---

Not sure I agree 100%, but whether theyre higher maintenace depends on use and location too. For example- I'm sure my '87 Custom would have waaay smaller and less frequent maintenance on a trailer, but I'm willing to trade that for convenient of use- and I might pay again on resale. I accept subject to all that.
In retro, there may be better ways to execute bouyancy, lightweight, reasonable cost, but to date, few have put it all together and stayed in the biz.
I'm no marine engineer/architect, but seems like a void should have been designed along the keel to collect and drain incidental water, where no foam is installed; to offset that small amount of bouyancy, maybe the foam could have been relocated vertically along the length of gunnels.
In the case of a Montauk, that may have been near impossible, but having an actual narrow bilge could have also accomodated a 'chase' for either fuel line or mechanicals- but all that would have certainly increased build costs.
I like these early designs b/c theyre so unique for their time. No doubt they can be a PITA to maintain, but even the most new designs have big issues.