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New 1976 M17 owner
by randy kaminski 31 May '22

31 May '22

Hello Group, and thank you for accepting me! I’m hoping to be in the water as soon as possible but have a few questions—if it is better to ask them one at a time, please let me know. 1. Is it best to mount the outboard on the original transom cut-out? Advantage/disadvantages? 2. Ladder suggestions? I would like to easily climb out of the water if unexpectedly needed. 3. Has anyone added a wet locker on a pre-wet locker model—if so, how to or photos? (I would like the area for the fuel tank, and better cockpit drainage) 3. Information for original sink drain plumbing and cockpit drain(one of the previous owners added hoses and I want to be sure I have the most safe and effective fixtures) 4. Any books, or how-to set up guides that could be purchased or downloaded for the M17? 5. Suggestions? (I will be lowering the keel to inspect and service... I am replacing waterlogged balsa core in fore-deck and around mast step... just trying to get everything safe and functional now, but still considering upgrades...) Thank you group! Randy Kaminski (eastern upper peninsula of Michigan)

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Mast curve
by Jon Barber 31 May '22

31 May '22

Having reread my post regarding the M17 fixed Keel boat and its curved mast, my post should have read "convex forward". The curve in the mast is bowed toward the front of the boat. I have seen this on fractional rigs but never on a masthead rig. My understanding of the purpose of a curved mast is to de power the rig by flattening the sail. Am I anywhere near correct in this conclusion? Is the purpose of having two lower shrouds on a track to be able to adjust mast curve? Was this an original rig configuration? The rigging does look professionally built. On the matter of fixed Keel boats; there seems to be two styles of fixed keels. One fiberglass model and one cast iron. Does anyone have experience boats with the cast iron keel? Are they more weatherly? Are they stiffer? Can anyone post photos of the cast iron keeled boats? I assume there were very few of these boats were made. Jon Barber Monty17 Ol'44

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New list member
by Kenneth D Tothero 30 May '22

30 May '22

Hi Folks, New subscriber to the list. Surprised I didn't find it earlier. I'm a fairly novice sailor (college sailing club, former father-in-law's Westsail 32, some spectacularly inept summer Laser racing...), who retired in 2018 and for whom getting more seriously into sailing was near the top of the bucket list (#1 was to ride my bicycle coast to coast, which I did right out of the gate). I'm not embarrassed to admit that I've had the round-the-world sailing dream since I was a child and still believe it could happen. After finishing the long bike ride I started looking for opportunities to take a liveaboard ASA 101/103/104 course. I'd been communicating with several companies when one of them had a last minute cancellation and asked if I could be in Baja in 3 days. The discount was significant and, surprisingly, I was able to get reasonably priced flights. Had a great week aboard a Jeanneau 439. After that my next goal became to own my own boat. I can't remember exactly how I became aware of Montgomery boats, but once I did I realized that they seemed perfectly aligned with my adventurous and minimalist bicycle touring/backpacking ethos. I started the hunt for a M17. Somewhere along the way I became aware of Sage boats and added them to the search. After about 6 months I found a Sage 17 in western North Carolina. I flew over there to look at it. The boat looked great and in Jan 2020 I became the proud owner of 2015 Sage 17 #28. So there I am in NC, 1100+ miles away from my home in Austin, TX, with a boat on a trailer and no vehicle (even back home) capable of towing it. So within 24 hours of buying the Sage, I bought a Honda Ridgeline pickup and headed west, Sage in tow. Tough day on the savings account, but hey, this is exactly what I worked all those years for. Got home and found a marina on local Lake Travis. Started to sail her literally WEEKS before the entire world locked down! As I've mentioned, I'm PRETTY novice (and was living by myself at the time), and the thought of single handing was daunting. After making a dozen tentative practice runs in and out of my slip under the power of my 2 HP Honda (& w lots of bumpers deployed and boat hook on hand), I started sailing solo several times a week, continuing that way until vaccines became available. I've moved the boat since and now am now parked in the marina of the local racing club. In addition to sailing my Sage in the Friday night Beer Can races, I've been crewing on a few racier boats - mostly J/22s. I wouldn't say that I'm a passionate racer, but it's a friendly and sociable club and I figure that it can't help but make me a better sailor. That's a bit of a treatise I know, but thanks for having me. I've been active on the Montgomery FB group and have benefitted ENORMOUSLY from the generous sharing of knowledge that takes place over there. I look forward to being part of the conversation here has well. Ken Tothero - Sage 17, Encore - Austin, TX

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Crank up keel
by Jon Barber 29 May '22

