2004 ALERT 17 Removal of Railings

[fishingproblems]

Q1: would removing the railing from a 2004 ALERT 17 in order reduce the chance of snagging the line on them while fly fishing be a bad move?

BACKSTORY
I have found a boat at a favorable price that I might buy, a 2004 ALERT 17, which is a commercial version of the Montauk 170. If I were to buy the ALERT 17 I would use it on lakes and on the California Delta and for guided fly fishing.

[Jefecinco]

If you don't find the railing to be useful you can remove it. However, I doubt the railing would be much of a snagging problem, especially if it is a one piece railing. You could fly fish from the boat with the railing in place before making a decision.

If you remove the railing I recommend you store it where it won't be damaged for installation by a new owner or if your fishing style changes.

[jimh]

People have been angling from a MONTAUK 17 with railings for as long as there have been MONTAUK 17 and anglers.

Typically a fly fishing rod is much longer than an typical spinning rod. I don't see how the railing would get in the way.

I agree with JEFECINCO--before going to the trouble of removing the existing railing on the ALERT 17, you should try it out with your fly fishing rods.

Also, I emphatically agree that were you to remove the railing, you should do it in a manner that leaves the railing in perfect condition and ready to be re-installed, as typically having the railing is much preferred for a Montauk 17 size boat.

ASIDE:
If the ALERT 17 is available at a favorable price, it has probably already been sold, as a good deal on an ALERT 17 is hard to find.

[fishingproblems]

I agree with JEFECINCO--before going to the trouble of removing the existing railing on the ALERT 17, you should try it out with your fly fishing rods....If the ALERT 17 is available at a favorable price, it has probably already been sold, as a good deal on an ALERT 17 is hard to find.

You’re right. I need to try [casting with my fly rods] first. I just hope the [fly rod's line] line doesn't wrap around [the ALERT 17 railings]

[The ALERT 17 boat is] coming up to me for a test drive in one week. It’s a friend's boat, the price is favorable, and the opportunity is amazing.

[fishingproblems]

I can report that after a nice cast with the fly rod, the line wrapped around the bow railing. I will need to remove the bow railing, but I don't want to have to use epoxy resin to fill and block the hole.

Q2: what could be done to allow for the the railing to be removed but then reinstalled when I want to use the 2004 ALERT 17 boat in the ocean?

Q3: could “filler” stainless steel pan head screws [fill the holes in the gunwales where the removed railing was mounted] until the railing comes back on?

[jimh]

Q2: what could be done to allow for the railing to be removed but then reinstalled when I want to use the 2004 ALERT 17 boat in the ocean?

Q3: could “filler” stainless steel pan head screws [fill the holes in the gunwales where the removed railing was mounted] until the railing comes back on?

If you are repeatedly going to remove and install the bow railing, the screw fasteners should not be self-tapping type screws. You will soon ruin the threads in the hull.

The rail mounting base screws should be changed to machine screws—if they are not already machine screws as used in the original assembly. In that way the threads in the gunwale or deck will not be re-cut by a self-tapping screw.

The best way to accomplish that will be to drill the existing mounting holes in the deck and gunwales to a slightly larger diameter, fill them with thickened epoxy resin, drill a new pilot hole, and using a tap, cut threads into the hole for a suitable fine-pitch machine screw.

ASIDE

Are you reporting that you purchased the 2004 ALERT 17 boat?

Also, the plan to remove and later reinstall the bow railing does not seem very workable. The more impediments to using a boat there are, the less the boat will be used.

[Jefecinco]

Before proceeding any further with removing the bow railing you may want to consider fly fishing from other positions in the boat. I've seen several purpose built fly fishing boats which are equipped with "casting platforms". The platforms are installed at the bow and stern ends of the boats and are about a foot higher than the surrounding area. The platforms closely resemble a four leg stool with deck mounted sockets to accommodate the legs.

I do not fly fish, but I've watched others practicing the art. There seems to be a forward and rearward casting method in order to place the fly farther forward than is possible with a single forward cast. Is your line wrapping around the bow rail when the rearward cast is made? Would a longer fly rod help?

[fishingproblems]

Decided to keep the rails after a season on the boat. The rail definitely likes to grab the line after a nice long double haul at times but I think casting buckets will help prevent that. Have had young clients, older clients, people with balance, people without balance, calm conditions and rough conditions…the rail stays on. Keeps people in the boat. If it were just me fishing off of the boat, I’d take it off. I’ve got good balance and would prefer the look over the rails but safety is number one. What a boat…I am in love.