July 2008 - montgomery_boats - mailman.xmission.com

Montgomery Sailboats are in high demand
by Bob Eeg 15 Jul '13

15 Jul '13

And are built with top-notch quality. There is nothing in the market place faster, better built and as good looking as a Montgomery Sailboat. I don't run a factory; I run a very small boatshop. I built to order on a boat by boat basis. I do a lot of custom work when asked. Bronze ports, Stainless ports, extra ballast, Custom electrical systems, Idasailor rudders, anchoring packages..etc. This work is labor intensive. Quality takes time. I have 3 employees. These people are highly experienced in Laminating, construction, assembly and finish. Woodworking and other skills result in a absolutely beautiful sailing vessel. I use the best sails the best rigging, the best custom stainless fasteners..and yes....(laughing) the best cushions. This last 15 months have been EXTREMELY busy; hiring new help was impossible because all the good people are gone. We had a tremendous BACKLOG and we caught a break only when Pacific Seacraft employees (let go) began filtering into our shop looking for work. We did add some additional crew in the Laminating Shop and because of that we are caught up. Pacific Seacrafts Bankruptcy was good for us. Bad for the dozens of good people who are out of work. The FIRST question of anyone buying a new boat should be 'How is the construction quality'? First and foremost that is the most important issue. I can say that everyone has experienced and will continue to experience a BACKLOG of orders; especially if the boat is as popular as a Montgomery Sailboat. When we had an 8 month backlog and I actually turned down 2 M_17 orders so we could catch our breath. It is impossible to work any harder or any faster. Now that were caught up we can get back to our normal 50-70 days (depending on model and options). Also custom work really adds to the production time. One beautiful M_17 we did we cut the V berth out of and installed an oval bulkhead, custom shelves and inline potti area; with 4 bronze ports she is an amazing boat, but custom work takes time. Expect delays if you go radical on the interior. (I think BONES has a photo of that one...) We are really one of the only builders that entertain changes and options to satisfy the customer. This new Passagemaker M_17 were building (and installing a windvane on tomorrow) is going to be amazing. Other actual boat factories that produce boats for DEALERS (that Tod mentioned) like Precision and Compac are built on Factory Production lines for a large Dealership Network. Dealers who have these boats in stock can supply them right away. But ask for major changes on a future production boat and the wait will be many months. International Marine builds boats faster with more employees but those boats are piss poor sailers (upwind) and many arrive with a list of problems that are pathetic. That's not me. So try not to focus on the TIME factor. We can only go so fast. Hiring additional help is not an option because by the time you train someone the season gets slow and you have to lay them off. I can't do that. I have people that have been with me for 20 years; I keep us small and efficient on purpose. So be surprised if we hit the delivery time; which we do quite often. Be a little disappointed when we miss it; but get over it when you see your boat. Dozens of you know me; you've arrived to see me rig your boat, pack you up and shake your hand. (Heck...Gary Hyde even brought me a bottle of wine..!..Thanks Gary.!) One man bought a new M_15 from us and a new M_17 a year later.! The C word...Cushions. I inspect everyboat before it leaves for home. Scott's boat was leaving for the Bay Area early Friday morning; I was at the boatshop at 10:30 PM Thursday night, sleeping at the picnic table just inside the door, waiting for the cushion guy to arrive with the (late) promised cushions. He drove up, woke me up and I watched as he stacked them on the deck. We left. My man arrived at 3AM and hooked up the boat and slid the cushions inside the boat. I should have loaded them myself then I would have noticed they looked good but didn't have the required 'Squeeze' factor. Let's move on, shall we....? Fair winds Bob Eeg (949) 489-8227 Boat Builder

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alternative to the tiller tamer
by Flickasf＠aol.com 11 Aug '08

11 Aug '08

Check out the Tiller Stay. You can find the site by googling it. It works quite well. An auto pilot will hold a magnetic course; I use one on my Flicka. Bert Felton M 15, #365 Zephyr ************** Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)

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A Fall Rondevous in the Southwest
by Ronnie Keeler 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

California, Wisconsin and North Carolina are a bit far away for some of us to attend a rendevous. I can barely imagine driving 1,500+ miles towing Griselda, my fin keel M17, behind a compact SUV with the dinghy on the roof rack. I noticed that there are several M boats listed on the yahoo site in the area around Texas, Lousiana, Arkansas and New Mexico so, perhaps we can plan a get together in late October when it has cooled off and the weather is so nice in this neck of the woods. Lake Texhoma is pretty centrally located and big enough to cruise for a few days. It also has the advantage of being fairly deep which would be great for me with Griselda's 39 inch draft (thus the dinghy on the top rack). The fall winds are fairly consistant and it is a dry part of the year with warm, sunny days and cool, clear nights (less mosquitos too). I had thought about Corpus Christi or Galveston Bay but it would be a long treck for some of the folks and it is nice to cruise in fresh water. Is anyone interested? Ron M17 #14 Griselda _________________________________________________________________ Time for vacation? WIN what you need- enter now! http://www.gowindowslive.com/summergiveaway/?ocid=tag_jlyhm

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Early fixed keel M17
by Ronnie Keeler 31 Jul '08

31 Jul '08

Moto Itu is a much newer boat (90s) and the keel is an extended version of the low aspect ratio fiberglass fin used with the keel/CB model. Griselda has a swept back higher aspect ratio cast iron keel with a large bulb similar to a Cal 20. I have attached pictures of the keel (before refinishing). If I understand correctly, Montgomery built 20 of these boats before developing the keel CB by popular demand after the 1974 boat shows. As you can see from the picture, (before restoration) Griselda required a lot of work to get her back to her old self. Most of the work after the bottom job was soap and water work and the sails, although 16 years old, probably don't have 5 hours use and were stored indoors. There is the full batten main with 2 sets of reef points, a 150 Jenny, a high cut 110, a #2 jib, a heavy storm jib and a spinaker with gear. There is rigging for jiffy reefing and lazy jacks in a box to be installed. Back when my Brother had her in the water on Lake Travis, she consistantly oursailed the two keel/CB M17s in the area. I am looking forward to re-launching her and mooring her at the dock behind my house. I will post both the before and after pix on the photo site soon. RonM17 #14Griselda _________________________________________________________________ Time for vacation? WIN what you need- enter now! http://www.gowindowslive.com/summergiveaway/?ocid=tag_jlyhm

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the missing 7
by Mark Escovedo 31 Jul '08

31 Jul '08

Where are the other 7 Flushdecks! I know where Coyote went and Amy is in my care, but does anyone out there know where the others went? It's like trying to find a long lost relative. The Flushdeck really is a very cool version of the M17, Every time I take Amy out I have to answer questions about her from interested sailors. No one has ever seen one before. It's kinda like walking down the street with a beautiful woman on your arm, people are always looking in your direction. Bob should seriously consider reviving the Type. Hell I'd provide the retractable bowsprits and masthead backstay extensions for him :) Fair Winds Mark E M17F/D #103 AMY p.s. The Criuse sounds great! but the drive would kill my trailer ( Im due for a new one)

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Re: M_Boats: montgomery_boats Digest, Vol 65, Issue 54
by Joseph Balla 31 Jul '08

31 Jul '08

I have a very cool vintage Montgomery 8' with the Sail option that I just added to the fleet. This is a solid little boat, with sail, boom, mast, oars and oar locks, centerboard, and rudder. It is very nice looking and although ready for the water, could be easily restored to magnificance with some paint, and a weekend or two of love. I am contemplating whether I have the time to do that or not. The hull id is: 71 5690879. I think these are getting rare in complete condition with all original sail option components. Would love comments on this from anyone that might have knowledge....Jerry?? I have photos taken this morning but do not know how to post them here, or if that is doable at all. Best, JB *"Seranita" M-17* San Diego, CA

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Sail This!
by Howard Audsley 31 Jul '08

31 Jul '08

For those of you who can remember the midwest floods from earlier this year, it's not over yet. I sail on Mark Twain Lake in NE Missouri. At normal pool it's an 18,000 surface acre lake with about 20 miles of winding channel and numerous coves to anchor out in. The 30 or so sailboats that call this home make do. So all spring, the Corps has been holding water (it's a mainly a flood control reservoir). Up until a week ago, the lake was about 25 feet over normal pool and ready to start meeting peak demands for the July/Aug AC loads. Doing what it was supposed to do. Except in the last week, the watershed has had about 10 to 15 inches of unexpected rain and caught the Corps with their pants down. In it's 20 year history, the record lake level has been 636' elevation, and the maximum flood control pool is 638 feet. In two days, they caught a 7 foot rise to 640' and nearly had water over the dam. Normally, the most water they will ever release from the dam is 12,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). As of yesterday, it was running 58,000 cfs, with warnings it may go to 78,000 or higher. In short, they nearly lost what is now a 40,000 surface acre lake that is 100' deep at the dam. http://www.southlakedesigns.com/mtlake5/mtlake5.html And as is normal for this time of year at sunset......no wind.

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Montys cruise in the Apostles
by Gordon Gilbert 31 Jul '08

31 Jul '08

The Midwest Montys cruise in Lake Superior's Apostles Islands National Lakeshore has now been scheduled. We'll depart from Bayfield on Thursday, Sept. 18, and return on Sunday, Sept. 21. See my post of July 23 for a potential cruise itinerary. Skippers who have less time could head out early or join up with us for the weekend. September is a beautiful month for sailing this area, with fall colors, steadier winds and tolerable (for some people) water temperatures for swimming in shallow bays. Join us for the adventure! Feel free to call or e-mail me if you have any questions. Gordon 952-890-7323

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Re: M_Boats: M23 for sale (maybe!)
by Paint4Real＠aol.com 31 Jul '08

31 Jul '08

"Shenanigans" not for sale, either. But I confess, I'd been feeling pretty sorry for myself, after spending three months' worth of after-day-job spare time dealing with hundreds of gelcoat blisters, after several more months' worth of researching and thinking about it, and after the long grinding-out fun, then applying epoxy, barrier, and bottom coats (14 coats in all). You're practically due for canonization after bringing this 23 back into the shipping lanes, after so much attention. Entres nous: do whatever's necessary to get the boat you want. There's a reason you're thinking about a move. Act on it. ************** Get fantasy football with free live scoring. Sign up for FanHouse Fantasy Football today. (http://www.fanhouse.com/fantasyaffair?ncid=aolspr00050000000020)

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Re: M_Boats: M23 for sale (maybe!)
by Larry E Yake 31 Jul '08

31 Jul '08

>>we recently became aware of a potential deal on vessel that we had identified as a possible candidate to suite those needs/desires in the future. Hmmm..... I guess that means a trade for the "superfast Mboat CornDog" would be out of the question.... <grin> I would say good luck on the sale, but frankly I hope you keep her! We would hate to lose you from the Monty group. Larry P.S. No, CornDog is not for sale! ____________________________________________________________ Picture this: get all your photography supplies by clicking now! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3n456a3e9rij6nl88lzWUhHe8…

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