Dave: You're right on the M17 - no foam floatation. I have tried on occasion to bury the lee rail on a beam reach without success. Perhaps no need for the foam flotation in that it's stiffer than M15? Maybe some of our "seasoned" skippers can chime in on this one. Bill Larson M17 #632 W David Scobie <wdscobie@yahoo.com> wrote: ben: the M15 has 'positive flotation' in the form of foam blocks installed at the factory. the two foam locations are: under the cockpit floor, in the bow (in a screwed shut locker). the hull is solid fiberglass - not a floating sandwich like a 'whaler. so without the foam the M15 would sink. i have no idea what the 'lift potential' is for a swamped M15. thing is ... i've never read that an M15 has been swamped - neither by accident or by design. i don't believe the M17 has positive flotation. i'll be corrected if wrong ;o)- in a short bit i'm going to post some interior shots of my M15. this will show the foam locations. the link will be shared on this email list. dave scobie M15 #288, not yet named Ben Smith wrote: So forgive me on the confusion but I don't yet own a Montgomery. Are these boats made with foam in them to give them buoyancy even if knocked down (like a Boston Whaler)? What is the extent of a Montgomery's reserve buoyancy, what is installed at the factory? Thanks, Ben --------------------------------- Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats