David, Some considerations regarding your proposed traveler installation on M15: 1) My friend and former M15 owner, Bert Felton, installed a Harken Traveler on the cockpit sole of his former M15 (a couple of feet aft of companionway). I remember not liking the way it bisected the cockpit, or the way the sheets draped across the edge of seat/me/crew when on a broad reach/run. I have also since learned the importance of keeping crew weight forward in the M15 cockpit to reduce stern squat while underway. His setup made this less than convenient. We also sailed in tandem (two M15's) on several occasions, and my stock-sheeted boat was consistently faster. While I cannot attribute this solely to the mainsheet system, I do recall that his sail shape/trim was no better as a result of the traveler. 2) I think any incremental improvement with such a short traveler would indeed be small. 3) You would likely give up the option for a bimini while under sail (if that is a consideration). 4) I would also be concerned with drilling holes in the cored sole--especially considering the M15's propensity to ship water through the forward drain scupper. If you did decide to do this, I would strongly advise either a healthy application of penetrating epoxy, or overdrill/epoxy fill mounting method. 5) In aggregate, I have found the installation of a small boom vang/kicking strap a more useful addition for mainsail shape control. 6) I think that if I were to change my existing setup, I would go with a system like that on my Flicka--namely an aft/end-of-boom purchase to the stern rail (in the case of my Flicka, a roller car travels the stern rail top tube as traveler, and there is a cam on the lower fiddle block attached to this car). This only works well when used in tandem with the aforementioned vang. For now, I am content enough with the stock Montgomery setup, and no longer really notice the sheet or block encroachment at the companionway. Best, Scott M15#478 'bebe' PSC Flicka In a message dated 9/11/05 2:03:56 PM, m ontgomery_boats-request@mailman.xmission.com writes:
I've been looking at Bill Lamica's photo site (thanks again for such a useful resource, Bill!), and there are a couple of older M17s there
that have a mainsheet traveler arrangement remarkably close to what I'm thinking of doing on my M15. Fred Berthong's "Dulce" and Perry Bolin's "Windsong" both appear to have a traveler track tucked up against the companionway with the mainsheet angled aft and attached to the boom about midway. There's one picture of Windsong's cockpit in particular that has a great view.
Perhaps it would make more sense to mount the traveler track on the cockpit floor on my M15 just a hair aft of the companionway shelf, thus clearing the shelf, but keeping the track away from my big feet.
I could put the boom attachment point aft as it is on these two M17s and keep a little better sail shape that way.
I'm wondering if perhaps this was the original design of the M17. If so, I'd like to hear from the owners (if they lurk here) how that arrangement works for them, especially in regard to sail shape control. Does anyone here know if those two boats exhibit what was Jerry Montgomery's original design? Or are they owner's modifications?
David