Center Consoles

The 17 features the security of hand-holds everywhere and the stable classic twin sponson hull configuration. A reversible pilot seat allows driving seated or standing, and functions as an aft-facing bench for lounging. Vertical rod holders in the seat back are standard, and the bow locker has a through-hull drain and nonskid fiberglass cover. All the hardware is stainless steel, from the lifting eye at the bow to the ski eyes at the stern. The center console layout, a Boston Whaler innovation, raised eyebrows back in 1961. By moving the helm from the starboard side to the center of the craft, boaters got better steering control and an even keel. With more room to move around, they got better fish-fighting capabilities. Now, countless manufacturers use this layout for their fishing boats. For 1996, Boston Whaler introduced the Accutrack hull. This system combines the smooth ride of a deep-V design with the dry ride provided by strategically placed chines. A Boston Whaler has a distinct style. The distinctive Whaler 'smirk' - a reverse chine and forward spray rail - catches spray and redirects it beneath the hull. In a following sea, it pushes the bow up for better steerage and improved safety. Thoughtful layouts put amenities such as prep stations and controls within easy reach. Seats can handle hundreds of pounds in static loads. Coaming pads are scaled to catch people above the knees. Helms have unobstructed views. And fishing areas provide optimum freedom of movement. Boston Whaler's Unibond construction starts with steel-reinforced hull molds to ensure consistency. Gel coat is sprayed into the mold to create what will be the hull's exterior, a skin coat of fiberglass is applied, varying biaxial and biaxial fiberglass sheets are coated with resin and hand-rolled into place. The deck mold is lowered into the hull mold and the two are latched together to form a closed mold system. Liquid structural foam fills the cavity between the hull and deck. The access plate is secured, and the foam bonds permanently to the resin and fiberglass. No screws, rivets or adhesives are necessary since the hull and deck form a single unit. Boston Whaler offers a ten-year limited transferable hull warranty. Boston Whaler's lifting eyes extend completely through the Unibond hull, they are reinforced for maximum towing and lifting strength. On all Whalers, cleats are generously sized. Hinges are solid stainless steel, not stamped and rolled. Fittings are recessed wherever possible to spare toes and to promote long life. Boston Whaler uses noncorrosive, welded, 316 stainless steel for its bow rails, to prevent water penetration, bleeding, rusting and staining. Fasteners are chrome-plated over the stainless for extra insurance against corrosion in the saltwater environment. Boston Whaler has a custom synthetic material made to back their fittings. This 'Whale board' is impervious to moisture, as strong as aluminum and has twice the holding power of mahogany All seats and seat bases on Boston Whalers are made of rot-proof, maintenance-free composite materials. Boston Whaler makes its own custom wiring harnesses specially designed to prevent corrosion. The company uses shrink-tube electrical connectors and tinned copper wiring, waterproof switches and circuit breakers. Boston Whaler cockpits are all finished fiberglass, pretty much anywhere you might set your feet a molded-in nonskid surface offers good traction. Interior surfaces, including the bilge, are clean, smooth, finished gel coat, there's no raw fiberglass to trap stagnant water and debris. To perform a swamped capacity test, Boston Whaler pumps hundreds of gallons of water into the boat while a crew of employees climbs aboard. The swamped capacity is reached when water overflows the gunnel. With a swamped capacity of 2,000 pounds, a 16-foot, seven-inch Montauk can easily hold 10 people while swamped. Whether the classic twin sponson hull design or an Accutrack System hull, which combines a deep-V hull entry and a reverse chine with Unibond construction, there's a stable hull configuration and spray redirected under the hull.