August 2004 - montgomery_boats - mailman.xmission.com

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by jdl100＠bellsouth.net 30 Aug '04

30 Aug '04

I have acquired a M17 and have some questions I hope someone can answer. Can you go aloft while in the water, is the boat stable enough? What is mast hight above water? What are the rails on the cockpit coaming for? Thanks, JDL

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Re: M_Boats: Working, working, cruising, cruising - long
by chbenneck＠juno.com 30 Aug '04

30 Aug '04

Hi Doug, You are so right! Only in our Tripp-Lentsch I drew 5 feet, so was rather careful of where I went, but the shallow edges of harbors are made for M15s But from the perspective of a Montgomery 15 (or 17) we can go in thin water where the others can't and so can use the little nooks. The next time you are in the Hyannis area, let me recommend a trip to Cotuit. (west of Hyannis) As you enter Cotuit you will find a lift bridge. Just beyond the bridge is the Crosby (Crosby catboat) yard. Further in, is a lovely protected area - ideal playpen for a M15 - if it's blowing outside. The aforementioned bridge leads to an island (full of homes of very wealthy and very private people) You can sail all around the island. The side facing Nantucket Sound - as I recall - doesn't really show a navigable passageway, between the barrier sand dunes and the island, but there is. I've been through there and that passage alone it worth a special trip. One of the memorable things we saw there was a family's boats; at their private dock, naturally. There was a beautiful 40 something foot sloop; an equivalent sized power boat; then came the teenager's "toys" Wiannos, Herreshoff 12 1/2s; a Boston Whaler, and I don't recall what else (I was trying to stay in a very narrow passage) - and every boat had the identical paint job: black hulls, light green anti-fouling and a white boot top. All teak was highly varnished. It was a spectacular sight! Check your charts and visit it next trip! Connie

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Re: M_Boats: Working, working, working...
by chbenneck＠juno.com 30 Aug '04

30 Aug '04

Bill Now that sounds like a great place to visit.............. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Years ago, when we lived in Europe I organized a trip to United Aircraft's solid rocket engine plant in Sunnyvale, CA. A friend there, knew I was a sailor so he organized a sail on SF Bay. We departed from a Marina which must have be near the baseball stadium, and sailed to Sausalito. There we had dinner. Later the children went to sleep in the forward berths, (10 hour time difference from Germany) while we had the most memorable night sail imaginable. Full moon. Not a cloud in the sky. Temperature - pleasant We had a broad reach from Sausalito all the way back to the Marina. All of SF lit up (just for us). Talk about a memorable sail! We still talk about it and savor it! Connie

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RE: M_Boats: rails?
by Smith, Tom 30 Aug '04

30 Aug '04

Someone else can speak to going aloft because I never have, but rails on the cockpit coaming sounds like an aftermarket addition by the fdo. Are these real hand-hold kinds of rails? You're not talking about track for lead cars--you're talking about hand-hold rails? t Tom Smith and Jane Van Winkle M15--345 Chukar M17--064 Unnamed mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats

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Re: M_Boats: Piankatank River/Gwynn Is. Cruise
by BILLAMICASR＠aol.com 29 Aug '04

29 Aug '04

Stan & Carol... Sounds like a wonderful trip. The comments from other sailers always makes ones chest swell just a bit. How fun! Bill SF Bay

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Re: M_Boats: Working, working, working...
by BILLAMICASR＠aol.com 29 Aug '04

