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T-Top for a 2001 Montauk 17' Good or Bad idea?
Ineedaboat	#1  Posted on 11/07/05 - 3:31 PM
Member Posts: 1 Comments: 0 Joined: 11/03/05	I am not well experienced in the boating world however I hope to remedy this soon. I have a Montauk 17' and since I am primarily going to use this boat for fishing I need some good advice. This boat has no cover at all. A T-Top looks like it would be more fishing friendly than a Bimini Top. But they are quite expensive and are made from anodized aluminium, not Stainless Steel as I thought. What are the pros and cons? Good advise gladly accepted.
fishingdan	#2  Posted on 11/08/05 - 10:23 AM
Member Posts: 3 Comments: 0 Joined: 11/07/05	For me, a 17' boat is too small for a t-top. If you fish via casting, any top (bimini or fixed mount) on a small boat will get in the way. One benefit of a bimini is that you can put it up or down quickly and easily. It is also very light compared to a t-top.
13SSport	#3  Posted on 11/27/05 - 8:10 PM
Member Posts: 5 Comments: 0 Joined: 11/08/05	Also the fixed ttop will create alot of drag on a small boat .esp if you add curtins,the binimi is better at this size.TG
seasicknes	#4  Posted on 12/26/05 - 9:43 AM
Member Posts: 8 Comments: 0 Joined: 12/07/05	Boat is too light. It might cause you to capsize. If you want some kind of cover, then go with a bimini. Ken (170 montauk / 22 hydrasports wa)
Jeff	#5  Posted on 12/26/05 - 7:54 PM
Member Posts: 1987 Comments: 34 Joined: 04/02/05	All here are pointing you in the right direction. Though you could put one on the boat it will really act as a sail for a smaller boat like this. Not only is wind a factor the floor is as well. Whaler never intened this boat to have a T-Top on it so, there is no reinforcements in the floor/hull for mounting. Over time it will pull itself off and leave you with a real mess... 1993 23' Walkaround Whaler Drive
toolman	#6  Posted on 02/14/06 - 7:33 AM
Member Posts: 1 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/14/06	I own a 1985 Montauk with a T top I built myself. It is made from aluminum tubing and is the envy of all Montauk owners in my area. It does not change the characteristics of the boat very much at all. I even have a radio box mounted in the top. It is great to have for sun protection and is something firm to hold onto. The key is to make it as light as possible with as little material as necessary structurally. Send me an email and I will send some pics if you like. Frank (email is in my profile)
Jeff	#7  Posted on 02/14/06 - 2:34 PM
Member Posts: 1987 Comments: 34 Joined: 04/02/05	Sure you can do it...But it could lead to issues down the road. I did run across these images of a t-top on a montauk after this orginal thread started. Jeff attached the following image: [49.04Kb] 1993 23' Walkaround Whaler Drive
Jeff	#8  Posted on 02/14/06 - 2:35 PM
Member Posts: 1987 Comments: 34 Joined: 04/02/05	2 Jeff attached the following image: [38.69Kb] 1993 23' Walkaround Whaler Drive
Jeff	#9  Posted on 02/14/06 - 2:35 PM
Member Posts: 1987 Comments: 34 Joined: 04/02/05	3 Jeff attached the following image: [41.81Kb] 1993 23' Walkaround Whaler Drive
Jeff	#10  Posted on 02/14/06 - 2:39 PM
Member Posts: 1987 Comments: 34 Joined: 04/02/05	4 Jeff attached the following image: [48.16Kb] 1993 23' Walkaround Whaler Drive
Jeff	#11  Posted on 02/14/06 - 2:41 PM
Member Posts: 1987 Comments: 34 Joined: 04/02/05	it does give the boat more of a big boat presence. The leaning post looks to be a Todd and the console...I have no idea 1993 23' Walkaround Whaler Drive
stevendstock	#12  Posted on 02/15/06 - 3:17 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 13 Comments: 2 Joined: 01/24/06	The only top I would have is one you can take down stevendstock attached the following file: whaler[25].jpg
danedg	#13  Posted on 02/15/06 - 5:15 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 349 Comments: 6 Joined: 01/24/06	We used to carry a parasol along for sun protection...we now prefer the Bimini...because it can be raised and lowered on demand. Space is tight in a Montaukto begin with.... danedg attached the following image: [84.44Kb]
Longboarder36	#14  Posted on 02/15/06 - 6:46 PM
Member Posts: 7 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/08/06	I like the t-top, I think it looks bitchen. Some say it takes up space, I don't see that. Check out that photo, they got PFD's, electronics, poles, and prolly a spotlight too. I was seriously contemplating getting one, but decided not too because I like to throw iron, and like fishingdan said, it will get in the way of that. But....to each his own, you know.