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Hi, I'm a sailor's wife trying to purchase a longed-for 17 ft Whaler for my husband's upcoming birthday. (Needs a boat for his mental health.) I've been looking at late 1970's and early 1980's Montauks since he's expressed an interest in center consoles, but there's a nice 1980 17' Boston Whaler Newport, 1989 70HP Mercury for sale nearby and it's in beautiful shape. Other than personal preference, can anyone tell me the major differences between these two models? The hull looks to be the same. I know he wants to just have a family cruiser for the NH coastline, maybe some island hopping and skiing. We'll also trail it to the lakes region. Fast weather patterns here, and getting under cover can be an issue.

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The hulls are the same. The only basic difference is the interior.

Safer to stand up and drive the Montauk which is easier on the legs and back than it would be in the Newport in rough conditions.

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I second that thought. The seating in the Newport is low in the boat. If your intending to take this boat on the New Hampshire coast and if there is the slightest chop it will be murder on your back.

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I completely disargee.

I have to say I thought the same thing when I bought my Newport. If you have never piloted a Newport, reserve judgment until you do.

Here is my story:

After selling my 22 Outrage I was really looking for another Montauk (we had a 1984 before) however, I had seen a great looking Newport advertised and the price was thousands less than most Montauks I had been looking at. The other major plus was it was a 100% Freshwater use boat. I figured it nothing else I would by it and flip it come spring if I decided I did not like the set up. At the time I was not a big fan of the Newports. After getting the boat home and messing with it in the garage I really took a liking to it. So, I ended up spending last winter restoring the boat even though it was in really pretty good shape to start with. I spend the last summer using the boat and I have to say it really is the better of the two models for my uses right now. With just starting a family the Newport is more protected for smaller kids. Also the lower seating in the front is great for kids and is very easy to ride up there. Riding in front of a Montauk on that tall cooler never worked for me let alone small kids. The gunwales of the Newport provide a lot of storage for all kinds of things and more than what the Montauk console provided. The Newport's large console is actually nice to pilot from and working on wiring and other things under the console is FAR better and easier than they to work in a Montauk console. Also at 5' 10.5" I am easily able to stand and pilot the Newport something which was a concern of mine. However, I mainly sit on top of the RPS much like a leaning post to pilot. My father is 6'2" and does not have a problem piloting it either. Also because of the lower console railing I able to hold on and brace myself better than on a Montauk. One other great thing about the lower console for me is that it will allow my son to be able to begin learning seamanship skills much earlier than if I had a Montauk's tall console. The ride of the Montauk vs. the Newport is the same. Both very capable boats and I use mine on inlakes as well as the Large open waters of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

The Newport however, is not as die hard of a fishing boat as the Montauk. The Montauk does offer 360 degree fishing however, with both boats I found that with two or more people they are both crowed. Even when I had the Montauk around I found that I only was fishing on it 10% - 15% of the time.

So, really which one you look for is really based on where and how you plan to use the boat. Honestly if you have a family and plan to have them out a lot look for a Newport. You can usually find them on average for a little less than a Montauk though the really goods will bring comparable prices. If you just plan to use the boat only for fishing look for a Montauk.

Here is my Newport. Another thing I have grown to like the Newport for is it's much classier looks over the Montauk. I get way more people who show interest in this boat over my old Montauk (which was actually in better condition).
http://picasaweb.google.com/jrohlfing...portOn709#

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My opinion is, if my wife did her research and did a wonderful thing and bought me a boat, I think I would love either!

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Jeff,

We don't need to pilot a particular model boat to have an opinion and we can judge things from other perspectives that we have already encountered with other boat models...

The Newport console is NOT as tall as the Montauk console. Period...

There are little or no side rails for safety when standing up in the Newport as compared to the much higher side rails on the Montauk.
Take a look at this photo of a member standing up in a Newport:
http://www.whalercentral.com/userphot...hoto_id=72
He can just barely reach the steering wheel and the side rails do not provide any safety for the pilot from falling overboard in rough conditions.

Low seats are OK for kids and terrible for older people.

You cannot walk 360º around the Newport's console but you can with the Montauk.

That's just to name a few of the major differences.
I am not knocking the Newport or any other model.
They are what they are and should be used how they were intended.
Every size Whaler and model has there purpose and function.

