Dear Paul,
We’re in that “tweener” stretch - past July’s frenzy, not yet in the early-fall push. A perfect time to talk about something near and dear to many Cape Codders: the classic Boston Whaler.
My first Whaler moment wasn’t exactly brochure-worthy. Early 1980s, my first Cape trip -Harwich Port - visiting a high school pal. We wandered into Allen Harbor Marine and met a salesman who’d clearly had a late night: pencil legs, cutoff jeans, disheveled hair, dart hanging from his mouth, and boozy breath. We pretended to be serious buyers, asking about the 17’ Montauk. He humored us… until he took a drag, squinted, and in a thick Boston accent said, “Alright, you two idiots… get the hell outta here.”
Fast-forward a few decades - ironically, I now own that exact model. And there’s a reason it’s called the “unsinkable legend.”
Why the Whaler Endures
From the Montauk to the Outrage, Whalers are the ultimate utility boats- practical, fast, and virtually indestructible. Their foam-filled hull has been famously sawed in half and still floated. Fishermen, families, and rescue crews swear by them. A friend once compared the Montauk to the old BMW T2002: classic, timeless, utilitarian. BADASS.
On the Cape, you see them everywhere - leaving harbors at sunrise, pulling kids on tubes, or anchored at sandbars. And they’re just as perfect on a lake in North Carolina, Maine, or Michigan.
For me, the appeal is more than specs - it’s part of Cape Cod’s DNA, woven into memories of hauling in stripers, island-hopping, or racing a storm back to port!!
A Parallel to Cape Cod Real Estate
Owning a Whaler is like owning the right Cape property - it’s about legacy. Both hold value for decades, and both give back more than they take. As we head toward the next selling season, I’m reminded: the best boats - and homes - are built to last, timeless, and ready for anything
Heres my 17’ Montauk, The Oystercatcher - a little more polished than the one I ogled as a teenage knucklehead, but still the same classic lines. She’s fast as hell, sips fuel, and is ready for anything.
I added a poling platform so I can nose into the flats off Monomoy chasing bass or to just wander the shoreline. I repainted the interior in the classic Whaler blue (not original to this model, but I love it). And with a 90HP Yammi on the back, my little hotrod will top 40 knots - over 50 mph for you non-mariners.
If you’ve got a Boston Whaler story - or want to talk about finding your own “unsinkable” piece of the Cape, hit reply or swing by on Friday at the Chatham Perk. I’ll be there (and yes, still insisting they serve the BEST coffee on the elbow).
Best,
Paul Borde'
Realtor® | Coastal Cape Cod, MA
License: 9585841 (MA)