Don, Both our former 1988 M15 and current M17 have steel ballast with the fiberglass/lead centerboard. Neither boat has had issues with the ballast in the combined 16 years we have owned them. One thing that I was cautioned on, and would pass along, is the check/maintain the joint at the bottom of the keel where the hull and centerboard cavity join. I may not be describing it right, but at the very bottom of the keel, on the inside ledge of the center board houseding, is the joint I am referring to. The join runs the circumference of the centerboard cavity at the bottom and has reasonably good access for inspection. I think this would be the most likely place for water to enter the ballast, if it should. If water does enter the steel ballast the ballast will likely swell and pinch the centerboard. There in not a lot of clearance between the centerboard and the cavity that houses it, may 1/4 at the most on each side. We did replace the centerboard on our M17 due to damage from the trailer.... not too difficult of a job. Randy Graves M17 #410 On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 6:08 PM, Don Stickels<dstickels1@earthlink.net> wrote:
I have been considering the purchase of an older (early-mid 80s) Montgomery 15 but have been put off thus far by some of the reports of problems with the steel ballast. Can anyone help calibrate these concerns by saying how widespread and how severe these problems are? Do they occur in all steel-ballasted M-15s as they age, or only those that have been kept in the water most of the time? Does it represent a minor inconvenience that can tolerated, or a downright risk of the keel coming apart? Are there measures that can be taken to prevent or remedy the problem, short of major surgery? Your collective wisdom would be appreciated. Thanks. The new guy.
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet!