Bill, re: bottom paint. What is a "soda" blast for removing paint??? ---Larry. #189 M-15 -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Bill Wickett Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 7:53 AM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: M_Boats: New M17 owners Thanks to all the replies regarding my tow vehicle questions. Very helpful. We are working on vehicles over the next week or 2. Towing with a friend's Trailblazer for now. We now own 2003 M17 #622. We purchased from Scott Simpson in New Hampshire. Scott was the second owner since 2005. First owner was Bob Owens in Maine. Both owners took very good care of the boat. Scott is a fire captain and his professional attention to detail shows through. Boat is well equipped, sails had been cleaned and repaired (couple of small chafe or catches), and the trailer is in good shape and towed home 620 miles just fine. We rigged, launched and had a brief sail yesterday, between the thunderstorms that have been hovering in this area the last while. Everything went great. Had sailed the boat with Scott in NH last week. We are located in Cambridge, Ontario (west of Toronto). Our usual daysail launch is about 45 minutes away on the west end of Lake Ontario. Either 50 Point Marina in Grimsby or the public ramp at Bronte harbour. Most likely will keep the boat rigged and dry sail from 50 Point. The marina has a compound to store the boat in, and the road down to the ramp is clear of wires. Can go and pick up the boat there for out of town trips north or elsewhere. We have sailed our previous Naiad and Norseboat extensively around Georgian Bay and the North Channel and have sailed at Long Point on Lake Erie, many inland lakes, and trailered to Atlantic Canada (Prince Edward Island) I plan on adding bow chocks, so will have to cut back the toe rail at the bow. Has anyone else done this? The hull/deck through bolts are on 5" centers. I have not shopped the parts yet, so don't know what the chock bolt spacing is. I might put chocks on the stern as well, around the corner from the stern quarter cleats. Mast light electrical and VHF wiring comes up throught the mast step. Electrical has been crushed and chafed during mast stepping. I will replace. I am thinking of moving the wires aft of the step. Will still bring it up throught the compression post, then exit out the back side of the post and through the deck at that point. I have seen some deck fittings for this (maybe Blue-Sea?). Has anyone else relocated the wiring like this? Boat has a red bottom paint on it. I believe the first owner keep her on a mooring. I plan to remove the bottom paint. Will investigate DIY, or paying for someone to soda blast it. Thanks again for the information this list provides. Bill Wickett Cambridge, Ontario M17 _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet!