RE: M_Boats: 4 Adults on an M17 - What happens?

I've sailed with 4 adults for an afternoon....it's okay, but not something I'd want to do on a regular basis. But then, there are only a few nice boats that I can think of that have large enough cockpits for 4 comfortably and none are really on the order of the Montgomery 17. Most are daysailors such as the 20' centerboarder Highlander with 9' cockpit seats or something like the old Pearson Ensign or the Colgate 26 keelboat. Tod 4*175#=700#, a lot of weight (and volume) in the back half of a 1,600# boat.