While I agree completely with the view that our Mboats are some of the toughest built in the world for their size, indeed some may say over-engineered (which is precisely why I bought my M17), they are still small displacement & footprint boats. When properly equipped for reefing and sail management they can handle all sort of high wind, however sea state is another matter. For most of the relatively sheltered water on inland lakes with limited fetch they are bomb proof, but in the open ocean or even in the middle of the Georgia strait out here on the PNW with longer fetches in truly heavy weather, their size and limited displacement can become problematic when dealing with the resulting sea state much more quickly than with larger boats. Thats not to say that larger boats don't get into trouble, indeed they do.. I have no concerns about taking my M17 pretty much anywhere up and down the BC coast and surely proof positive is Ted's two successful runs in R2AK to Alaska, but I do think we just have to be more mindful of our size and make good decisions that are realistically calibrated to the limits of these tough little boats. my 2 cents... Keith *Keith R. Martin, P.Eng.* *Vancouver/Burnaby B.C.* *Serenity M17, #353* *http://www.msogphotosite.com/Scripts/Boats/boatsdetail.php?id=105 <http://www.msogphotosite.com/Scripts/Boats/boatsdetail.php?id=105>* On Tue, 13 Aug 2019 at 14:21, <casioqv@usermail.com> wrote:
I get a kick out of BeneHunterLina sailors reactions when they hear I have a 15 foot boat and advise me to stay in the marina if there's any wind. I respond that the M15 is really too small, I might have to go up to a big 17 footer if I ever sail around the world.
The ratio of low working stress to materials strength on an M15 cannot be achieved in even the toughest of large boats. In that sense smaller boats are fundamentally more structurally seaworthy, albeit less comfortable in rough weather. The most seaworthy "boat" imaginable is a wine cork.
For example, the standing rigging on an M15 is 1/8" 1x19 wire which in 316 stainless, has a breaking strength of about 1780lbs or about 2.4x the boats displacement. Take a famously seaworthy overbuilt bluewater boat like the WestSail 32, which has 9/32" rigging with a breaking strength of 9360lbs in 316, or about 0.48x the displacement. Which boat is stressing the shrouds closer to failure in a storm? Also, which boat is more likely to have rigging that isn't corroded to a fraction of it's design strength, the one that costs $150 to re-rig or the one that costs $10,000?
Sincerely, Tyler
----- Original Message ----- From: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2019 7:24:24 AM Subject: M_Boats: The safety of the M15
Hi folks: I don’t want to be a bother, posting lots of novice questions. However, I’m new to my M15 “Chinook Breeze” No. 377. I’ve only been sailing it for four years and with only three open water adventures in the San Juan Islands. When I pull into a marina like Friday Harbor, Rosario or Roche, people often remark “That’s a small boat. Should you really be out here?” “It’s pretty gutsy for you to be out here.” And since I’m 72, people think I’m crazy. I think I’ve had more hair-raising adventures on my local reservoir than in the islands. So, how safe is it to be solo sailing in the islands or some other larger bodies of water? I know the Monty 15 has crossed the ocean. How safe is it to be only one boat on a trip without others. I like to sail solo for the peace and contemplation. Thanks again for such a wonderful email forum helping beginner boaters.
Pete Winter Sky (Zimowsky)
outdoors writer and photographer www.getoutdoorsnorthwest.com <http://www.getoutdoorsnorthwest.com/> Twitter: @zimosoutdoors
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