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Need a source for a bimini and cover, mainly to keep out dirt, not mills because price is a factor. I have the high bow rails, on this 17 and have found little on the web. All suggestions and comments welcome.

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There is only one Bow Rail for a Montauk.
You either have a bow rail or someone took it off as all Montauks came standard with the bow rail.
EDIT: looking at your personal page, you have a standard Montauk setup.

Just about any bimini will do as long as it is the right width and height.

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Hi. The bimini seems to be manageable but the cover is what I am mainly having trouble with. The bow rails [2] being so lhigh seems to be the problem, any ideas ? Most sites do not even list anything about this older model and the adjustment for high bow rails.

I saw a whaler with a bimini track about 36" long which allowed it to fold down over the bow rails, then I saw your comments on the same topic. Great idea instead of an inboard mount. I have about narrowed it down to 72" wide, 54" high and 8' long, sound about right? Thanks for your reply.

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Again, your bow rails are not high.
They are normal Montauk bow rails.
There is only one bow rail that wraps around.
All 16/17' Whalers had the same basic bow rail. Normal.

I had a cover for my Montauk and so did a buddy of mine.
Unfortunately I can't find any photos at this time.

Here is an aftermarket Sun Top (Bimini) with sliders which is the way I prefer.
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...?user_id=5
There are many others like this in the personal page section. Some with Mills and some with aftermarket.
I think the Sun Top above came from Cabela's.

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Are you looking for a mooring cover or a yard cover?

As for bimini, I've never got a straight answer whether a 54" is high enough for tall people.

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For land mainly, no trailering, and when not in water I am on a lift in protected area. Never moored.

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I know the rails are standard, but the normal boat cover looks short from top to bottom. The freeboard on a normal boat the cover slants down toward the bow. On a whaler it should go fwd from the cc and cover the rails and then down to the rub rails. Most covers do not look like they would have enough vertical drop to do this?

That is the question, vertical height on the bow!

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A semi-custom cover from Cabella's and labeled for Boston Whalers fit very well on my 1997 Montauk 17 (w/rails). The boat sits on a lift, exposed to high winds.

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/browse...t104794380

Currently priced at $240 but purchased on sale last year for $100. It was for coverage while getting the Mills cover refurbished (still to do) but I like it so much that I'm not in a rush to the Mills done.

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Hi. Did you just use the generic cover, ie montauk 17?

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Here is the specific item:
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/search...=ik-017453

I'll verify that item number against my receipt but it may few days.

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Thanks, and this cover comes over the bow rails and down to below the rub rail?

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I have had many covers and the one I have now is the best I have used. Made in SC. http://www.carvercovers.com. I'll post a pic on my page, I have had this cover for three years

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Thanks, I also noticed the bimini, where did you get it? Is it mounted on a trach, 52" high, 70"wide and a 6 or 8 feet in length, and does it fold down in front of your bow rails?

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My top came with my boat and it is 69 1/2" wide, 6' long, and 54" high and has a 4' slide track to fold down in front of the rail

Check my personal page I just put a new picture of my cover

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That's the best way to mount a Sun Top on all of the 16/17' models in my opinion.
It puts the top completely out of the way when not in use.

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I agree with Joe. If you need to stand on the bow outside of the rail to throw the cast net then because of the slides you can flip the top to the stern and it will almost rest by the motor

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The picture hasn't shown up yet. I want to thank you for all your help and ideas. I will keep checking on the picture.

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Hi. Now that you are on why can I not find my personal page when I click on the Members personal page under Navigation bar?

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the following personal page mtnsherpa gave me some good information, 54" should work unless you are over 6.5 feet tall.

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It is there.
Are you looking in the right spot?

NOTE:
Just because I may show online, the majority of the time I am doing other things on the site besides reading here and won't read things for hours.

EDIT:
If you give us your HIN and Stencil number, we can add you to this list.
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...icle_id=17

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BWCA6976M74F 1974 montauk

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Cary,

That is the HIN.
We also need the Stencil which should be 3A8???

See this list where you fit in but we still need the Stencil number.
http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...icle_id=17

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3A8300, what is this #

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That the hull number as it came out of the mold.

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my understand is that this is the 2nd boat produced in 1974. Is that good or bad or rare?

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No, it is not the second boat made in 1974.

1974 models started being produced in August of 1973.

That list is just members boats that have contributed their number to us so we can track possible changes in optional equipment, parts, etc.
There are many Montauks that are not on that list.

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So Boatcoversdirect has 10% off til the 4th, so I am going to get a bimini for the Montauk. Naturally I have a few questions, and it doesn't help that the boat isn't nearby to measure anything.

Just to confirm, 54" high won't be too low?

I'm torn between a 6' or 8' length. Any thoughts? Isn't more shade better than less shade?

Also, what length tracks should I get? Can the tracks be cut down? I was thinking just get 4' tracks and cut them down if I don't need the length.

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read the thread, mtnsherpa, had some good ideas. He used a 4' track so it will lay over the bow rails and if moved back on the track it lays on the motor. I was not thinking 4' but 3', however more may be better. What i am going to do is come back from the bow 54" then from the stern 54" and see what the measurement is. If it is over 4' I would probably get the 4" track. As for 6 or 8 I'm not sure. I am going to get a cover mtnsherpa suggested in the thread.

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what width are you using or have on your boat, they give a range but I am not sure if I would want to flex it in or out---

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on your bimini, not cover, I think the cover you suggested is going to work

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Saw the cover, thanks. where did the boarding platform come from ??

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Cary, I may have a different cover than above. The item number on my receipt is IK-018916, which Cabela's lists as no longer available. The box from Calela's that it came in says it is a "semi-custom deluxe boat cover" made of 600-denier polyester fabric. It was listed for a Montauk 17 w/rails and fit very well and looks similar to Montauk1776's cover when on the boat.

The item in my quote above says "Trail Tuff", my box does not.

Summary: I can't speak knowledgeably about the new item.

-George

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Thanks for all the information given, I either know more or less now than I did one month ago, thanks to all!!

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I just noticed something interesting on your 1974 Montauk. Someone added the Montauk 17 decals that I don't believe started showing up until the transition in 1976 when the hulls changed to Smirked. Your boat is almost identical to mine with the forward platform. Mine was missing the entire console door and frame under the helm which I have since rebuilt with old teak I took from a recycled swimming platform from another boat.

When you finish getting the Bimini top set up post some pics of it and how it stores when not up.

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I think I started with a little more than you and it appears you are going to restore it, I am not . I'm 77 and been there, so just going to cosmetically bring it up to use. I will post the bimini info, I ordered one on closeout from Westland/ 4 bow, 8' long, 69-72 width.

My wiring was a mess, and the other day I found a block of wood at the very top of the cc, with a fuse in it. I think it is part of the running lights system, haven't traced it out yet ??