Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images When the U.S. achieved its independence, the country was hopeful that its new standing would usher in an era of free trade. â
Bay boats have a low profile. They are designed for use in shallow waters of large shallow bays, estuaries or near shore. Bay boats are 18'â24' in length and are fiberglass because they are used in salt or brackish waters. They have more freeboard than a flats boat.
If you limit your choice of boats to 17-foot hulls, you probably can't find a better one than a Whaler Montauk for operating in open water like Lake Michigan or Lake Erie. However, I don't think serious fisherman would make a 17-Montuak their first choice for those waters, preferring instead to go with a larger boat.