July 2008 - montgomery_boats - mailman.xmission.com

Where's my halyard?
by Danelle Landis 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

I took my mom and stepdad sailing for the first time the other evening. My mom is very experienced at sailing, and her husband somewhat, and it turns out that I was really grateful for that crew that day! The sail started with me whining, because we were nearly becalmed. Sails flopping - *boring*. I'd wanted to delight them with the frisky, speedy sailing that my M17 "Ceto" can do. It was strange weather that evening though - warm but with an odd fog bank out in the open water that was shifting and blowing around. Where we were, it was sunny. As we were just talking, wishing for wind, all of a sudden came a perfect 12 or 15 k breeze, and we were happily whooshing along on a beam reach. The breeze was all over the place though, and we chased it around, as it veered wildly. Then we were becalmed again. Then we were zooming on a broad reach for awhile. Then wing-and-wing. It was just weird. Then we turned around to get back to the harbor, and it was the same thing - switching, unstable breezes, but we were able to stay mostly close hauled, pointing up well. It was fun and kept us on our toes. We got close to the harbor, and I was just about to start up the outboard and get the sails dropped when we felt this odd, sudden push of mist-filled wind. Then, BAM, we were hit *hard* by a wall of wind about 30 k - working jib up, main full up, both in tight because we'd been close hauled. My oh-so-helpful mom called out "We're at 40 degrees!" Okay, yes we were laughing and screeching like kids on a rollercoaster, but her husband George, at about 200 pounds, was on the lee side, and his rear was probably 3 inches from the water. He climbed back to the windward side, as I rounded up to lessen the heel a little, we eased the sheets and then we got pushed down to 40 degrees again (thanks Mom, for calling it out! ha ha) I gave in and popped the main, letting it swing out, as the wind was intensifying, and we were closer to shore than I liked. We swung around and went into irons, which was a welcome respite. We sat that way, for a few minutes, way too much wind blasting my poor old sails, while I had George take the helm and I got that outboard (Suzuki 4 hp) down and started faster than I ever have. (It's a little hard for me to get that bracket up and down) I powered us into the wind and my mom and George got the sails down. I've done a lot of thinking since, working out how I would have handled that if I'd been alone. Unfortunately, when my mom lowered the jib, there was NO halyard. At some point, the wimpy little U-shaped shackle had just let go, and I guess the wind pressure had been keeping the sail up. When we were getting the main up to start this sail, I'd been dismayed to see that the same style shackle on the main halyard was all bent and weakened. I'd had to bend it around to get it to work. We hadn't noticed anything wrong with the jib shackle. Now we have to learn how to get the mast down to replace it. Are those thin U-shaped shackles the original hardware for the boat? I have a hard time believing that they were - how would they have held up for 25 years, then break in less than ten outings with us? I'm sure the previous owners encountered odd powerful gusts here and there too. Danelle M17 #378 Ketchikan, AK http://web.mac.com/anniesark9/Site/Sailing_Ceto.html

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Where's Keith Diehl?
by Tom Smith 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

If you are out there Keith, please remove dharma bum from the for-sale list on the msog website. Thanks. tom

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rudder replacement
by jake horine 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

Hello All; We are in need of a new rudder for our m17. I thought I would get some advice and suggestions from the Monty group before I made any decisions. I have looked at the Idasailor ( the newest version ) but have some concerns about the gas shock. If they are anything like the ones that are commonley used on autos and campers they seem to have a relative short life span. Are their any other alternative designs. I wish to install a kick-up style, as I think I dodged a bullet by not damaging the transom when shredding to splinters the old rudder. Cheers Jake Horine M 17 1977 #263 "Fortuna'

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Re: M_Boats: help with slug order
by JDavies104＠aol.com 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

Not looking to get older faster, Jerry, it's out-of-control fast as it is! Rick ************** Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)

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Bolt Rope
by Mark Escovedo 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

I'm a Bolt rope, loose foot Main, kinda sailor. And a huge fan of full battens. Every go fast boat I ever raced on was set up this way. And though the go fast boats don't usually carry them, I've come to appreciate my furler. Here's to getting old and in the way Cheers! Mark Escovedo M17F/D #103"AMY"

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Re: M_Boats: Salvage
by Wcpritchett＠aol.com 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

