The Boston Whaler Montauk, a classic center-console vessel, combines a practical, rugged utility design with “hose-and-go” cleanup. The boat is the brainchild of Richard T. "Dick" Fisher, who was among the first to take advantage of light, rigid polyurethane foam. Invented in 1950, this type of foam possesses ductile properties that allow it to extend.
In 1954, after researching the applications of polyurethane foam for small boat construction, Fisher built a foam-filled sailing dinghy with a design much like the Sunfish dinghy. C. Raymond Hunt, a naval architect, reviewed the design and found it to have merit. Based on his feedback, Fisher designed a hull modeled after the “Sea Hickman” catamaran. The polystyrene and epoxy prototype had two keels, or structural beams, running through the mid-section from bow to stern. This change improved control and stability and created an inverted V section between the hulls, or a third hull.
With Hunt’s continuing advice, Fisher modified the prototype several more times, adding depth to the hull’s central portion. He also inserted the polyurethane foam into a pair of fiberglass skins. When the foam expanded, it fused with the skins, becoming buoyant and rigid.
In 1956, Fisher designed the first Boston Whaler 13, which combined spacious carrying space with a twin sponson (stabilizing projections) that provided superior stability. This design led to commercial production of the Boston Whaler by Fisher-Pierce manufacturing in 1958. Three years later, Fisher famously cut the hull in half and floated the vessel down a river, proving its buoyancy. Other early marketing stunts included shooting a thousand rounds of ammunition through the hull and crashing a 32-ton mining truck into the boat, which was still seaworthy afterward.
In 1969, Fisher sold his company to the CML group, which kept his design largely intact. The classic 13-foot 4-inch Whaler and 16-foot 7-inch Montauk with three-hull design remained in production through a 1989 sale of the company to the Reebok Corporation and a 1994 sale to Sports Meridian. When Brunswick Corporation, the world’s largest pleasure boat manufacturer, acquired Boston Whaler in 1996, a more conventional deep-V hull became standard. In addition, production moved from Massachusetts to Edgewater, Florida.
Today’s Montauk has a length of 17 feet 4 inches, making it 9 inches longer and 8 inches wider than the original and about twice as heavy (1,700 pounds dry with no motor). This change significantly expanded the interior space. Able to cruise comfortably at 15 to 26 knots with a maximum speed of 35 knots, the Montauk features standard four-stroke engines that offer a winning combination of power and fuel efficiency. The boats also feature a shallow draft (the distance from the waterline to the hull’s deepest point) that optimizes movement and ensures a dry, stable ride.
Like its predecessors, the Montauk is virtually unsinkable in ordinary sea conditions and sought after by those who enjoy fishing and a reliable, relatively affordable motor boat. In addition, Brunswick sells Boston Whalers, which saw service in Vietnam for river patrol and rescue missions, to public agencies such as the US Coast Guard and the Navy.
