Michael, Where are you finding 25-30 winds...at Fern Ridge? Our M-17 is at Fern Ridge and is recently new to us (we have sailed her about 6-8 times) but like how she handles. It is and older model but the main sheet set up works pretty well ( it is on a traveler about one foot astern of the companion way on the cockpit sole). When we bought the boat it came with a "boom Kicker" as well as a vang (which I found redundant because of the location of the main sheet). If you move the mainsheet to the end of the boom then you will want to consider a boom vang especially on reaches and runs. I have had bigger boats with both arrangements and don't see any particular advantages either way with the exception that our present main sheet arrangement is inconvenient from a cabin access perspective. Our M-17, "Little Breeze", is at Orchard Point, slip 61. Feel free to look at my arrgt. or let me know when you would like to inspect it. We live in Brownsville but are at the boat often. Regards..Arnold Sharpe On Aug 17, 2007, at 5:29 AM, Michael Mellor wrote:
I'm a new M17 owner and I have a question concerning the main sheet setup. I have the factory setup directly in front of the cabin. Reciently, sailing in 25 to 30 mph winds, several times I had a difficult time releasing my main sheet. Can someone explain the advantage of having the factory setup over a conventional stern, end of boom setup. After my last sailing experiance I'm considering changing my main sheet location. Is there any good reason I shouldn't??
Michael Mellor Eugene OR
________________________________________ PeoplePC Online A better way to Internet http://www.peoplepc.com
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats