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I have a 79' Montauk looking to rebuild the hatch, does any one have the original measurements for it, or a idea where to source?

Thanks.

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I don't know this to be a fact but Nautical Lumber makes a lot of these parts for us and they are a site sponsor here. Being a new BW owner myself I don't know if the 1979 has a teak cover or the starboard type. I am sure the cover on my 1974 is different so I can't help you with actual measurements.

Gary

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The Montauk originally came with a Teak bow locker cover from 1976 to 1988 smirked hulls.
You can view many of these in the members personal page section. Link is on the left sidebar.
See this photo to view an original Teak Bow Locker Cover:
http://www.whalercentral.com/images/p...%20016.jpg

Somewhere in 1988 these factory locker covers were changed to molded fiberglass covers with non-skid.

See this list of Montauk information.
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...icle_id=17

NOTE: the first fiberglass locker cover we have listed is in October of 1988 as a 1989 year model.

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Thanks for the feedback.

It was a teak hatch, seems to have dry rotted due to the moisture that collects in the anchor well. I wish the anchor box would have drained into the boat, instead of the thru hull drain set-up, seems really tough to keep dry with rain or dripage from a wet line. Has anyone found a good solution to this?

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Looking at the locker cover in the link Joe has posted, it seems there may be two different sizes for the bow locker cover, unless there is a lot of camera distortion. I don't know the year of the boat Joe is posting, but it looks different than the cover from a 1979 Montauk, for which I have the following dimensions. As a starter, the '79 cover has only three center boards, instead of four, so it may be narrower.

For the '79, it is the same overall shape and construction as shown in the link, basically a symetrical trapezoid with four rounded corners.

Projecting the corners out to sharp points, the height of the trapezoid is 23-3/4". This is the bow to stern "depth"(or height) of the cover. The base of the trapezoid is 29", and the top of the trapezoid is 17". The base corners are rounded off with a 1/2" radius, and the top corners are rounded off with a radius of 1-1/8". The cover is made of teak boards 11/16" thick, and the underside cross bracing strips are 2-3/8 x 3/4".

The top and bottom edges have an edging piece 1" wide, which can be seen in the photo.These are countersunk screwed and glued into the end grain of the "v" boarding.(2 screws into each board) I assume #10 x 2" screws were used. In the manufacturing process, I assume this would be the last step.

There are three (the photo shows there are four, but that is not correct for '79 boat) rectangular center boards, all with a 1/4" 45 detree bevel edge, creating a "v" groove. (the boards are NOT tongue and grooved and you can sometimes see light between them) The center one is 4-1/4" wide, while the ones on each side of center are 4-3/8". Length of all three is 21-3/4". There is a 1" diameter lifting hole in the center board, 4" centerline from the base edge of the cover.

Finally, there are the two right angle trapezoidal boards forming each side, as shown in photo. The dimensions of these can be figured out from the other dimensions I have given.

Turning the cover over, it is all held together by two cross braces (port to starboard direction), as mentioned above. The top edge of the top one is 3" down from top of cover. The bottom edge of the one at the bottom is 3-1/8" up from bottom of cover. The ends of the cross braces are cut parallel to the cover's edges, 1" back, and of the proper length to hold the cover in postion and prevent side to side movement when in place. These two cross braces are basically what holds the entire cover together. Each surface board is held in place by 4 countersunk and pegged screws into the bottom side of the cover boards. I also assume some glue might have benn used. Hence the bottom brace contains 20 countersunk screws (1-1/4" x #10 flat head) and the top brace has 16 (only two screws into the top of the outside trapezoidal boards at the top)

So there you have it. Now apply 10 coats of Z-Spar Flagship varnish and you will have a work of art!

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I get amazed every time I join these threads! All I know is what I have with my 1974 Montauk 17 and I expect the 1973 thru 1976 models to be very similar.

It sure does not look that way. Mine has a bow/anchor locker the same as shown in member Patrickm's personal page of his 1973.
My 1974 cover is fiberglass with no skid and finger grip cut outs to match those in the locker.

I see others in the member photos of 1975 & 1976 models that appear to have Teak covers and even different sizes and shapes. Lionheart's, & Paulsv's appear to be different.

I wish I had mine in a condition to post pics so I could figure out how to enter my members page. I have a lot of work to do over this winter but I already have lots of photo's of the before to post when I make some progress on the refurb.

Gary

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Here is one from a 1977 model which I know is original with 3 straight boards.
http://www.whalercentral.com/images/p...ntseat.jpg

The photo I listed above is from a 1986 Montauk.
Here is another 1986 model with 4 straight boards.
http://www.whalercentral.com/images/p...onsole.jpg

Looks like the earlier model had 3 straight center boards and later models have 4 straight center boards.

Gamelot,
You are looking at 2 different hulls.
Smirkless versus Smirked and the bow locker is completely different between the 2 hulls.
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...cle_id=100

All original bow locker covers were wood until 1988.
EDIT to bow lockers: some early Montauks had a fiberglass bow locker cover on the Smirkless hulls approximately 1973 to 1975 only.

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All smirked Montauk hulls have exactly the same size bow locker covers.

The dimensions are as Larry describes.

The original "five plank" bow locker cover changed to the "six plank" design in 1983, presumably due to the increasing difficulty in procuring wide teak planks at reasonably cost.

Obviously, the earlier non-smirker hulls had the much smaller rectangular bow locker covers, non of which were ever made of teak.

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Tom, I'm not so sure there was not a design change in the bow locker somewhere in the 80's. Looking at that second photo link Joe posted, that cover also looks wider to me at the base.

And, Mike @ Nautical Lumber told me he had encountered 2 different sizes of the teak trapezoidal cover. Maybe someone with a 1985 or later Montauk can give us their dimensions?

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No Larry, they are all the same for the smirked 16'-7" hulls.

I've owned three Montauks from 1980 to 1988. You can trust me on this.

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There are definitely two different sizes of the teak Montauk bow locker covers, I unfortunately do not have the plans for either. I can tell yo that I owned a 1985, built in October of 1984, that had the small version.

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Make no mistake.....there are 2 sizes for the trapezoid hatch that fit the smirked hull Montauk. One of them is about 17" in the front and the other is about 21"
The 17" is way more common than the 21"
We've made them in both Mahogany & Teak.

Regards,
Mike

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If this is the case, then we would like to narrow this down a little further to the year(s).

1976,1977,1978,1979, 1980, 1981 all had the 5 board Teak locker cover that is 17 inches wide at the front.

1982 to 1988 had the 6 board Teak locker cover that may be a different width at the front.
The two 1986 models I have shown above had the 6 board locker cover.

About 1988 and newer had the Fiberglass bow locker cover.
We would still like to know the dimensions of this locker cover.
17 inches in front or 21 inches... etc....

I am attaching a drawing I made years ago but never finished of my 1978 Teak Bow Locker Cover. It shows basically the same dimensions as Larry states above except I show 24 inches for the front to back length. I could have just made a generally rounding at the time so I am not positive of that dimension.

Any other factual measurements would be appreciated so we can gather this information on when this locker cover changed and what the actual dimensions are.

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I have a 1977 Montauk hull
Mike @ Nautical Lumber sent me a different size hatch than what I had.
Also, I cant swear to it, but I believe my hatch cover was original and it was a constructed from a solid piece of marine plywood.
My boat was ordereded as a bare hull which perhaps was the difference in hatch material

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moretrench,

Yes, all Montauks with a Smirkless hull had the Teak bow locker cover up until 1988/1989.
They never had a solid piece of wood for the Montauk locker cover.
That is why yours is different.

If you have a 1977 model bare hull, then the locker cover itself should still be the same size of 17" at front and 29" at the rear but won't be Teak like the Montauk.

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This is really interesting!

So in a nut shell, the two different smirked bow locker covers have the same length and width on the stern side but the bow side width varies between 17 inches and 21 inches?

Is it as simple as the point in time when the bow locker cover went from the five plank design to the six plank design?

I've owned a 1980 Montauk, a 1981 Montauk and a 1988 Montauk. I never noticed any difference. Furthermore, I have bought, refinished and sold several teak Montauk bow locker covers over the years and they all fit on the boats they ended up with.

To make the change, Whaler would have had to modify the mold of the 16'-7" smirked hull and after all these years, this is the first time it has ever come to light? Modifying a hull mold is a big deal and it apparently happened without any other changes?

I'm perplexed.

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That's why I would like to hear from 1986 and newer Montauk owners.
Or anyone that actually has a 21 inch bow locker cover.
That is 4 inches in width difference from the original 17 inch locker on all the other Montauks.

The hull mold would have had to been changed to explain the bow locker width in the front.
Doesn't seem logical to me but what do I know at this point as I haven't measured the 1986 models and above.

Where are all you Montauk owners???????
Chime in and lest us know the size of your locker cover.....
17 inches or 21 inches at the front.... ?????

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Two speculative thoughts:

1. Will the calalog CD show Montauks with two different size locker covers and when the change might have taken place?

2. As we know earlier Montauks had a shallow engine splashwell not working well with the BIA standard bolt pattern adopted in 1984. Not ever having rigged a Montauk, especially a later one, was this condition corrected? That might have been a time to change the bow locker shape also?

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I've been looking through the members personal pages.

Here is a 1980 with the 5 board bow locker cover.
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...er_id=8842

Here is a 1981 that appears to have the 5 board bow locker cover. (you have to look close)
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...r_id=11789

Here is a 1982 Montauk with the 6 board bow locker cover.
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...er_id=5634

Here is a 1984 with the 6 board bow locker cover.
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...er_id=5953

Another 1984 Montauk with the 6 board.
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...r_id=15214

Hard to tell the width from the photos but the 6 board sure doesn't look any wider than the other 5 board locker covers at 17 inches wide at the front.

