Craig, I think it works well and as mentioned, the only improvement I can think of that I'd like is a pin through the track instead of the thumbscrewed sail stop. If I were starting with a new mast and boom I'd give it some more thought, though. One other thing I should mention is that there is a short piece of line that runs from an eye on the gooseneck fitting down to a pin at the foot of the mast. That is what allows the luff of the sail to be tensioned. Busca had lazyjacks when I first got her...I tried them once and promptly removed them as being more headache than help....it's such a small boat. Tod -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Honshells Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2003 9:24 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: M_Boats: Below the Boom? Older M17 Mast That's very interesting, Tod. I never considered "below the boom" . . . Is the "up from below" approach a hassle? Do you use lazy-jacks? Thanks for your input! --Craig ----- Original Message ----- From: <htmills@bright.net> To: "'For and about Montgomery Sailboats'" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2003 10:15 PM Subject: Older M17 Mast Hi, Craig BuscaBrisas' mast "throat" was moved by her former owner. It is now *below* the normal operating position of the boom. The sail is equipped with slugs. One feeds the slugs in, then the boom, and then add a stop below the boom but above the "throat". Works pretty well although some sort of pin would work better than a sail stop I think. (the sail stop has loosened up once or twice; I have to check it every few days to be sure it isn't loosening up. I believe he made the modification with a bit of pounding and prying... Tod -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Honshells Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2003 9:08 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Older M17 Mast Does anyone else have trouble with the height of the luff-groove "throat" on the older M17's (I have an '84) mast? I don't know the dimensions, but my throat is substantially higher than the position of the boom (once installed). Perhaps this serves a purpose, but I'm no engineer, so I have no idea what that purpose is. The height of the "throat" makes it very difficult for me to feed my mainsail (I'm only 5' tall). I would like the throat located lower, perhaps only a few inches above the resting position of the boom. I could feed the mainsail, which now has slugs (I had them added last year), then use a sail-stop to prevent the slugs from sliding free when the sail is dropped. If I had the main ready to go on the boom, perhaps secured with lazy-jacks, with the luff (slugs) fed into the mast, it would ease single-handing 100%. What I'm wondering: Would it be possible for an aluminum shop to close the old, high, throat and bend a new one in a lower, more convenient spot? _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats