December 2005 - montgomery_boats - mailman.xmission.com

Re: M_Boats: 23 weight
by Rmceagrella＠aol.com 20 Dec '05

20 Dec '05

I pulled my M23 with original trailer from Portland to Spokane with my F150 and it pulled great. This 150 has the bigger triton v8 though. Also, good surge brakes and a well balanced trailer are essential in this weight class. Have had some hairy times with a large (read high windage/heavy) power boat with a heavy stern that I have. Even with a well balanced trailer, if there is a lot of weight behind the trailer wheels the wheels become a pivot point and the trailer can begin to fishtail in a turn with little input from the driver.

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Re: M_Boats: 23 weight
by Sandyal55＠aol.com 20 Dec '05

20 Dec '05

If you're only going to tow to the Coast once a year and launch in Havasu, you have all the truck you need. If you're going cross country every year after retirement, Better get something a bit bigger. Sandy

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Re: M_Boats: Weights
by Rmceagrella＠aol.com 20 Dec '05

20 Dec '05

Just weighed my original M23 trailer in order to licence it. It is within a hair of 1200lbs. Rick

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Re: M_Boats: 23 keel question
by Rmceagrella＠aol.com 19 Dec '05

19 Dec '05

Sean, I went down today and did a rough measurement of the centerboard thickness. I was unable to drop the board but I could lay underneath and look up. Because the exposed edge is a tapered leading-edge I could not get a direct measurement but I could look up into the cavity and approximate it against the ruler in my hand. It is thinner than I had thought probably 3/4" to 1". Also, I was thinking about your need to minimized time on the sling. A couple of thoughts came to me: If the pivot pin is not exposed do it in advance, expose it. I remember thinking I knew just where it was on my old M15 only to end sanding a fairly large area to locate it. Also, could you remove the centerboard stop-pin before they got there (though it could be touchy with the crane guy to allow you to let got the winch while still in the sling). That way maybe you could sling the boat over a flat surface lower it down, loosen the winch, knock out the pivot pin, raise the boat, unfasten the pendant, lay the board over, set the boat down, and move the centerboard about with one of those hydraulic engine hoists. No matter how you do it, have a few guys there to stabilize that centerboard...Wish I could help. I'm sure you have given all of this a great deal of thought and have got a plan...But what the Hell, being an armchair quarterback is irresistible...HA! Besides I get to learn from you the best way to do this!!! Talk to ya soon, Rick

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Re: m23 keel
by Nebwest2＠aol.com 19 Dec '05

19 Dec '05

Thanks for the info Dick. I email back and forth with Bones and he's been a great source of info...(and ecouragement). His boat is beautiful as is his buddy Theo's. Sounds like Rick is gonna be able to get me a measurement off of his 23, which is also undergoing a major refit. Actually, we're not going to use the trailer at all in the process of doing the bottom and keel. I have regular sailboat stands that we are going to have the boat hoisted onto by a crane. While it's hanging in slings of the crane we are going to remove the keel. Then the boat's gonna be placed on the stands. While I finish the bottom/blister job I can also get the keel back in shape. Then in a couple of months when everything is complete, we'll re-install the keel while the boat is on her way from the stands back to the trailer. It sounds so "simple" doesn't it??!! We'll see I guess. Thanks again for the advice. Sean

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23 keel question
by Nebwest2＠aol.com 19 Dec '05

19 Dec '05

OK, I know somebody out there knows this and can help me out. I am in the process of modifying a hydraulic lift table to assist in dropping the keel out of my 23 (and raising it back in). With the boat on the trailer, the entire keel slot is obscured by a 2x6 bunk that the keel sits on. I am trying to have all the bases covered so that when the crane shows up he lifts the boat, swings it over the lift table, the keel is lowered into the supports I'm making on the table and secured, pins are knocked out and pendant detached and then the boat is lifted and swung onto its stands leaving the keel on the table. We'll reverse the process when the work is done to re-install (or at least that's the grand plan). My problem? Well, I need to know the thickness of the cast iron swing keel so I can have the supports ready to go. To me time is time and my time doesn't seem to be worth much to anybody ...hahaha.....BUT the Crane Guys time is EXPENSIVE!!!! So we want to do this right the first time. So, does anyone out there know what the thickness of the m23's keel is??? I'm guessing somewhere around an inch....but honestly, I never paid attention to the darn things thickness either of the two times I've seen it!! Stupid ha??? It sure is nice to have a group like this to turn to for info and advice. Thanks in advance. Sean

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Re: M_Boats: 23 trailer weight
by BILLAMICASR＠aol.com 19 Dec '05

19 Dec '05

In a message dated 12/19/2005 8:09:21 AM Pacific Standard Time, Sandyal55(a)aol.com writes: The only M23 I know the weight of, weighed 5600 lbs on the trailer. It was pulled by a 3/4 ton Ford with a 460 motor. Thanks Sandy & Sean, That's one out of three. I will use the 1200 pounds as trailer weight and I think I'll round it out to "Approximately 5000 pounds" For an unladen M-23 on her trailer. That is a pretty good figure for folks to use when contemplating the M-23. Bill

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23 weight
by Nebwest2＠aol.com 19 Dec '05

19 Dec '05

Sandy , That sounds real close to what we were figuring. We towed our 23 cross country with a Chevy Tahoe. I was a little concerned about the Tahoe's size but it had the bigger V-8 and a tow package on it and it did just fine. We towed 65-70 all the way but obviously it hammered the mileage. We went from 17mpg with the empty trailer, to usually 13mpg average (once in a while as low as 10 on grades). I had had a Ford 3/4 ton with a 460 and a 4 speed in the past. That truck would pull a house but I think back then I thought 10mpg was good if I remember correctly!!

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Re: M_Boats: 23 trailer weight
by Sandyal55＠aol.com 19 Dec '05

19 Dec '05

The only M23 I know the weight of, weighed 5600 lbs on the trailer. It was pulled by a 3/4 ton Ford with a 460 motor.

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23 trailer weight
by Nebwest2＠aol.com 19 Dec '05

19 Dec '05

Bill According to the paperwork that came with the trailer we purchased from Pacific, our trailer for our 23 weighs in around 1200lbs. With the stock boat weight at 3600 (when it was new and empty) that gives us 4800lbs total. We figured that after 26 years of modifications, soaking up (a little?) water, gear, and equipment that we probably needed to add another 1000lbs to that number to play it safe. I know it sounds like a lot but heck, just a full 6 gallon fuel can is 50 lbs or better, 4 stroke motor at 110 lbs, 20 gallon full water tank at 175 lbs,ground tackle, etc. It adds up fast! One of these days I'll have to get her on a scale. It would be interesting to see what she will weigh ready to head to the ramp geared up for a week on the water. Maybe more like Scary!!! Sean

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