Seeing no other response, I'll take a swipe at this. On Aug 23, 2006, at 12:22 PM, Jerry wrote:
I am still new to the group and do not yet have a boat, but I do have some questions for those who sleep aboard for a few nights in southern waters during the summer. (Alabama, Florida, etc.)
1. How do you keep from roasting at night?
I cool off after hot day (is 90 to 100 with high humidity hot?) by either taking a swim or using a small garden sprayer to take a shower in the cockpit. Once cooled down, I don't usually get hot, but I prefer hot to cold, so that doesn't bother me much. If there is a breeze, you can anchor bow to wind and pop the hatch open to get considerable ventilation going. Or in light air, anchor stern to wind to get even more. Cook outside in cockpit to keep heat out of the cabin.
2. How do you keep out mosquitos? (without roasting)
I built a light netting that fits the companionway and seals it up. You can also get or make the kind of netting that resembles a bag with lead weights on the perimeter to go over the forward opening hatch. Not that much different from hiding out on the beach inside a tent. Same ventilation techniques apply.
3. With lightning storms just about every afternoon or evening, (Pensacola area) how do you stay safe with a metal mast up in the air? Do you ever take it down while on the water during storms? Or do you beach on a barrier island and get off the water?
Don't see much lightning. What do other boats in that area do? A M15 could probably be rigged to drop her mast relatively easy and quickly.
4. Is staying on board still realistic in a day-long rain?
As opposed to inside a tent? Most of us who overnight much have rigged various forms of awnings, boom tents, etc. so that the hatch can be left open during rain events. Some can even sit in the cockpit and stay relatively dry. Tod Mills has a full enclosure for his. I've camped (both heavy tent camping and light backpacking) and I can stay as dry and ride out rain as well in the boat as I can camped. You won't be standing up inside the boat, of course, but unless you are really packing heavy (full wall tent with enclosed awnings), you don't stand up inside a tent either.
I am used to camping in a campground near Pensacola, where a good tent, and perhaps a fan in the tent at night solves most of the above issues. I am still considering a Montgomery 15, but want to be sure it won't turn out to be miserable instead of wonderful spending a few nights on board.
Best solution is to ask to take a ride on one to check it out for yourself. You may have to travel a bit, but if you are going to make the investment in a boat, it might be worth the effort. Keep in mind these are small boats. Capable of a lot, but in comparison to most boats, small. But if you realize this and pack accordingly, and carefully stow things so you don't have to move them around a lot, you quickly adapt to the size and all is well. A lot of guys routinely do one and two week trips on them....some even longer, with no real problems. A one or two week trip from Pensacola to Mobile and back is entirely within the capability of this boat, but first you have to realize this is a small boat and plan and pack accordingly. Howard