Butt what do ya need.

[JJC]

So, you guys say a Boston Butt takes six hours of smoke PLUS 13 hours just cooking in the BS without smoke to reach 180? Damn, that's a long time. I was figuring 13 total.

About the fat side up question, when I did BB in my old water smoker, I trimmed off as much external fat as I possibly could. That way, I got more edible bark, aka, Mr. Brown. There's more than enough fat inside the meat that you don't need to worry about basting.

Welcome, BostonBBQer!  There are a few of us in the Boston area, and a bunch more not too far away . . . where in the Boston area are you smokin'?