Chesley, I found that after buying my M-15 that I then needed to spend a few more $ to attend a sailing class. Well worth the extra $ so I could learn how to play with my new toy. Steve M - 15 # 335 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chesley Sugg" <csugg@mindspring.com> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2013 1:46 PM Subject: M_Boats: intro Hello All, I'm Chesley Sugg from Raleigh, NC. I'm coming from about 20 years of power boating. Mainly a small trawler. I just lost joy in motoring around and decided that I need to pull some strings to keep things interesting. I just purchased M-15 #153. It's kept at Blackbeard Sailing Club on the Neuse River down in New Bern, NC. It's been my great luck to have been able to contact Mike Murphy, a M15 owner who lives in New Bern. Mike has been MORE that gracious in his help. If all, or even most, of M boat owners are that way, I have found a wonderful home. Thanks Mike! I can relate to the overpowering of the boat. When I first sailed her, now named "Mouse", It was blowing at least 12 with gust to 17. The boat scared me. I used the standard jib and had no reefing capability. Man, I could barely control the boat. I had a huge amount of Lee helm. I could only tack by backing the jib. The rig was set up very lose. Since them, Mike has helped to adjust the rig and I'm added reefing lines. It's going well but I have a problem that I hope someone can help with. My rudder assembly had no way to raise the rudder. I have replicated Mike's internal raising system with a 13" rod (hole to hole) and two fittings as per his rudder. I can only get the rudder to raise to about 45 deg. The rod then hits the upper pintle bolt and won't go further. Is this normal? Thanks for such a useful forum. I hope to be here for a time to come. Best, Chesley Sugg M-15 "Mouse"