CONTINUOUSWAVE

Between a 170 Montauk or 170 Dauntless, and buying a new boat, and using the boat for 60% angling and flyfishing and 40% family and water sports, explain why you would choose one over the other.

Generally speaking the Montauk is better for fishing and the Dauntless is better for family/water sports. The Montauk can be a fine boat for family/water sports depending upon the number of people aboard. I would think six people would be about the maximum for family fun on a 170 Montauk. The Dauntless can be a good fishing platform depending upon the number of anglers and the amount of equipment on board.

I would probably take the course of buying the boat most favorably endorsed by the wife and make do with serving my purposes. "Happy wife happy life" as we hear far too often but there is a lot of truth to the saying.

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Unless your family will be an on-going 50-50 partner in using the boat, get the boat you want.

The first year of boat ownership is often the peak year of family participation. The following years the kids grow up, and they want to hang out with their friends instead of boating with mom and dad.

New boats are now so expensive they need a family’s buy-in to rationalize the outlay. Look at current Boston Whaler catalog pictures. They always show an active young family aboard the boat. Look at 1960 catalog pictures: two guys out fishing.