the M15 doesn't have a stop pin (at least my M15 and the M15 here at the shop). the you don't want the stop knot on the M15 to be supporting the board, you want the cleat at the companionway to be supporting the board. to M15 'stop knot' tells you when the board is fully extended as there is no 'stop' to keep it from over extending (see below discussion of M17). i'll measure the length of the pennant from the hole to the knot tomorrow (18 Sept. '14). i'll also give Jerry a shout about how long pennant should be if you are replacing the line. the cast iron centerboard M17s have a stop pin. yes, it is there to keep the board from overextending, or stopping the board if the pennant comes loose and the board 'falls'. i don't use a stop knot on my M17, SWEET PEA. i just lower the board, slowly, until i hear the 'clunk' when the board's tang hits the bolt. i then raise the board an inch (or so). i don't believe the M17s with an M15 board have a stop pin. later model M17 owners care to comment? the reason you don't want the board resting on the pin is the board will 'clunk' more as it is then supporting on the lower aft end and the rotation pin. (again this is for the cast iron M17s.) lifted off the stop pin the board is supported from it's 'top' and will be better behaved. bouncing on the stop pin is also a consideration. i hope Jerry jumps into this conversation. he is away from his computer a lot at the moment. Sage 15 prototype building is going strong. the first prototype hull is being layed up as i type this message. -- :: Dave Scobie :: former M15 owner - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 5:15 PM, Thomas Buzzi <thomaspbuzzi@gmail.com> wrote:
So the board actually does hang on the pennant instead of resting on the pin. And the pin is there to catch the board if the pennant fails? Interesting. Is that so if the board hits something it will not be allowed to go up and bang down on the pin? I am curious about the thinking in all this. I would appreciate some more explanation. thanks.
On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 4:19 PM, Dave Scobie <scoobscobie@gmail.com> wrote:
there is no centerboard winch on the M15s. the M17s with M15 centerboards do not have winches. the M17s with the cast iron board have a winch, in the cabin, for raising/lowering the 180lb board.
on all M-boats the centerboard should be suspended by the pennant with the board is down.
there should be a knot on all M15s that stops the board before it over-extends and the leading edge hits the forward part of the centerboard trunk. i can't remember the length from the pennant hole to the knot. if wanted i can go out and measure the distance on the M15 here at the shop.
-- :: Dave Scobie :: former M15 owner - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com