Hello, Danielle, There are a number of things which have tested my "Texas Profanity Dictionary". One is feeding a boltrope into a mast slot and another is Centerboards. Boltrope feeds are great for racing sailors because they give a smoother airflow around the mast but for cruising, I use sail slugs and a closure on the boltrope slot feed aperature. Sail slugs can be pruchased very reasonably from almost any sailing supply source and attached around the boltrope with riggers twine or a special attachment clip. I have done this to several boats I have owned and it is well worth the sore fingers from the riggers needle. My M17, Griselda, has a full batten main with slugs. Sure makes life easier. All the posts about centerboard problems make me glad that my M17 is as Lyle Hess origonally designed it with a cast iron fin keel. The extra draft (39") will probably add to the "Texas Profanity Dictonary" when I am finding the shoal areas in my cove but the bottom is soft mud and it will be easy to get off. Experience and a depth sounder should help a lot. I have had a number of CB boats over the past 55 years and all of them have had problems with jamming, broken pendants and water spurting. I got to know Griselda well over the 25 years my Brother owned her and was very happy to take her off his hands a few weeks ago. It was very sad for me to see her on the hard for 15 years after he gave up sailing after a bout with skin cancer. She is now undergoing a refit to correct the years of neglect and I hope to have her back in the water in a few weeks. I am looking forward to those nice windy days when I can put the rail down and go "like a freight train". Ron M17 #14 Griselda
From: tim@timtone.com> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:10:09 -0700> Subject: Re: M_Boats: first singlehanding> > >Hi Danelle> > .> The good news is, due to the boltrope system on the main, I am finally ready> to publish my "Alaskan Profanity Encyclopedia"! Ha ha. With no one to keep> the boat pointed into the wind, I had a *really* annoying time trying to get> that sail up! The $60 pre-feeder we bought awhile ago was a total failure. > The sail got mashed up in it worse than it gets fouled up in the mast slot. > I think it was designed for a stiffer sail. > > >For what it's worth, I usually set the headsail on a starboard tack before> hoisting main. That way I can get the boat settled on a (strbd) beam reach,> get my butt on the coach roof and work the main up.> > I was heeled about 25 degrees for about 45 minutes straight, and one> question I have for you guys is, how typical is it, for the centerboard to> bang around while close hauled? We got used to it banging when we'd run> downwind (then we'd reel it up), but is it normal for it to bang around> while beating into the wind? How much stress can the pins and cb slot> handle? I did have a wild current pushing against the wind, and some crazy> washtub like wave action, so with the strong heeling, I was thinking the> waves must have been pushing the cb around more than normal?> > >My never bangs to wind but does downhill....and I often crank it up> downwind. > > This was such an amazingly fun sail, even if I was alone. The genoa> dragging into the bright, sharp waves, the sunshine, the slice of the hull> against the saltwater...aaaahhh. It was awesome!> > >I have had many days like that this season already. What fun! Good for> you...SAIL ON.> > Off for another day in Paradise.> > Cheers, > Tim and his M17 PUFF on Canada's Med...... Okanagan Lake. > (gonna be 100 degrees today....and windy)> > > > > > _______________________________________________> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
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