It is my opinion and judgement that I would NOT stand up and pilot a Newport in rough conditions like I would in the Montauk.

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Thanks for the very good feedback, Jeff and Joe. And Kevin, I'm praying for that response! Taking quite a risk buying a boat for a guy born on the water...

My hubby is 5'10" and we won't be doing any serious fishing. I'm going to keep all this input in mind as I shop over the next month. Our kids aren't little anymore- ages 11 and 15 . I know my son will want to ski- and it sounds like either model will do for that purpose. It also sounds like I may have a bit more negotiating room on a Newport as far as $$ is concerned.

I'll be back with more questions, I'm sure.
Thank you all so much,
egtwin

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Elyse, you could "pry" some info out of your husband as to what he thinks are the best options in a boat. Either way, you can't go wrong with doing the right thing by your husband.

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... and I'd rather my wife drag me along to "go shopping" bring a cashiers check for $5k and a stack of $100 bills and hand them to me on the sellers street. I trust my wife's judgement, but I wouldn't spend that much without including her in the decision either.

Some couples are fine with their partner buying boats, cars, planes, and even houses without their input. Other couples want every expense over $50 to be discussed. The relationship the OP has with her husband has to be her guide.

In this case its a classic Whaler. She can buy it. He can use it this fall and if they find out it isn't the perfect boat for their needs, he can sell it in the spring for the same money and buy a different boat. Cheaper than renting for more than a day or two. :-)

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One other thing about the Newport is that the side decks in addition to storage make a great place to sit when the boat is at rest. They also make it easier to enter the boat either from the water or a dock.

Jeff

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Joe,

I pilot the Newport in moderate seas and do not find myself missing the Montauk console to much at all. If I flop the RPS forward and sit on top of it I am at the perfect height. Even my father at 6'2" is fine piloting like that. It is really not that bad.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/...directlink

Here he is standing
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/...directlink

Also, the Montauk side rails only provide safety if you are taller than them. For my little guy, he can fit under them and leans over the gunwale of a Montauk in a hurry. The wide Newport gunwale keep him far away from that edge. They also provide a great sitting and walk around surface not to mention great storage.

Finally the front seats...Everyone one who has sat up front while under way says the love it. They can sit back and put there feet up on the bow area and relax or, if needed, they have the low bow railings right next to them to hold on to.

My parents and my In-laws both rode in the front of the Montauk (both in calm and rough condition) as well as the Newport many times. All have said hands down they like the Newport better. They range from my father in his early to mid 60's to my Mother in-law who is 49. So I would consider that to be on the older side if the spectrum since I am 32.


This is the best part I love about the boat. My little guy can stand on the forward deck and the bow rail is in the perfect spot for him to get some wind in his face.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid...1001793531
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid...1001793531

If you and going to fish the begesus out of the boat but use it more for family stuff....My vote is for a Newport. If you have never been on one....try it out if you can. To each their own though. Honestly as I said before, I was not a fan of the Newport when I bough mine. It was just at a price I could not turn away. After owning it, I am not sure 100% I would go back to a Montauk.

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i also have a Newport--I'm 6' 4 & don't really have any problem with standing at console. also like the fact that the seating in front works great when we have small kids on boat.. my .02 Rich

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Thanks all- this are great points for me to consider.

Including yours, Irak, though this is "my" money, with the kids chipping in too, so I'm comfortable using it without his consent, and pretty comfortable that the choice is going to be something he's going to love. My husband, god love him, needs to "live" now, and unless I do this, he'll put it off another five years. He would never spend it on himself now with college bills ahead of us, and so I will gladly. Life's too short.

Thanks so much for all the tips, Jeff, HarleyFXDL and Spongebob.

egtwin

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Elyse,

I sent you a private message. Since you are new you may have missed it flashing on the right of the page. If you are looking at the Newport I think you are, I do not think you could go wrong. From the images I have seen it looks very clean.

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Elyse,

For your stated purposes, I don't think you can go wrong with either model.

My recommendation would be to pursue the best boat, that is in the best condition within your budget. I think the Newport is a very flexible model that will meet your needs.

Best of luck.

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For me, and for me only, I would not want a Newport. If my wife gave me one, it would put me in one awkward position. While the boats share the same hull, they are totally different animals, and Jeff, I am not saying one is better than the other, but very different. I think discussing the whole thing with him, while blowing the surprise, might make a lot of sense.