29 May '22

Jerry, Will you elaborate about the crank up keel as "designed by Lyle Hess". It now seems that the M17 was offered with 4 keel configurations. Fixed cast iron bolt on Fixed fiberglass with ballast Keel centerboard Crank up cast iron. I'm so confused? The more I read about these great boats the more I find I need to learn. Being able to easily launch and retrieve my boat has allowed me to experience sailing in many different environments. I have sailed all over N. California in the last 6 years, from delta to ocean to sf Bay and found my boat able to handle everything I have encountered. I've always made it home safe. That was the driving design consideration when the boat was concieved, and it has succeeded admirably. Jon Barber Monty17 Ol'44

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M15 outbard fuel consumption
by Jim Sadler 29 May '22

29 May '22

Do any of you skippers know approx the fuel consumption with 2.3 hp Honda? Thanks Capt Jim M15 Pelican Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>

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Fixed Keel 17
by Jon Barber 25 May '22

25 May '22

Found one for sale. Are they less desirable than the c board modem model? This one has no trailer and has been in the water a long time. It needs painting, but the rig seems to be all there. It has newer sails and standing rigging. It has no sink. Would anyone venture a guess on a valuation? It would be a good boat for SF Bay, or costal passages, baja. I also noticed right away that the mast was curved, concave forward. It had 2 lower shrouds each side mounted to a track. It's different than my boat. The mast did seem raked properly. Photos Jon Barber Monty 17 Ol'44

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Bedding
by David Hill 15 May '22

15 May '22

I know this has been discussed endlessly in the past, but of course I never wrote it down. What is the best stuff for bedding a deck fitting to keep things dry? Thanks, David

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Buy & sell M17
by Charles Adams 15 May '22

15 May '22

I spent many years flying and owned a number of planes. Love Piper tailwheel AC. Decided I was bored with flying for number of reasons and told my wife such and the next evening taking off lost a front wheel. I had it under control landing on one wheel but hit a bump, grass strip, and drove axel into ground. Flipped plane on top and totaled. Went to ER for a few stitches and told I got it running into a door. Trust me the less told about an AC crash the better. Insurance bought plane. Decision was made for me to move on from flying. Enter the M17 that I had only seen once during the mid 70s and always wanted one. Never was on it but sailed against it in regattas. I also was sailing during flying. I know how to waste money. I wanted something special so found a 2005 M17 in good condition. Second one I had seen. Next Pandemic hits and decide to restore boat. Removing vinyl was most time consuming. Checked sign shop to do it but quoted $400 so decided it would be easy. How wrong I was. I ended up using a disk eraser attached to drill. Next was removing a number of varnish layers. My plan was in fall to sail/motor through NY canals, Hudson River to Potomac River. Decided wise to do masthead antenna for VHF radio and new light for NYC passing. Replaced all rigging with new and all lines to cockpit. Then a Simrad 2000 AP at a cost of $1000. The mount was the expense and I hired it done. Now to the Sell. I’m a bicyclist and after buying M17 clipping along at a good speed hit something that drove me off highway and I exited bike over handle bars. Thankfully my brain still knew how to do a PLF (parachute landing fall) learned 60 years ago. Cost me two broke ribs, punctured lung and broken clavicle. Clavicle became an issue because incompetent Doc decided it didn’t need to be reattached and I lost all sailing for that year and was just told by another Doc it will never heal. Arthritis in shoulder also. The only solution is a replacement. That’s a 6 month heal as I had the other shoulder replaced 7 years ago and I won’t consider it during summer. To sail M17 I would have to keep it in a marina and I’m not a marina person and I want no crew. Not what I bought boat for. I wanted it to move around and rigging it up and down is very painful for me. Based on the facts my decision to sell M17 and move on. During past year I’ve been depressed looking at it set in my hangar and I’m not doing another year. I’m not advertising here just sharing my disappointment since I spent 45 years wanting a M17. The big regret is not being able to learn the boat. I’m 82 with no plans to stop sailing as I have a Drascombe Lugger I bought in England 40 years ago. Many adventures with it. Even though I have problems with my shoulder the Lugger presents no problem. My other is to keep moving so bought E-bike that will give me a 200 mile range with peddle assist. Great for riding canals here and Canada plus can use Lugger also. Did some of the canals in Holland with it. Hopefully I’ve given you a few helpful tips. Charlie Adams Chaada(a)aol.com Sent from my iPad

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M15 for sale in Pennsylvania
by Lang Smith 14 May '22

14 May '22

1985 M15 for sale in great shape. New sails, Honda outboard, sail covers, only used lightly for two seasons. Has nice aluminum trailer, but will need homemade trailer title if you plan to license it. Was a Wisconsin boat, where small trailers are not licensed. Located in Grove City, Pennsylvania. Email for photos, more info. $5,900. Lang Smith: envirogeogprof(a)gmail.com -- Follow me on Twitter @Envirogeogprof

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Registration
by Jon Barber 08 May '22

08 May '22

Looking at my registration and title I see I am owner of a Mongomery sailboat. Will you other sailors check your documents and tell me how your boats are titled? I have a CA title. Jon Barber Monty17 Ol'44

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