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The Boston Whaler 17 smirked hull was designed to allow for the fastening to the deck of a variety of console and seat components. The 1989 Montauk 17 fiberglass console was secured to the deck using 8 #14x1-1/2" stainless phillips head screws per side, with an anodized aluminium console mounting angle and console back-up plate. The modification of the mounting of the console and/or reverse pilot seat should take into consideration the condition of your deck and plywood substrate. Is your existing deck hardware loose? Are the original holes rounded out? Do you already have many holes in your deck? Are the holes sealed? if not sealed, how long has the deck been exposed to water and the possibility of water infiltration? Have you removed the fuel line hawse fitting to visually inspect the plywood? Is it rotted or soft? Have you previously drilled a hole in the deck and noticed the wood flakes to be clean and light-colored (no rot)? Or is the material dark and damp (wet/rot)?

I have seen Montauk 17 hulls where the consoles were removed to replace the mounting hardware and refasten to the deck, only to discover the original holes to be completely rounded out and the deck mounting area damaged too severely to be reused. Fortunately, repairs can be made to the deck, and the console can be refastened in a slightly difference location - forward or backwards- but still in proximity to the forward rig tunnel opening.

If you want to install a larger cooler forward of the console, some Montauk 17 owners have simply move the cooler mounting blocks forward a few inches on the deck (and filled in the abandoned holes with sealant).

I know of only one Boston Whaler Center Console configured model that had a steering wheel mounting height of circa 41 inches above the deck, offering superb stand-up piloting of the boat. The model was the Menemsha 16.