUK has received a slight "refresh" of its molds, and there are a few subtle differences in the 2008 models.
There were no changes to the hull design, however the topsides did receive a few modifications. Perhaps the most notable is a change in the non-skid texture. The new non-skid is reported to be easier to clean. Previously there had been some discussion here about the former non-skid being able to get a tenacious grip not only on your boat shoes but also on dirt.
The height of the center console has been increased slightly. As we know from the classic Montauk, many taller owners have preferred a higher helm console and have raised them as much as four inches. The 170 MONTAUK in 2008 has a slightly taller console. I don't have the exact dimensions, perhaps two inches.
There are also some changes in the interior compartments at the stern, but I am a little hazy on the precise details. I believe the changes were related to the depth of the sump and other elements of what you might call the boat's bilge.
I also observed that the price of the 170 MONTAUK has grown from its introduction in 2002. Back then it was a $17,400 boat, but now is offered around $24,000. At least $3,000 of this increase is due to the change to a four-cycle outboard with electronic fuel injection from a two-cycle outboard with carburetors. Much of the rest of the increase is reflective of a very sharp rise in the price of the materials used to make the boat, particularly the fiberglass resins, whose prices have increased at the same sort of rate as other petroleum products like gasoline.
Feejer posted 02-20-2008 10:26 AM ET (US)
I did not notice the change to the console height. I did notice the change to the floor under the RPS, gone are the 3 brackets that hold the RPS in place. They now have a molded floor onto which the seat in now attached. The swim platform looks a lot stronger and they have add a grab rail, which I will be ordering for my 05.
BlueMax posted 02-20-2008 11:33 AM ET (US)
I am currently dealing with Carver industries on a custom boat cover for my 2007 MT170.. info from them in correspondence is that the 2008 console may be 6" taller. Also from my seeing the 2008 170 on display in a mall center court, the swim platform is indeed slightly modified and the grab rail is now more of a cleat type "handle" inbedded (recessed) in the stern whereas the 2007 is more of a one piece mounting bracket and handle combo for the platform. Offhand I prefer the 2007 setup because you can grab the bracket rail from the water and get yourself stable to climb as it extends to outer part of platform - with the 2008 you have to reah over the entire platform to grab the rail on the back of the boat (might be harder to do for smaller/younger kids). I would like to have the 2007 grab rail design and the 2008 embedded handle to grab as I come up out of the water.
Additionally I noticed that the bow cleat for the 2008 is placed more toward interior of boat and "sunken" into the boday ("recessed" may be a better term) and is turned perpendicular to the bow, whereas the 2007 sits atop and is in line with boat centerline (oriented as pointing aft to stern vice port to starboard with the 2008).
Also, I believe the rear seating/steps have changed slightly but I don't remember just exactly the difference off hand - just remember them seeming to be a bit more boater convenient/friendly. I think you can also get a rear bench seat instead on the 2008.
Of course 2008 also added the live well option...
BlueMax posted 02-20-2008 11:38 AM ET (US)
ummm - pointing bow to stern, or forward to aft, orientation of 2007 bow cleat.... :-)
GreatBayNH posted 02-20-2008 04:01 PM ET (US)
According to Chuck Bennett at Boston Whaler the RPS on the 2008 Montauk 170 has a 1" increase in cushion height from previous Montauk 170 years.
Mambo Minnow posted 02-20-2008 04:48 PM ET (US)
A friend purchased a 2008 170. I have commented before that I like the new non-skid pattern and find it is easier to clean. The console is not only taller, but has a "notch" for large footed folks such as myself to stand more comfortably behind the helm.
Overall, refinements are nice incremental improvements.
BlueMax posted 02-20-2008 05:58 PM ET (US)
When all else fails.... search the site. Or... to avoid failure... search the site. (actually I came across this link on a google search for something else!)
Here is our own forum's discussion on 2008 170 Montauk started by gbcbu:
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/014685.html

gbcbu's pictures including 2008 MT170 swim platform (the handle is not embedded as I stated previously)
http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa308/gbcbu/
jimh posted 02-20-2008 10:21 PM ET (US)
Here is the official announcement. I must have slept through it when it first came out!
http://www.whaler.com/Rec/pdfs/170_MT_release.pdf
Marsh posted 02-24-2008 09:44 PM ET (US)
At our local boat show recently, Marine Max displayed the new 170 Montauk with a "show special" price of only $29,995.
It did have a nice bait tank installed aft, atop the bilge pump/plug access area. I asked how one would remove the bilge plug, or service the bilge pump, and received only puzzled looks in return.
