2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Repair or modification of Boston Whaler boats, their engines, trailers, and gear
tomolalla
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2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Postby tomolalla » Thu Mar 24, 2022 10:27 am

I'm considering putting about a 10-gallon bait tank on the outboard face of the transom of a 2003 MONTAUK 17 where it would be workable and would not clutter the deck.

If anyone has put a 10-gallon bait tank on the transom of a MONTAUK 17, please tell me how the boat's handling was affected.

Give me an educated-opinion about my idea.

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Re: 2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Postby Jefecinco » Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:05 am

If you don't need a large amount of bait or a large bait tank. A five-gallon utility bucket with lid and air pump in the cockpit works very well. We secure ours with a bungee cord. If we are angling from both ends of the boat we secure it approximately midships, otherwise we just keep it handy.
Butch

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Phil T
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Re: 2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Postby Phil T » Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:19 am

I am yet to see or read of this being tried--probably for good reasons.

With an additional 83-lbs or more installed on the aft corner, the hull would have a permanent list that would need to be countered by sufficient ballast installed on the opposing side of the hull.

I would test by adding 83- lbs on top of the swim platform temporarily and operate the boat. I am concerned how the hull would handle in swells and two-foot-waves.

Verify the swim platform can handle the weight. I highly doubt the factory offered swim platform can handle it for very long. A custom platform may need to be designed and fabricated.
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Re: 2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Postby Vance's Revenge » Thu Mar 24, 2022 12:19 pm

tomolalla wrote:I'm considering putting about a 10-gallon bait tank on a 2003 MONTAUK 17...


Adding a bait tank to the swim platform is very common here out west. The bait tanks need to drain over the side or through drain tubes, so puitting the bait tank on the swim platform makes draining easy.

On a 22-foot [non-Boston Whaler boat] I had 17-gallon bait tank on the swim platform. In that application the swim platform is part of the buoyancy bracket for the outboard, similar to a Whaler Drive, and the weight of the bait tank was not a problem.

I think that Phil's suggestion of pre-loading and testing your swim platform is the way to go.

Phil is also correct in the fact that you will most likely need to reinforce your platform or replace it with something stronger.

If your boat handles fine with the added weight, [locating the bait tank as proposed] would be well worth your effort.

tomolalla
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Re: 2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Postby tomolalla » Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:00 am

I assumed that if people were hanging auxiliary propulsion motors that were 80-lbs or more on the transom their boats, then putting a bait tank off the stern would work, too.

I found information on the Montauk 17 boat and auxiliary propulsion engine mounting. The problem boiled down to the post-2001 Montauk [perhaps means 170 MONTAUK, a completely different model than the classic 17 MONTAUK] did not incorporate wood or other support material into the starboard transom for hanging a kicker, or in my case a live well. It is not recommended by Boston Whaler.

Although there is support on the port side where my swim platform currently resides. I don't want to lose my platform so my transom bait tank idea is now history.

I haven't bought the boat yet for which I was considering this modification, so now I may just look for a different Montauk that has the bait tank option, in front of the motor well.

Did Boston Whaler ever added support to the starboard side of the transom after 2001 to allow the mounting of auxiliary propulsion engines?

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Phil T
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Re: Bait Tank on 17 Montauk Swim Platform

Postby Phil T » Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:18 am

Consider a Montauk 170. They started to offer a baitwell or livewell option forward of the splashwell in 2007.

2008_Montauk_170_livewell.jpg
Fig. 1. A 2008 170 MONTAUK with the optional stern livewell set forward of the engine splash well.
2008_Montauk_170_livewell.jpg (65.3 KiB) Viewed 2028 times


The Montauk 170 is a much better riding and handling boat. It is still 17-feet, and it can be handled solo.
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Re: 2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Postby jimh » Fri Mar 25, 2022 12:24 pm

If you really want a bait tank on a MONTAUK, getting a recently-made 170 MONTAUK with that option would be the best approach.

Or try the 5-gallon Home Depot Orange Bucket and very small pump method--it will be a lot less expensive.

The original 17-foot MONTAUK boat is referred to as the MONTAUK 17, and the completely different newer model that appeared c.2002 is called the 170 MONTAUK. Please use those descriptors when discussing these two different boats, otherwise readers will become confused. In this discussion, I am not sure which boat you are discussing with your proposed modification to add a live well to the outboard face of the transom.

I don't think there was a classic MONTAUK 17 offered or made in 2003, but if there was, it would be a rare model. The new c.2002 170 MONTAUK was about to take over, and the pricing for the new model made it quite attractive.

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Re: 2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Postby tomolalla » Fri Mar 25, 2022 2:03 pm

Phil, thanks for the info and photo regarding when the Montauk 170 ( I remembered the zero) started offering the bait tank option. Did they also start offering the below deck gas tank at the same time? I'd love to find a good used 170 with both.

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Phil T
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Re: 2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Postby Phil T » Fri Mar 25, 2022 2:34 pm

The production history of the Montauk 170 includes three epochs.

2003-2007 Introduction, first generation.

2008-2017 Minor redesign of RPS and Console, introduction of rear bait-well option.

2018 and later Redesign including change in hull, introduced recessed fuel tank, seating, cushion, railing, rubrail and other feature changes.115hp engine offered as an option. Referred to as as the Montauk 170 II by some.
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Re: 2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Postby jimh » Fri Mar 25, 2022 7:05 pm

I have updated the REFERENCE article on the 170 MONTAUK to mention of the end of production of the original model.

The 2018 170 MONTAUK is already discussed in great detail at

https://continuouswave.com/forum/viewto ... f=4&t=2588

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Re: 2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Postby Masbama » Sun Mar 27, 2022 10:31 pm

If you want to use live shrimp bait (like we do here in Mobile), you should know that the bait tanks that Boston Whaler offers in the 170 Montauk are not insulated and do not have recirculating water pumps.

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Phil T
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Re: 2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Postby Phil T » Mon Mar 28, 2022 1:48 pm

Mas -

Can you retrofit the pump/switch to recirculate?

I presume you can uninstall it and use spray foam to add insulation.
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Masbama
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Re: 2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Postby Masbama » Mon Mar 28, 2022 8:00 pm

Phil:
I bet one could do a retrofit and spray foam insulation on a bait tank.
Great ideas!

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Re: 2003 MONTAUK 17 Bait Tank Location

Postby Jefecinco » Tue Mar 29, 2022 9:53 am

It's surprising the 170 Montauk live bait well lacks a recirculating water pump. Our 190 Montauk live bait well was supplied with sea water via a through hull fitting piping and a circulating pump to maintain oxygen levels in the bait well water and to keep the water at the same temperature as the surrounding water.

When fishing in Mobile Bay during hot weather we would put small soft drink bottles containing ice in the well. Keeping a few dozen shrimp alive in the well for several hours could be a challenge. On our Dauntless 16 which lacked a well we used the standard five gallon bucket/live bait well. It required frequent water replenishment and cooling to keep the shrimp alive.

The most serious anglers and some professional guides use bottled oxygen to maintain sufficient oxygen in their wells. I would be hesitant to introduce pure oxygen into the cockpit of a powerboat. They use welding oxygen but flash fires or explosions would continue to be a concern for me.
Butch