From what we've seen above, it looks like 1982 is when they changed to the 6 board bow locker cover.
As with most other things, there may have been a transition meaning that some late 1981 models may have the newer 6 board locker cover or some early 1982 models still might have the older 5 board style.

We still have no concrete evidence that the size has changed from 17 inch width in the front....

What is the front width of your Teak Bow Locker Cover on 1976 or newer smirked Montauks?
17 inches?
other? Please tell us the width...

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i have an 88 montauk, it has the 21 in. locker .

- Jack

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Jack,
I took a look at your personal page...nice Montauk!
Do you have time to take a picture of the front hatch on your boat & send it to me? maybe even post it on your personal page??

Thanks,
Mike
Mike@nauticallumber.com <------ email address

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Jack,

Yes.. please let us know more.
Can we assume this is the 6 board locker cover?
Can you give us more measurements or a drawing so we can compare it to Finnegan's measurements above for the 5 board locker cover?

Any photos, measurements, drawings, info, etc. would be helpful.

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I just took a look at the 1986 Whaler catalog with yellow cover( I know it is 1986 since I used this catalog to buy my 1986 Whaler in Feb of 1986).

On page 28, there is a photo looking down on a Montauk that has the earliler, smaller cover (has a big tuna laying across the stern). This photo must be a couple of years old at the time.

Then, on page 31, there is a photo of a Striper that has the newer, wider cover. Comparing the two photos, you can easily see the difference in width. So, we know from that catalog, that 1986, at least, is when the wider locker was introduced.

Looking at the 1987/1988 catalog, there is photo looking down on a Montauk that clearly shows the wider cover.

I know that Whaler had more than one set of molds for the Montauks, so it could be that there was some overlap on locker size, and what you got depended on which mold your boat's interior hull came from?

But it looks to me that by 1986 model years, at least some of the boats had the newer design, and probably by 1988 they all did.

As mentioned before, I'm also betting the transom splashwell was deepened at the same time.

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i will take some pictures and put them on my homepage. it does not have the original hatch cover though. it has one the previous owner had made and its about ready to be refinished.

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This bow locker size includes ALL 17' models around 1988.
Newport 17'
Super Sport 17'
Striper 17'
Montauk 17'
and possibly some other models during the mid to late 80's.

Do any other 17' Whaler owners have a larger bow locker than 17 inches at the front other than jaxmyth.

So far he is the only one that has responded.

We would like to narrow down when this change in bow locker size occured.

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Larry -- the catalog photos are anything but clear. The photo on page 28 of the 1986 catalog is from the same photo shoot used for the 1984 catalog (Same Montauk, Tina and Don McIntyre quote on cover) so that tells us it was photographed in 1983.

Furthermore, the front edge of the locker is covered by the furled canvas blocking our view if it.

I do agree that it *seems* like the 1988 locker cover is wider, but 1983 to 1987 is a big gap. We need to pin this down this change more closely.

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Thanks Finnegan for the specs and to the rest of the members for the interesting feedback. Mine is a 5 board design and tappers from 29" TO 17".

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For creating a personal page to upload photos, see these links.
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...l_page.php

http://www.whalercentral.com/faq.php?...p?cat_id=1

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Thanks Joe. I just uploaded a photo of the locker on my personal page.

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Yep, that looks just like my old one and the drawing attachment in post #13

29" at the bottom and 17" at the top....

Glad you brought this subject up.
Now we need to find the newer version that is supposedly 29" at the bottom and 21" at the top...

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Joe , my 89 is 21" at the top and 34" at the stern side. See P Page . BG

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I found this photo of a 6 board cover on Jeff's photobucket, of his Dad's 84 Montauk:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v42...050low.jpg

When compared to Giro's photo, you can see the subtle difference in width. Note the dimensional differences in the fiberglass bow deck adjacent to the front of the cover.

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Barry,

Wow, that is a huge difference in locker size.

1. 17 inches in front and 29 inches at rear
2. 21 inches in front and 34 inches at rear

Larry,
If that is a 1984 model year, it does look at little larger but then again we can't go by photos for our research.
We really need to hear from members that can take measurements and the year of their hull.

So, tentatively we have this; both are 1982 models

1982 smaller locker cover, 5 board
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...r_id=12583

1982 larger locker cover, 6 board
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...er_id=5634

We are still not positive that some 6 board covers weren't the smaller size.

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It seems that the wood was colored with a varnish, was this orginal from the factory? Do most keep this look or brighten the teak and cover with a clear spar varnish?

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Originally all the teak was just oiled.

That's how I leave mine but I trailer my boat and keep it in a garage when not in use.