September 2005 - montgomery_boats - mailman.xmission.com

Second sail
by Steve Shenkel 07 Sep '05

07 Sep '05

Labor Day weekend bore the fruits of boat work-I was able to spend another day with my M17. One of the issues that surfaced on the first sail was the sticking centerboard. To investigate this I got some shim stock sheets of stainless approximately 6" X 15" ranging in thickness from .015" to .030" thick from work. With leather gloves, I carefully jammed these pieces of shim stock into the space between the centerboard and the inside side wall of the centerboard trunk. Working my way around the whole centerboard, I was able to free up about 80% of the area by breaking free paint chips and corrosion on the outside of the centerboard. With a little coaxing, (tapping a .25" diameter rod through the pennant hole) I was able to get the centerboard to drop down. It would appear to have gone down most of the way, but I did not dive in to check. The second sail was great, but the morning winds only lasted for about two hours. Then it was back to rock and roll with the powerboat chop. Another bright note was the motor. When I purchased the boat it came with a Johnson 4.5 two stroke and a Honda 7.5 four stroke. Naturally the 4 stroke would have been my first choice, but the power and weight of the Honda looked more that the boat should have. After my first sail with the Johnson, although it worked, it sounded like it could use some help: Carburetor kit, water pump impeller, plugs, and etc. So I pulled it off and put on the Honda. I reasoned that if a bass boat can sport a 300 HP outboard, I could stretch the envelope for a few times and use a 7.5 HP four stroke. The motor worked great; quiet, powerful, and reliable. It will be a drag (perhaps literally) when I have to put the Johnson back on. Steve Shenkel M17 263 In Arizona

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RE: M_Boats: Auto Pilot mounting
by Morris, Giles 07 Sep '05

07 Sep '05

> I am curious about how others have mounted their auto pilots on M17's. I > have an older Navico Tiller-pilot and at first glance the coaming is too far > away, and the cockpit seat in too far below the tiller for any convenient > mounting arrangement? How have others accomplished this? I had a somewhat similar problem, in that the tiller was too far above the coaming. It all worked out on Dolphin by raising the coaming mount with a pedestal bracket rather like this http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/100 01/125525/10001/630/628/3 and by attaching a bracket below the tiller, somewhat like this http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/100 01/7598/10001/630/628/3 . It works well. If it's just a matter of distance, you could use an extension rod. I like mine enough that after it went nuts on my last trip (it misunderstood the Tack command as "Hard a starboard, and keep it there forever") I decided to buy another. Luckily, it restored itself to useful life after being unpowered for a while. Giles Morris Vancouver 25 Dolphin

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Re: M_Boats: Report from the Gulf Coast.
by LUDLOWD2＠aol.com 07 Sep '05

07 Sep '05

Hi all: Sweet Dream made it through the hurricane in my carport. We sustained only minor damage (I need a new roof and some new fences). Had I lived 60 miles to the west, I'd need a new house. We got a 15 ft storm surge in Mobile bay (plus or minus depending on where it was) which hit the barrier island and the lowlands pretty bad. My dughter had water stop an inch from coming in the door at her house on the river, her mother-in-law had 6 ft of water in her house. The Mobile yacht club got hammered but the club house is still there. The other 3 yacht clubs on the bay also sustained major damage. Doesn't look like I'll be doing any sailing for a while (no ramps and no gasoline). I'll also be busy helping relatives and friends pick up from their damage and we're doing what we can for the refugees. Their stories would break your heart. There'se always next year. Don Ludlow M-15 # 620 Sweet Dream

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(no subject)
by Steve R. 06 Sep '05

06 Sep '05

John, I did not recall the source of the comment, but I have always been puzzled by it. I now understand that with a different sail you might experience problems with the stock rudder that I have not. I appreciate the clarification. steve Steve R. M-15 #119 Lexington, KY

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Re: M_Boats: M-15 mast rake
by JazzYachts＠aol.com 06 Sep '05

06 Sep '05

>>>>>>>>BTW, I though the SCA review missed the mark with the rudder comment. Otherwise it was a good review. >>>>>>>>>> Well, you always have to consider the source. I have a background in racing dinghies and in general I'm terribly fussy about sail trim, balance, and helm feel. The SCA article left out a good bit of the context for my remarks, especially my emphatic caveat that my larger mainsail would have added weather helm even with the mast raked forward. Nevertheless, I don't think it does the design the slightest disservice to suggest that a wider and slightly shallower rudder would be an improvement for casual sailing. However, as a boat manufacturer myself I'm definitely sympathetic that the M15 rudder is cheaper to produce as designed. Cheers, John

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M-15 mast rake
by Steve R. 06 Sep '05

06 Sep '05

Just out of curiosity, is mast rake a static setting, or should it be changed with the wind conditions? BTW, I though the SCA review missed the mark with the rudder comment. Otherwise it was a good review. steve Steve R. M-15 #119 Lexington, KY Jerry Montgomery wrote: ... I always thought the 15 had a terrific rudder. I guess I never read the review, but maybe the boat that they used was in a poor state of tune; blown-out sails or a mast that was raked too much. ...

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I want a Montgomery bad look...
by B. Mayer 06 Sep '05

06 Sep '05

I used to have people shout out their car windows at me on the freeway, "What kind of boat is that?"! And they hadn't even seen it in the water. Bobbie

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I want a Montgomery bad look...
by Norm Bundek 06 Sep '05

06 Sep '05

I was just finishing a sail yesterday when a guy came up to with a wide grin and question: Is that a Montgomery? His grin did not leave his face the whole time he was looking my M15 over. His wife sat in his car looking bored. I swear he had the "I want a Montgomery grin" on his face until he was in his car and out of site. I wonder if that's how I looked when saw my Monty and bought it? Norm M15 #172

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re: M_Boats: my idea of a great sail
by Norm Bundek 05 Sep '05

05 Sep '05

Jerry, Your current posting about "kicking butt" is a testament to M15's. Last weekend, I went out with a Potter group to Anacapa Island (16 miles offshore) off the Southern California coast in a small craft advisory. A second M15 and I made the island well in advance of the Potter's; some were quite far behind us. Pictures of the trip should be on the Potter web site by Labor Day. Since your performance is so good, do you have a stock M15 rudder? One of the past owners of my 1981 M15 #172 replaced the rudder with his own design. I happened to re-reading the Sept/Oct 2004 issue of Small Craft Advisor on their M15 review. The only knock on the Monty was the rudder's design (p. 52) in that "it's an extremely 'high aspect ratio' plank of mahogany, more or less shaped like an airfoil...the narrow rudder blade is often stalled, which tires the helmsman and slows the boat". Any thoughts on this review - anyone? I've been thinking of buying a new stock rudder in order to bring my boat into spec and hopefully increase performance. After last weekends sail, I know that I am sailing pretty well for a new sailor. But, I want to hit the top of a Monty's performance. Norm M15 #172 Ventura, CA

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Photo Site Addition
by BILLAMICASR＠aol.com 04 Sep '05

04 Sep '05

Hi All, Just posted the 1982 Bristol Channel Cutter chartered by "Bones" during the N.W. Cruise of the San Juan Islands of Washington. If you've visited Randy Graves site you've probably already seen the pics. If you'ld like to read a little about what Bones said about the boat and the trip. Go To: http://www.funtigo.com/MSOG?b=280103&c=1789789&p=start&cr=1 If you've not been to Randy's site. Go To: http://sailing.gravesfam.us/

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