Hi, I've been boating for a couple of years in a Boston Whaler Sport 11 dingy powered with a Chrysler 20 outboard from 1969. I've been happy with my set up however, I feel that venturing into the river bars is quite challenging not the least to say dangerous. Towing this boat with my GMC Jimmy is a breeze, however, our roads are narrow, filled with potholes and hard on the towing vehicle transmission. There are now boat ramps nor marinas, in fact we are in the third world when it comes to boating. <br /><br />I've been a Whaler fan since I was a kid when my father had a tri-hull that I believed was a Boston Whaler. The motor was the only thing left of these early ages. I was a curious kid and decided to pour oil into the carburetor and spark plugs of the motor, perhaps this saved it from seizing also it was kept inside.<br /><br /> My father had a cottage close to the river mouth of the Tarcoles river, the second largest river that drains the Central valley where the capital city of San José is located. In the 1970's the place was mystical albeit remote. We had to cross the river in a wire pulled barge. There where no paved roads, the river changed its course and destroyed the property of many of the residents of this paradise. Fishing was unbelievable. We eat Corvina (sea bass or rooster fish) every weekend. My father took us every single weekend and he had to change cars every couple of years because they were destroyed! My father is still with us and remembers these day's with fondness and a couple of tears fall from his eyes! I would like my son to have this outdoor experience also.<br /><br />My father had no trailer and boating was dangerous. The cottage and boat where sold but the motor stayed in our garage until three years ago that I rescued it and found a Boston Whaler boat which had a max rated horsepower of 20 Hp. Yes a boat for my Chrysler 20! That the boat needed to be rebuilt was no problem, I found the boat and I had to put some money aside and slowly make the restoration... We'll to make a long story short, I've used the boat in rivers, crossed the border with Nicaragua through the San Juan river and ventured in their territory, with permission of course and in our artificial lakes that are dangerous to say the least and continually claim lifes of the unexperienced. Lately my brother and I ventured into the Caribbean to do some Snook fishing but jumped three Tarpon. The outlet was very calm and fishing was thrilling. The Tarpon that we jumped where bigger than our boat.<br /><br />I have been looking into a Boston Whaler Montauk 17 or 170 of recent vintage with a two stroke Mercury 90, not my favorite motor (Evinrude E-Tec) but a good an proven motor with a good dealership and made in America, however the Trophy 1703 has caught my eye and also comes with the same motorization. The package is expensive ($25 thousand for both makes of boats), however, it can be financed and I have some savings that might put in a back to back loan to get into the water with a more sea worthy boat. I will have to sell my dingy and to justify this extravagance with my wife is going to be the toughest part.<br /><br />How is fishing with a 1703? How fuel efficient it is? What HP do you have and would you rather have more power? How good is the live well? Do you have raw water washdown included? Do you prefer the bimini top or the T top. Have any of you encountered rough sees and how did the boat fared? How far have you towed the boat?<br /><br />Many questions and I look forward for your insight!<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />RBruce
