I have substantial physical limitations. I walk with crutches and have very limited range-of-motion in my hips. When it comes to boat maintenance and sailing, I do what I can and recruit friends and family to help with the rest. I also spend more than most people have to, getting work done by shops that would otherwise be "DIY" . . . I haven't, as yet, singlehanded, but I'm hoping to make some changes to my 17' to make that feasible. This past June, I spent a week sail-camping the 17' on a remote wilderness lake in Ontario, up above Thunder Bay. Lake Nipigon. Sounds impossible for someone with my limitations, but I have a patient friend. Sailing is my passion because it's one of the few outdoor activities in which I can participate. Well . . . I say that I "recruit" family and friends to help, but perhaps it's more accurate to say I "impress them into service", much like the British Navy (if you've seen the recent History Channel special on the War of 1812) . . . :-) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Morris, Giles" <giles.morris@unisys.com> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 11:05 AM Subject: M-17 For Sale I had some of the same issues, and wish you well. Umiaq, my M-15, went to a new owner early this year after several seasons with very little use, and I still have mixed feelings about that. It's good to have less clutter in life -- but this was more than just "clutter". I do miss Umiaq, even though it made sense to pass her on. I'm far from boatless: A Vancouver 25, two folding kayaks, a rigid kayak and Moby Dink the deflatable. The V25 is a wonderful boat, but what should have been a simple job (haulout, bottom paint and new prop) cost far too much money and wasn't finished until August -- and made me seriously consider selling. And then I went for just a short 4-day trip with my son and remembered how much I got out of that boat. Yesterday afternoon was pretty good on the Bay (sailboats as far as the eye could see) and had today not been a school day we could have had a wonderful reach down to Solomons. There are still several weeks of (potentially) good weather and the best time of the year for sailing so perhaps we can have another trip or two. In any case, after feeling somewhat despondent at continual hard (and expensive) work without being able to use the boat, there is at least the possibility of enjoying the things that make it special. (I regret not being able to get to the HessFest, but it just wasn't possible) What am I saying? Well, mostly it's rambling, but perhaps I'm just hoping that you can end up keeping and using your M-17. Giles Morris