Hi Tom. I am about ready to sell my M-15 hull 189 built in 1981. I bought in 2006 and when I saw the shoal keel I knew I had to seal up the separation you are referring to. I covered that edge with fiberglass and resin. Sanded and filed it smooth, primed and painted (all two-part resins as well as matching (cream) color two part paint). You may have steel punchings instead of lead. If you dry dock most of the time that will be no problem...also, when I bought this vessel it had a fuctionless CB. Had to have that removed and a new CB installed at Morrrison Marine here in Sacramento....Good luck and Fair Winds. Larry Hughston -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Thomas Nixon Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2014 12:39 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: M_Boats: Just purchased M15 #191 I drove down to Bakersfield on Wednesday and brought home a 1981 M15, hull # 191, that looks like it was built yesterday. 639 mile round trip (I live about an hour drive north of San Francisco in Sonoma County) and the trip back was made all the more exciting by worries about the rusty trailer, but it all went well. Left at 9am and was home by 11:30 pm. As I said the boat is pristine. Maybe a bit over powered by a Tohatsu 5hp. The one area of concern I have is that edges where the hull meets the centerboard trunk appear not to be bonded in a few places, one as long as a 6 inch run. The previous owners report no leakage but their experience was only one sail on Lake Tahoe. Part of the seam looks to have been caulked with a white epoxy(?). Anyone have experience with this joint, what it's supposed to look like, or the making of repairs. Incidentally, I will be sailing the boat on Tomales Bay to begin with, a beautiful 6 mile long, 1 mile (avg.) wide bay bordered by Point Reyes National Seashore to the West, and with the San Andreas Fault running down the middle; working my way up to sailing San Francisco Bay, and North to San Pablo and Susiun Bays and the Sacramento River Delta. I have some experience with boats and the sea as a commercial fisherman, but I am new to sailing. I've taken some lessons on SF Bay and will beginning a six week course of lessons through Sailing Experience Adventures (SEA), a non-profit that teaches adult and youth sailing on SF Bay. I'm very excited about this new adventure. Thank you in advance for any help on my centerboard questions. Sincerely, Tom Nixon M15 #191