2018 170 Montauk for Long Island Sound Angling

[CTJackC]

The backstory:

I always loved the look of a Boston Whaler Montauk. I presently have a 20-foot Maritime Skiff. It's been a great boat, but I'm looking for my last boat. I'm very much into inshore fishing in Long Island Sound out of Westbrook, Connecticut. A typical trip for me is to run to the middle of Long Island Sound for a variety of fish species.

The 20 Maritime has been a good boat. It has a T-Top and RADAR. I have put some money into it, and re-powered it in 2013. A typical trip for me is to run out to the middle of Long Island Sound when it's not overly rough: flat seas or two to three-foot seas with some rip lines that can be a bit nasty. Wind against sea can easily create six-foot standing waves. The goal in these conditions is to stay out of the rip lines when the rip is up. My typical trip has me running seven miles from my slip to the middle of Long Island Sound, over the border into New York water, off to various waypoints, then a run home.

I just turned 60-years-old, and one of my buddies has a joke about getting new vehicles and boats before retirement--which might be from one to five years away. I just took care of getting a new truck, and I've been pondering a new boat.

The question:

In two to three-footers in Long Island Sound, how good is a 170 MONTAUK?

I'm looking for comments on the seakeeping ability of a 170 MONTAUK and its ability to run a 20-mile round trip in two to three-footers with some rip lines that need to be navigated.

Typically, I have one or two other guys with me. As I get older, trips could end up being solo adventurers--thus the interest in the 170. I could picture mounting a small radar outside the bimini top, but a T Top on the 17 would not work out well.

The price point on the new 2018 17 Montauk is interesting--not cheap but I would consider to be a good value.

Tomorrow I'm planning on kicking the tires on a 170 MONTAUK. It might be too small overall, but I do like the look of the 2018 version. I realize the 17 has been upgraded for 2018 and is a bit beefier--thus my interest.

I visit this site all the time but have not registered before. Thanks--Jack

[jimh]

Three-foot seas or six-foot standing waves sound rough, and too rough for any 17-foot boat. If you really need to be out there in those conditions, I'd think you would want something bigger than a 170 MONTAUK.

If you keep the boat in the water, I don't see a huge incentive to get a smaller boat. For me, the attraction of a boat like a 170 MONTAUK is the ease of launching it and loading it at a boat ramp, and the ability to tow it on the highway without a monster truck.

If you are considering a smaller boat, you probably cannot find anything much better than a 170 MONTAUK. But you should take a ride in one in your local waters in your usual conditions, and then decide how well it handles Long Island Sound. In the 1970's I used to race sailboats out in the middle of the Sound, but it was typically in the summer and I don't remember any six-footers or even three-footers. But I was a lot younger and really gung-ho for sailboat racing, so I probably ignored any rough ride.

[CTJackC]

Agreed on the fact that its likely a bit too small. And you are correct it would be in a slip versus on the trailer. One of the dangers of boat shopping on a computer during the winter.

Once you move out of the Western Sound sea conditions become much more sporty.

Thanks for the response.

Jack

[jimh]

Jack--you should read the following two articles related to the 170 MONTAUK:

--the REFERENCE section article on the 170 MONTAUK when it was first announced:

--CETACEA Page 58 describing one of the very first buyers; who used the boat in the Long Island Sound area out of Branford, Connecticut.

[Phil T]

For Long Island Sound, I would take your money and buy a used Montauk 190 or a late model Nantucket/Outrage 190.

The added LOA and weight will make it great for the chop and slop.

You can also add a T-Top, radar etc.

[vze2gbs4]

Another vote for 190 OUTRAGE--a better choice for Long island waters--period.

[CTJackC]

Thanks for the responses. I'll be checking out the 190 Outrage

Jack

[Whalerdog]

I have a 19 Montauk and familiar with Long Island waters. Doubt you want to be in any waters bigger than 3' in a 17' will three people. Can you use the 17? Sure but your trips many cut short due to weather conditions or limited. Get a 19 or an Outrageous. May be a newly repowered Whaler. Yes you can get 6'+ waves in the sound and bigger.

[jimh]

According to the WAVE GENERATION CALCULATOR at the website

https://swellbeat.com/wave-calculator/

the conditions necessary to generate a wind wave of height (crest to trough) of just over 6-feet are as follows:

SUSTAINED WIND SPEED: 25-knots
PERIOD OF WIND = 6-hours
DISTANCE or FETCH = 50-miles (80-kilometers)

If I own a 17-foot boat and I observe that the wind has been blowing at 25-knots for 6-hours and there is a 50-mile fetch, I probably won't be heading out for any sort of pleasure boating in those conditions.

[Pointow]

Long Island Sound Angler,

This is the first time I have posted to the “new” site but I saw your question about Long Island Sound (LIS) and I wanted to chime in.

I have a 2008 190 Montauk and run all over LIS. I have traveled as far as Sag Harbor, Montauk and Block Island. I pick my days but as long as you watch the weather, you can go anywhere. The afternoon two footers from the southwest can be a drag to get through but you can make it. You just have to trim the engine up a little and take it slow. I think this would be a perfect size for you as it relates to traveling around as well as the fishability. I have some friends with the 170 and their range (with comfort) is not has wide.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your move.

Pointow

[CTJackC]

Thanks for the input on the 190. A 190 or 210 would make more sense. I was somewhat intrigued by the 170 Anniversary Edition. I definitely need the Radar for my fishing grounds, and that would be a bit of a challenge to install in the 17. Fog is challenging when you are close to shore but when you are in mid-sound with commercial traffic and careless boaters around you it is a necessity.

Jack

[vze2gbs4]

Jack: I've had them all--almost every model under 27-feet and over 60 Boston Whalers.

I boat in Jersey and Long Island. Get a 2002 to 2008 210 OUTRAGE. Not only is it the best boat for these waters, I think it is the best Boston Whaler ever made.

No MONTAUK of any size would come close to the ride comfort of a 210 OUTRAGE. They are becoming extremely hard to find. Just like any incredible hull of any maker people, just dont give them up easy anymore. I noticed this trend in the last two year. I closely follow the market for used Boston Whaler boats.

[CTJackC]

I'll start the search for the 21 Outrage.

Thanks for the heads up.

Jack

[jimh]

I'll start the search for the 21 Outrage.

The 21 OUTRAGE and 210 OUTRAGE are different boats.