Thanks, Tod. I may make the same modification. Has anyone else on the list made a modification to the position of the luff throat on their mast? Has anyone lowered their luff throat closer to the resting position of the boom, but kept it above the boom? Thanks! --Craig, chonshell@ia4u.net ----- Original Message ----- From: <htmills@bright.net> To: "'For and about Montgomery Sailboats'" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2003 10:59 PM Subject: Below the Boom? Older M17 Mast 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: 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?