Bob/Jeff, I am also unimpressed with the Precision "18" build quality . . . I've crawled around on them at boat shows: The horizontal surfaces flex too much and the boats seem flimsy. --Craig ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob" <Bobeeg@earthlink.net> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, June 11, 2004 11:09 AM Subject: M_17 VS Precision 18 Hi Jeff I'll take this one. Without bragging too much, the Montgomery 17 is a faster boat, more weatherly and larger than a Precision 18. Also the M_17 has more ballast (for better stability and windward performance) and is built for much rougher conditions. I've seen Precisions up close and was not impressed with the build quality. They are built thin and light weight, have cheap plastic windows and have poor sailing performance overall. They are sold thru dealership networks with the usual 30% mark up, and mass produced in Florida. We beat every Precision (even the 21 with mylar racing sails) at every SCA Cruiser Challange the last 4 years in a stock Montgomery 17. Its funny how these boat factorys name a boat for length. A perfect example is the Potter 19. The Potter is really only 17 feet 7 inches long ON DECK, but they count the motor mount as a foot and hence the misleading 19 foot length figure. Lets look at the Precision 18. Precision 18 Specifications LOA --17' 5" ..............The Montgomery 17 is 17 feet 4 inches without the mount LWL -- 15' 5" ...............The Montgomery 17 is 15 feet 6 inches... BEAM -- 7' 5"................The Montgomery 17 is 7 feet 7 inches wide DRAFT, Board up -- 1' 6" DRAFT, Board down -- 4' 3" Displacement -- 1100 lbs. ........The Montgomery 17 weighs 1650 pounds. More material more ballast and a stronger boat. Boats cost per pound to build. 1100 pounds is really flimsy for boat that size. Ballast -- 350 lbs...wow.! The P-18 has slighty more ballast than a Montgomery 15..! This tells us that the Precision 18 will be very tender. The Montgomery 17 has 600 pounds of pure lead ballast. No wonder it is so seaworthy and will go to weather. Sail area -- 145 sq. ft. .....the Precision 18 has a fractional rig..the M_17 has a proper masthead rig. Mast height above DWL -- 27' Designer: -- Jim Taylor...............never heard of him. Lyle C. Hess designed the M_17. Nuff said.... As I said before your welcome to come visit Jeff... Fair winds Bob (949) 489-8227 www.montgomeryboats.com