Sorry to alarm you about your boat missing! Thanks for the information. I wanted to get a battery and do some smoke testing to see what works this weekend. RE Water tank: Now looking back at the pictures, I see an area under the cockpit sole that basically has some sort of built up dams (probably 2' X 2') with 4 pad eyes screwed into them. I would imagine that was how the water tank was secured. The flexible tank always seems like a good idea but the ones I have sued previously have always leaked. (A former West Marine brand and a surplus one from Minney's Yacht Surplus). Guess you have to spend the big bucks. I have a 5 gallon fixed tank left over that I may try in the bow for the short term. Steve -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+steve=appliedphotonics.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+steve=appliedphotonics.com@mailman.xmission .com] On Behalf Of Howard Audsley Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 2:05 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: Battery Location M17 Steve: After hearing your description of the boat, I decided to drive the extra 20 miles or so to the marina yard where my boat is kept to see that she was still there. The descriptions made them sound the same. Up to and including the wind vane and sea anchor. Last time I had checked, it did not have newer motor. As of yesterday, she was still there, and still doesn't have the newer motor. :) So maybe you just have a highly similar boat? At any rate, the battery box on mine is about the size you mention, but was glassed in at the factory...or at least looks like it was. It is located under the port berth, just forward of the bulkhead and to port of the mast support. It sits right in front of the battery selector switch, and just around the corner from the fused switch plate. The box has about a 2 inch lip, but no apparent place for tie down...either strap or brackets. Mine came with a plastic battery box inside that, which I continue to use. A similar shaped but larger box is located to starboard, and that is where the porta-poti is kept. I would prefer battery tie downs if the boat is ever knocked down...but she has heeled over far enough to make everything loose fly, and the battery always stayed put. So far, I've been lucky. The only reason I've not done it is I've never figured out a way to do it easily. One could cut a slot in the lip and run web strap over the box, but the sharp edges would cut or chafe the web strap. Perhaps you could drill holes in it and fit a hold down frame over that? There really isn't room to put the hold down straps on the base of the box. As I recall, I was told there was a 3 gallon tank mounted under the cockpit and behind the CB trunk. The fill and vent lines ran to that. Look to see if there is not a square or rectangular shaped raised bump on the sole under the cockpit. The tank would have gone there. I think most of them have been pulled as they really didn't hold enough water to be of any use and if left in the tanks, got really nasty. If you wanted to seriously cruise the boat and use the pump and sink, I'd suggest you try a flexible water tank, stuck under the forward berth. They hold about 14 gallons and keep the water clean and useable. I use 1 gallon and 3 gallon MSR dromedary bags, along with plastic water jugs. My biggest water usage was doing cleanup and rinsing dishes, until I started using a pint sized spray bottle to rinse with. My water consumption (and thus need to carry lots of water) went down once I caught on to that. Keep the questions coming. Howard M17, #278 Audasea On 8/4/05 2:17 PM, "Steve Shenkel" <steve@appliedphotonics.com> wrote:
My recently purchased M17 (1977) has what looks like a battery box lid (group 24 size) glassed in the area where the battery would probably go. I am sure this is not a battery box lid as it is reasonably stiff; it just looks like an inverted battery box lid. Questions:
Is this the factory setup for the battery?
Will a battery box fit into this lid, or is the battery secured directly to this?
Also, my boat has a deck fill and vent tube for a water tank, but the water tank is long gone (holes in galley present, but no hose or tank). Where was the factory tank located and how big was it?
Thanks for your help.
Steve Shenkel
M17
Arizona
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats