Hi Rusty, We all like these little boats, they are well built and pretty seaworthy for their size, but they are still little boats, with tiny decks and a correspondingly small displacement, which can make changing sails on a tiny pitching deck pretty challenging. I love my M17, and having sailed the PNW most of my adult life, I have no worries about cruising any where in the PNW with it. However that said, the moment I got it for all the reasons mentioned above I installed a furling jib to be prepared as best as possible for the conditions you just experienced. I also use a 109 jib rather than a 135 or 150. Yup I am under powered in lighter airs but, but you only have to be out in middle of the Georgia strait when the wind has piped up beyond the forecast and you are in a sea state of 2-3ft or even a little more, to appreciate the safety and performance of a furled 109 from the comfort and safety of the cockpit. I also have 3 reefs in my main. For me, safely sailing the PNW in an Monty, particularly single handed, really starts with installing a furling jib and at least 2 reefs in the main. Just my opinion... Keith *Keith R. Martin* *Vancouver/Burnaby B.C.* *Serenity M17, #353* *http://www.msogphotosite.com/Scripts/Boats/boatsdetail.php?id=105 <http://www.msogphotosite.com/Scripts/Boats/boatsdetail.php?id=105>* . *Keith R. Martin* *Vancouver/Burnaby B.C.* *Serenity M17, #353* *http://www.msogphotosite.com/Scripts/Boats/boatsdetail.php?id=105 <http://www.msogphotosite.com/Scripts/Boats/boatsdetail.php?id=105>* On Sun, 2 Jun 2019 at 04:38, Rusty Knorr via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
Soooo, we got our butts kicked today on Puget Sound. Coming from a Flicka, I’m still learning to sail these little boats, and finding out their capabilities. I know, I’ve read all the accounts, heard all the stories, but we had two M-15s out singlehanding in steady 15 to maybe 20 knot gusts, with reefed mains and working jibs, and close hauled were on the verge of being overpowered to the point of losing control. I know all the tricks about keeping the sails flat, etc. but I tell you, I was out of my comfort zone. So my question is, how do you change out to a smaller headsail in 2’ to 3’ waves when you are overpowered? I have a downhaul and got the jib down no problem, but I wasn’t about to let go of the tiller and go forward in that, no way. Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions? Don’t tell me to start the day with a smaller jib, it was forecast for 5 to 10 and went from ghosting to overpowered in less than a minute. I did learn, despite everyone saying to the contrary, that at least MY boat sails just fine with only a reefed main and no jib. I wish I had two reefs though, it would have been much more comfortable today. M-15 sailors with experience, share your advice! I’ll pop this on the Facebook group too.
Thank you,
Rusty M-15 “Vanilla”