Q1: For anyone familiar with the eastern Long Island, how far offshore can you go in a 17-footer?
BACKSTORY
I am based out of Three Mile Harbor with a MONTAUK 17, and I think I was the only boat on a trailer in their yard in 2025. Our second season with the MONTAUK 17 will be 2026. In 2025 we just had an absolute blast. I am looking forward to another season as the days get longer. In 2025 I stayed pretty close to [a landmark identified only as] the point. We had plenty of fun, and I am curious to hear other stories.
--SB
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MONTAUK 17: Eastern Long Island Offshore Use
Re: MONTAUK 17: Eastern Long Island Offshore Use
I've never owned a 17-footer. But my 1976 15-footer has been about 12-miles offshore in Lake Superior while exploring the Apostle Islands.sbbreen wrote:Q1: For anyone familiar with the eastern Long Island, how far offshore have you gone in a 17-footer?
There are a few old photographs that show very large oceanic pelagic fish landed on a Boston Whaler 16/17-foot hull. See Figure 1 below:
- Fig. 1. A large swordfish or marlin in the bow of a Boston Whaler 16/17-footer, probably c.1960-1970. The hull registration might be MD for Maryland or MS for Massachusetts. This image appeared in THE WHALER BOOK by Matthew Plunkett, but I do not have any attribution for the original photographer.
- MontaukSwordFish.jpeg (74.1 KiB) Viewed 1276 times
I think anglers were a bit crazier back then. Now they seek those type of fish with 45-foot (or larger) sport fishing yachts. But in the way back, going offshore in a 17-foot outboard MONTAUK boat was possible, and still is now. You just have to pick your days.
- Fig. 2. A more modern era photo used by Boston Whaler in a 1984 catalogue, showing a MONTAUK 17 with a substantial Tuna in the aft cockpit.
- MONTAUK17withLargeTuna.jpg (71.43 KiB) Viewed 1275 times
Modern outboard engines are quite reliable, so going over the horizon with a single-engine 17-footer might be even a bit safer now than it was 42-years ago.