I've been looking into an open hull tiller boat for the Sound, and came up with these 3. Have you fished them?

1. Alumaweld Free Drifter- Too much of a river boat with 6 degree
deadrise? http://www.alumaweldboats.com/new_vehicl...;ModelYear=2010

2. Lund 1750 Outfitter- Like the bow for flyfishing and day storage too.
http://www.lundboats.com/Showroom/2010/Wilderness/2010_1750_outfitter.html#flrpln

3. Hewes Open Fisherman - the 18' might be the one. 22 degree deadrise with 10 degree in the stern.
http://www.hewescraft.com/2007/openfisherman/index.html

If you could sacrifice the tiller and go with the console, the 17ft. Boston Whaler Montauk can handle some serious chop and has tons of room. Ofcourse they're not exactly inexpensive but you could find a deal out there for sure.

They will all work. Heck I have ran my 18 ft 6degree super vee to tatoosh out of neah bay.

I had an open boat but it makes for a wet ride most days. If you have kids and plan on taking them out, you'd better get some full-on rain gear. I sold it and went to a console boat. Lots more comfortable and you can put up a top to keep the rain and fog off of you.

I agree - Aluminum boats tend to be cold. Having something to break the wind and keep the rain off makes a ton of difference some days. I now have a glass boat with a canvas cover over the open bow. You can button the whole boat up with a full canvas with room for 4 behind the windshield when it gets nasty, take it all down for an open boat with a walk-through to the bow when it is nice out. Plenty of room for casting.

My recommendation would be for nothing less than 18'. I've spent time in the 16' boats and they always seemed just short enough to plow into the wind chop rather than spanning the wave frequency. The 18', as a minimum, makes for a much smoother and dryer ride.

I would also lean towards a winshield/canvas to get out of the weather.

Pussie's!

That's why god invented Grunden's!

My 16' Lund is fine most days but a little wet when choppy.

Gotta agree about the Mauntauk! My buddy just had his completly re-resined and re-glassed. His '68 now looks (and is) as nice as any 2010 you'll find at the boat show!

Sometimes in the sound when it gets choppy you won't be able to run on plane and a tiller is a disadvantage for seeing whats in the water in front of you.

I had a 17' Alumaweld Super Vee which is the same basic hull as the Free Drifter. My SV had a 10° hull though.

I fished it all over the sound and the straits. It worked fine,but like was mentioned it was a rough,wet ride.

I ran it for a couple years and ended up selling it and getting a windshield boat.

I don't miss the open boat at all.

Tiller only; we have (access to) whalers, windshields, etc, but need an open boat to round out the menu.

I fished for years in Lunds and duraboats from 14-16 ft. All with tillers and no top. When the weather gets rough you get wet and you gotta sloooow down and like was mentioned before it can be hard to see. OTOH They are easier to luanch and if you stay in the harbor or its a flat day in the summer you are fine. I am now spoiled with a windshield, full canvas, and a cushy seat. Now when i get wave splash its the boat that gets wet not me. Also a lot warmer. In the good weather you can leave the top at home

I'm not a fan of Boston Whalers for fishing around here and I'm less of a fan of center consoles, lots of reasons for both opinions. Can't say anything about the BWs because I sell to that industry and at times they're a customer.