CONTINUOUSWAVE

Q1: was there any improvement in the characteristics of the "ride" of a 2018 or newer 210 MONTAUK compared to earlier models?

Q2: if the "ride" was improved, then what characteristics of the "ride" of a 2018 or newer 210 MONTAUK were "improved" compared to earlier models?

BACKSTORY
I am interested in [that is, I may buy] a used and newly refreshed--but not a redesigned--2018 or newer 210 MONTAUK. From what I can tell hull dimensions and dead rise are the same [in a 2018 or newer 210 MONTAUK and in earlier models, except that the hull weight listed in the specification] increases 600-lbs in the newer models.

[Moderator’s note: The author used a term “2018+” where the “+” character has been interpreted to mean “or newer.” If some other meaning was intended, the author will need to explain further how readers should have interpreted the use of a plus sign to convey a meaning in a year date.]

Perhaps the newer models are rated for more horsepower or have greater fuel capacity. A T-Top could add substantial weight. Generally a heavier hull may ride slightly better in a chop than a lighter hull in the same hull size and design.

Ride qualities are often discussed but opinions are so diverse as to make the discussions worth little to a potential buyer. Ride quality is often highly improved by a more experienced captain.

The best if not only way to know is by taking a test ride in choppy conditions.

Ride factors are immaterial to me because I don't take a boat out unless conditions are pleasant.

I had a previous [unspecified model-year] 210 [MONTAUK]. [In 2025 I had a] 2025 model year [210 MONTAUK] with the re-designed hull.

Both [the 210 MONTAUK boats] were rated for 200-HP maximum. A 200-HP four-stroke-power-cycle engine is definitely needed. Both are great boats.

I am very happy with my new [2025] model [year 210 MONTAUK] .

A 210 MONTAUK is a 21-foot boat with an 8.5-foot beam and a moderate V-hull design. The way the boat is operated and the sea state it is operated in are the primary determinants of the "ride characteristics", more so than any small change in the hull running surface design that might have occurred in a refresh of the model in which the most observable difference is a weight gain of 600-lbs.

Exactly what element of a hull's behavior when underway is to be considered as the desired element of its "ride" is also quite variable and depends on how the owner wants to use the boat.

I am looking for opinions on "pounding" or the lack thereof in let [us] say a two-feet chop.

I understand a sea trial would be helpful, however to have all conditions come together on a pre-planned sea trial will take some luck.

I also have nothing to compare the ride to since I have never owned that model.

The original 210 Montauk was introduced in 2012, and its specified hull weight was 2,500-lbs (without an engine and without T-Top).

The redesigned hull was introduced midyear in 2018 and had a specified hull weight of 2,600-lbs, meaning only a 100-lbs increase for the redesigned hull.

I have owned both models, and they handle chop well for a 21-foot boat.

The [two] 210 Montauk boats have been the best boats [of my six other prior Boston Whaler models I have owned) for me and my wife for boating on the upper Chesapeake Bay, where it is often a little choppy.

The best of luck with your boat buying

There is a very significant difference in the reported change in weight between the original 210 MONTAUK hull and the post-2018 210 MONTAUK hull, where we now have one account saying the weight change was 600-lbs and a second account saying the weight change was only 100-lbs.

Inasmuch as the only element of the hull change that has been reported in this thread is a change in the weight of the hull, and that change is now reported as only 100-lbs, there is little basis to consider that the change in weight could have caused any significant change in the still somewhat nebulous characteristic of the boat called "ride."

Since the newer model hull is said to be specified to weight 2,600-lbs, a variation in weight of 100-lbs among hulls produced in the same mold with the same design would be a variation of only 3.8-percent in total weight. I don't know the exact tolerance used by Boston Whaler for determining if a newly molded hull is within the design tolerance for weight, but I suspect that a variation of plus or minus 50-lbs from the target weight--now only a 1.9-precent variation--might be tolerated. Then between any two particular hulls of the same model year you might have a 100-lbs weight difference.

The most direct influence of weight on the performance of a boat is the ability to produce boat speed for a certain horsepower, but the influence is only to the square root of the ratio. So if the ratio is 1:1.038 or 0.9634, then the effect on speed would be a decrease by a factor of 0.98 or about 2-percent. In other words, if the 210 MONTAUK with 200-HP engine were originally a 40-MPH boat, then if the weight increased to 100-lbs the speed would decrease to 39.3-MPH, or a loss of only 0.7-MPH, which is about the normal range of certainty when measuring with a GPS device. And here we are using just the bare hull weight, while an actual boat is going to weigh at least 3,500-lbs when underway with fuel, engine, people, and gear aboard, if not more. The real-world influence will be even smaller, probably less than 0.5-MPH difference.

As far as a weight difference of 100-lbs in boats whose total weight is going to be over 3,500-lbs, that can easily occur in the weight of the occupants of a 21-foot boat.

If the theory is a weight change of 100-lbs is going to influence the "ride" of a boat, we better start asking about how much the people on the boat weigh.

My account regarding hull weight is taken directly from the Boston Whaler brochures that used to be provided at the dealerships. They stopped printing the very nice colored brochures a few years ago (just about everything is online now). I have most of the old brochures dating back to 2007. They are a good source of information and specifications on each available model for the specific year.