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On a 1996 Montauk 17: Does anyone know the name of the curved bar that is in the middle of the front two seats? It connects the rail around the windshied to the console in between the pole holders/front seat back rests.

Also, is there a replacement available that doesn't intrude into the front seating area?

I don't know if I'm the only one that's bothered by it but it really annoys me that a single rider can't sit in the center of the front seat.

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It's the part for an Outrage Cuddy that you want...straight down without the shepards hook shape

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I don't have one on mine, never did.

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The part in question is called the Shepherd's Crook. It is a unique Boston Whaler design that I love because it works so well; it is always within reach and used constantly in a Montauk.

I've now owned four Whalers with this console and Shepherd's Crook with the cooler seat in front. I find it very comfortable to sit with one arm and shoulder hooked through it when sitting by myself. If two people are sitting on the cooler seat, the Shepherd's Crook is between them.

You can substitute the straight bar like the Outrage Cuddys use, but you still cannot comfortably sit in the middle because the bar with be in the middle of your back.

Just remove the Shepherd's Crook if you want a full width backrest. Just be careful about grabbing the console rail after the Shepherd's Crook is removed.

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Thanks. I may just remove it like Guts and try to keep people from hanging onto the console rail.

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madmax,

Guts has two straight rails coming down off the top of his non standard console rail..
Take a look at his personal page.

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Ah yes. I didn't notice them the first tim I looked (hard to tell from the rear). I was thinking of looking local for someone to fab a less intrusive bar but if I have no luck what would I ask for if I try to find the one off the Outrage?

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The Outrages uses the Shepherd's Crook just like the Montauk.

The Outrage Cuddy uses an (almost) straight bar.

All you need to do is go to a rail or canvas shop and have them cut you a length of 7/8" stainless steel tubing and put a slight bend in the end so it will slide into the Base fitting.

The TEE on the console is then just rotated to meet it and then you redrill the set screws.

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I bought some scrap railing today from our local sailors' exchange. Pics to come if I dont screw it up :)

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Well, I did it. I bought a piece of 7/8 ss that had a 90 degree bend in it. I had to bend it a little more to get it to line up but it work (and of course cut to length).

It's more like a mini-crook. Pics are in my personal page.

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Here is a photo of the console rail bar from the Outrage Cuddy consoles.

As Tom mentions above, the center top fitting was turned down which allowed the bar to go almost straight down.

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A little less drilling the way I hooked mine up plus the 90 degree bend was already there and it ended up serving the purpose.