CW

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Author	Topic: 2008 170 MONTAUK 170 Refresh
jimh	posted 02-20-2008 09:02 AM ET (US) I recently learned that the Boston Whaler 170 MONTAUK has received a slight "refresh" of its molds, and there are a few subtle differences in the 2008 models. There were no changes to the hull design, however the topsides did receive a few modifications. Perhaps the most notable is a change in the non-skid texture. The new non-skid is reported to be easier to clean. Previously there had been some discussion here about the former non-skid being able to get a tenacious grip not only on your boat shoes but also on dirt. The height of the center console has been increased slightly. As we know from the classic Montauk, many taller owners have preferred a higher helm console and have raised them as much as four inches. The 170 MONTAUK in 2008 has a slightly taller console. I don't have the exact dimensions, perhaps two inches. There are also some changes in the interior compartments at the stern, but I am a little hazy on the precise details. I believe the changes were related to the depth of the sump and other elements of what you might call the boat's bilge. I also observed that the price of the 170 MONTAUK has grown from its introduction in 2002. Back then it was a $17,400 boat, but now is offered around $24,000. At least $3,000 of this increase is due to the change to a four-cycle outboard with electronic fuel injection from a two-cycle outboard with carburetors. Much of the rest of the increase is reflective of a very sharp rise in the price of the materials used to make the boat, particularly the fiberglass resins, whose prices have increased at the same sort of rate as other petroleum products like gasoline.
Feejer	posted 02-20-2008 10:26 AM ET (US) I did not notice the change to the console height. I did notice the change to the floor under the RPS, gone are the 3 brackets that hold the RPS in place. They now have a molded floor onto which the seat in now attached. The swim platform looks a lot stronger and they have add a grab rail, which I will be ordering for my 05.
BlueMax	posted 02-20-2008 11:33 AM ET (US) I am currently dealing with Carver industries on a custom boat cover for my 2007 MT170.. info from them in correspondence is that the 2008 console may be 6" taller. Also from my seeing the 2008 170 on display in a mall center court, the swim platform is indeed slightly modified and the grab rail is now more of a cleat type "handle" inbedded (recessed) in the stern whereas the 2007 is more of a one piece mounting bracket and handle combo for the platform. Offhand I prefer the 2007 setup because you can grab the bracket rail from the water and get yourself stable to climb as it extends to outer part of platform - with the 2008 you have to reah over the entire platform to grab the rail on the back of the boat (might be harder to do for smaller/younger kids). I would like to have the 2007 grab rail design and the 2008 embedded handle to grab as I come up out of the water. Additionally I noticed that the bow cleat for the 2008 is placed more toward interior of boat and "sunken" into the boday ("recessed" may be a better term) and is turned perpendicular to the bow, whereas the 2007 sits atop and is in line with boat centerline (oriented as pointing aft to stern vice port to starboard with the 2008). Also, I believe the rear seating/steps have changed slightly but I don't remember just exactly the difference off hand - just remember them seeming to be a bit more boater convenient/friendly. I think you can also get a rear bench seat instead on the 2008. Of course 2008 also added the live well option...
BlueMax	posted 02-20-2008 11:38 AM ET (US) ummm - pointing bow to stern, or forward to aft, orientation of 2007 bow cleat.... :-)
GreatBayNH	posted 02-20-2008 04:01 PM ET (US) According to Chuck Bennett at Boston Whaler the RPS on the 2008 Montauk 170 has a 1" increase in cushion height from previous Montauk 170 years.
Mambo Minnow	posted 02-20-2008 04:48 PM ET (US) A friend purchased a 2008 170. I have commented before that I like the new non-skid pattern and find it is easier to clean. The console is not only taller, but has a "notch" for large footed folks such as myself to stand more comfortably behind the helm. Overall, refinements are nice incremental improvements.
BlueMax	posted 02-20-2008 05:58 PM ET (US) When all else fails.... search the site. Or... to avoid failure... search the site. (actually I came across this link on a google search for something else!) Here is our own forum's discussion on 2008 170 Montauk started by gbcbu: http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/014685.html gbcbu's pictures including 2008 MT170 swim platform (the handle is not embedded as I stated previously) http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa308/gbcbu/
jimh	posted 02-20-2008 10:21 PM ET (US) Here is the official announcement. I must have slept through it when it first came out! http://www.whaler.com/Rec/pdfs/170_MT_release.pdf
Marsh	posted 02-24-2008 09:44 PM ET (US) At our local boat show recently, Marine Max displayed the new 170 Montauk with a "show special" price of only $29,995. It did have a nice bait tank installed aft, atop the bilge pump/plug access area. I asked how one would remove the bilge plug, or service the bilge pump, and received only puzzled looks in return. CW