Boston Whaler 210 Montauk Review

Story by Craig Ritchie Jan. 30, 2017

One of the great offshore fishing boats gets even better

They say it’s hard to improve on perfection and for many anglers, Boston Whaler’s legendary 210 Montauk remains the perfect offshore fishing boat. With its ample interior space, serious fishing features and unsinkable construction, it’s little wonder this model has consistently ranked among the company’s best-selling fishing boats for many, many years.

But the engineers at Boston Whaler have never been good at leaving well enough alone, and for 2017 the 210 Montauk steps beyond its fishing roots and adds some new features that also make it a versatile family runabout. Make no mistake – we’re talking additions, not substitutions, and every core feature that made the 210 Montauk such a beloved fishing rig remains in place. So instead of being just a fishing boat, the Montauk becomes more versatile than ever, perfect for the serious angler who also wants to be able to take the family out for picnics, tube rides and more.

The large storage locker in the 210 Montauk’s elevated front deck includes an overboard drain.

It all starts up front in the bow, where the wide, elevated casting platform retains its integrated non-skid finish and surrounding stainless steel railing, but gains a removable padded seat cushion that creates two-across, forward facing seating or lays flat to form a comfy sun pad. Two lids on the deck surface open to reveal an anchor locker and a substantial storage locker – complete with overboard drain, so it can be used to keep the catch of the day on ice while fishing. The welded bow railing, like all deck hardware on this boat, is 316L stainless steel. You’ll also note no less than five eight-inch mooring cleats, and stainless bow and stern lifting eyes. Interior freeboard is a health 19 inches for added security while underway.

A bow cushion set creates two-across forward-facing seating.

The front face of the center console accommodates an optional cooler seat, with six rocket launcher-style rod holders integrated into its back rest. The helm seat, with storage in its base, features a reversible back rest that can be oriented to a forward-facing position when under power, or an aft-facing position while trolling or pulling the kids on a tube. But the aft quarter seats, to both port and starboard, might just be the best seats in the house.

Aft quarter seats include a removable back rest.

The intuitive helm station features a stainless-steel steering wheel, welded grab rail, acrylic windshield, compass and stainless steel wheel with hydraulic steering. The dash is simple and straightforward, with white-on-black analog gauges, twin beverage holders, and plenty of space for both flush-mount and surface-mount aftermarket electronics. An optional portable head in the console, complete with deck pump-out, lets you extend your adventures even farther. Additional helm options include a Fusion AM/FM stereo with two waterproof speakers, and a variety of Raymarine electronics packages.

The helm is clean and uncluttered, with plenty of room for electronics.

Befitting a Boston Whaler, the main cockpit is fully self-bailing, and comes with four flush-mounted rod holders as standard equipment.

Out back, the family-friendly side of the Montauk shows with its fiberglass swim platform, complete with a stainless steel grab rail and an off-angle telescoping swim ladder.

A reversible helm seat allows forward-facing or aft-facing seating. The seat base provides storage space for bulky items.

The standard boat-motor-trailer package includes a 150-horsepower Mercury four-stroke, which is a nicely balanced engine for the 2,500-pound 210 Montauk. Fitted with a 15×15 Enertia stainless steel prop, the 150 drives the 210 Montauk up onto plane in just 5.2 seconds, and takes it from zero to 30 mph in barely nine seconds. At wide open throttle, the boat runs at over 42 mph while turning 5,900 rpm. Throttle back to about 3,500 rpm and you’ll still run at about 23 – 24 mph while enjoying excellent fuel economy of 5.11 miles per gallon and a 308-mile range. Those with the need for even greater speed can upgrade to an available 200-horsepower Merc with power steering, but in view of how well the 210 Montauk runs with the 150, one wonders whether the modest performance increase is worth the extra cost.

An available cooler seat is one of many options that allow owners to truly personalize this boat to their own needs.

Boston Whaler’s 210 Montauk comes with a substantial option list, allowing owners to truly personalize this boat to suit their specific needs. But even in its base form, it’s still easy to see why this model remains one of the best sellers in the entire Boston Whaler line.