I have a 1975 M17, #69. I attempted email Bob Eeg using the subcriber list, it came back no such address.... If someone can provide his or Jerrry's email address so I can email them directly with questions it would be helpful... I'm in the middle of a project of replacing the rusty steel punchings and replacing with lead shot. I will try to post my project (with dollar and time costs) in the How to and Specs section of the website with pictures so ya'll can decide if it's a project you want to do.. I've cut out 4 holes on the port side of the keel, 3 on the starboard side, and have removed the approximately 224 or more pounds of steel puchings. (that plus the 175 pound cast iron CB total only 400 pounds, I know Jerry has posted messages or whatnot saying those old boats should have 500 pounds or so total ballast. My boat sailed very well with decent wind, pointed great, and so I will use the same amount of lead in pounds as what I removed to keep the characteristics as it was, and not worry about getting the ballast to the 500 pounds....Now that all the rusty steel has been removed, the centerboard drops again!! My question concerns the other picture which shows the forward side of the keel, with the steel punchings encased in epoxy, located under the compression post. I did a previous project where I injected epoxy into the keel after drilling a lot of 1/4" holes in order to fill any air pockets with the epoxy with the hope of preventing water from getting into the punchings. (Did have water in the keel when bought) So I can't say for sure if that steel under the compression post was loose prior to my epoxy project or if Jerry put epoxy in that area specifically to create a solid foundation under the compression post so that the post would have support -- or,as a friend believes, the hull itself above the keel is enough support for the load the compression post is under when the boat is under sail, and does not need additional foundation underneath the hull in the keel. Hopefully this makes sense to you. Also, (change in plans) I intend to repair the outer wall of the hull by sanding the existing outer wall building up a new fiberglass wall outside of the existing wall, rather than sanding, fiberglassing each individual cutout. I will build a thin layer in the cutout sections first so that I can fiberglass over and keep the void in the keel needed for the lead shot to pour into. To me this will be easier. It will make the keel wider I know, but intend on keeping a good airfoil shape. Of course it will be done vertically (don't intend on setting the boat on it's side so that the keel is horizontal (unless someone recomends that would be much easier). After the outer wall is done, I have lead shot which I will pour from holes in the cabin above into the keel. Thanks for any input, Jim Hymes