In a message dated 7/2/2008 1:34:33 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, rick(a)skyko.com writes: Wouldn't the tow operater be in your employment if you pay them for a tow, thus making you the owner the person with rights to the "salvage"? I would think any lawyer worth his salt could argue something like that at any rate. Do you have a link to a case where this tow service actually won a boat they had been paid by the owner to tow? Also, in the other case, what would prevent someone from untying the dock lines on any particular boat they wish to *salvage* and waiting for it to drift out? I don't think that practice would be much out of the reach for someone who is willing to steal a boat via salvage anyway. I don't have any current links on salvage but plenty of case history was available online several yrs ago when I researched it. Google "Sea Tow wins salvage claim" if you need a place to start. Bill P **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)

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Re: M_Boats: help with slug order
by JDavies104＠aol.com 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

I'm some over 70, and with slugs on the main and a roller furling jib, I'm actually having a load of fun getting old! Rick M-17 #633 Lynne L ************** Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! (www.tourtracker.com ?NCID=aolmus00050000000112)

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Re: M_Boats: help with slug order
by Danelle Landis 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

Thanks Thomas, Howard, Paint4real and Ron for the pointer to Sailrite! I should have just looked in the archives - I remember sailrite mentioned here before. Thanks for patiently writing it for me again though. Thanks to Howard too, for the ideas on sail handling/raising, etc. I have to admit that I knew that the 150 genny was likely to be overkill the day I went out singlehanding, but I also have to admit that I was hoping for an exciting, wild ride that day. Most of the three-hour trip was just brisk breeze and some mild breezes too, but when the breeze came up for that one stretch - I got just what I was looking for. I was laughing out loud at a couple of points, just because I'd missed the excitement of hang-on-for-dear-life sailing over these last years. I do have a regular (not storm) jib that I use normally. It was ridiculously fun being over the top that day, but was a little worried about breaking the boat somehow since I'm still so new to it, and she is old. I do need to practice my reefing system too, my main has one only one line of reef points. Danelle "Ceto" M17 #378 Ketchikan, AK http://web.mac.com/anniesark9/Site/Sailing_Ceto.html

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Re: M_Boats: Ancient Mariner
by John R. Butler 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

I hate to say it, but I must agree with Ronnie--I have a full ten years on him and it is hell getting old. Still in a sling for another month or so, nearly two month since surgery to reattach a rotator cuff I pulled completely loose, other tears, plus my steadily increasing loss of balance will soon graduate me from a quad-cane to a walker. Must also agree with Rick--ten years ago I was sailing my 30-year wooden Cape Cod Catboat. Just 18' LOA, she carried a very powerful gaff rig with 273 square feet, had seen her pass 7.8 knots (not mph) on a broad reach. Then was then, now is now, had a marvelous sail today on my Beaver Lake (NW AR) with my youngest of four granddaughters, pushing 30 and becoming a most proficient seaman. She had Rejoyce! rolling along at 5.9 mph (gps, not knots) on a close reach with my baggy 22-year-old original sails. Of course she did all the work, all I did was coach her occasionally and otherwise admire this lovely exotic dancer. "Over the Hill" and "out of warranty" at 70? Check Psalms 90.10, be strong and make it to 80! No, my e-mail address is not salacious, it just refers to my last sailboat, "The Old Cat." Check her out at <http://www.unicorn- systems.com/theoldcat.htm> ...

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Re: M_Boats: Mounting T-track on toerail
by GILASAILR＠aol.com 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

I know (and it will be supported by others here) that I am NOT the sharpest stick in the bundle - But why do I need to weld track to a perforated toe rail on a sailboat? If I am to add track it will be inboard of the rail. Note the spacing of the 'perf's' on the rail - they are setup for attachment points for any number of things. If you like track, great, but they are not needed on the aluminum railed Montgomery's I have seen. GO. LB/GF! M-17 # 316a 'that ain't bad gelcoat -it's "patina"! Team Geezer Racing.....Old and in the Way Arizona Sailing Squadron PS I am a racer-type and adjust my leads freq. when racing. I also use barberhauls, and those little holes also serve as spiffy fender attach points if needed. Keep It Simple and multi-purposed. In a message dated 7/2/2008 12:54:28 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, openboatt(a)gmail.com writes: Speaking of tracks on toe rails (sorry if this has been discussed), but I was impressed to see how Rick (M23 Raven) mounted track on the alum. toe rail of his boat (see it on Bill's photo site). Very nice job. A worthy and useful upgrade for any Mboat with a metal toe rail... t _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats **************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! (www.tourtracker.com ?NCID=aolmus00050000000112)

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