29 Aug '04

Hi Connie, Amen to trailer sailing. I also prefer the smaller boats. I know a couple of people who are partners in a Cat 320. Nice boat that sits in her slip about 350 days out of the year. Probably would have been better to invest in a beach front condo as the boat is basically used for social events at the dock. Good for them I guess... I think all of our pastimes have gone, or are going by the wayside. I used to do a lot of backpacking. Twenty years ago it used to be said all you have to do to get away from the vandals is get 1/2 mile into the forest and you'll be safe. No longer the case. I fear people more than I feal bears and mountain lions. At least the wild critters are predictable. I used to do a lot of river running (whitewater) and we felt safe to think we were among friends in a 50 mile wilderness river trip. Not any more. There are weirdo's out there too. I somehow thought sailing would be different. Now I find the (new) owners of the big boats are snobs or just plain inconsiderate. However... I've had my best fun with the trailer sailing crowd. Seems like, for the most part, all we want to do is have a little fun. You'll like this tale... I've been to Mexico a few times. The first was a tourist trip to Mazatlan, very nice, and very tourist like. The second time I flew down and met a friend with a 42' monster sailboat. We were treated with respect deserving visiting royalty. Sort of boring. Nice boat though. Third time, I went with a friend towing an aluminum bass boat. Nothing fancy, just a decent fishing boat. We went to a large lake (Bacaburito) east, into the mountains from Guaymas, MX. We intended to spend a week fishing for Largemouth Black Bass. Instead, we befriended a couple of commercial fishermen, who were after Tilapia (another fish) and we ended up staying for two and a half weeks. Eating dinners with their families, helping them with their commercial fishing, drinking cervesas (beer) until we couldn't stand up. And having the time of our lives. These people weren't rich and were just being themselves when they offered their friendship. I'll never forget that trip. I'm planning another trip to Mexico this winter. I can assure you, when I go... I'll go as myself. I don't want to be considered special, I just want to have a little fun. It's only been 5 years since the fishing trip. I'm hoping I'll be able to meet some quality locals while sailing my little sailboat into their fishing villages. I'll be keeping a diary of this adventure, to be assured. Regards, Bill SF Bay M-17 #496 "Tiperary"

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Re: M_Boats: Working, working, working...
by chbenneck＠juno.com 29 Aug '04

29 Aug '04

Hi Bill, East Coast sailing used to be fun.............. Back in '75 when we first started sailing the area, our sailing gang, The Goose Island Cruising ( boozing and snoozing) Club would take off from Noank, CT and sail to Block Island. Next stop was Cuttyhunk, at the lower end of Buzzards Bay. Then Hadley's Harbor where we would raft up - five boats - for Happy Hour. Cotuit, Chatham, Nantucket, Edgartown, Cuttyhunk and home would then be a two week cruise. In those days it was quiet and peaceful; you could anchor in each harbor and sailing was enjoyable. By the time we sold our big boat, harbors were wall to wall boats (fiberglass doesn't just rot away and disappear), as the factories churn out more product............. Towns had moorings - you now had to take a Town mooring (and found strangers rafted up to you the next morning) - and pay. Launch services were added, with the launches running till 1 AM and rolling you out of your berths as they charged back and forth trough the anchorage. That was when we finally contemplated our navels and came to the realization that the costs far outweighed the pleasures: sold the big boat and went small................ Now I go where the big boys can't go; costs are almost $0 for maximum pleasure; and I sail were I have peace and quiet again. Connie

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Re: M_Boats: Working, working, cruising, cruising - long
by BILLAMICASR＠aol.com 29 Aug '04

29 Aug '04

What a difference from East to West. Just looking at the map and it's amazing to see all of the varied places you can sail on the east coast. You could cruise indefinately using all of the skills of a master mariner. Coastal cruising on the East coast means something. Here in the West, we have bays and sounds. But to get from one to another, it's best to be done at 55 mph (I love trailer sailers). My idea of cuising is a few days under sail and a day or two at a resort or village to get a fresh shower, a real meal and to meet the locals. In fact that may be my idea of the perfect cruise. I've been asked if I would like to do SF to Hawaii. I don't think so. To far, to many days and not very high on the fun-o-meter. However, a couple of weeks or more just messing around and I'm happy! I especially like your statement about... "The Edgartown harbor master made a special trip out to visit with us because he "new who was having the most fun in the harbor"". I truely believe Harbor Masters are just working people like I am. Fot them to spot a small cruiser must make their day. Thanks for the cruising recap Bill SF Bay M-17 #496 "Tiperary"

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Re: M_Boats: Hess Fest Update
by TOMMYVAL＠aol.com 28 Aug '04

28 Aug '04

ok now we have 7

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Re: M_Boats: Hess Fest Update
by Chapdw＠aol.com 28 Aug '04

28 Aug '04

Gary, Count me in too! Dennis

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