Group, I reckon that admitting one is wrong is the next best thing to being right. My heavily-loaded 2004 M17 was closer to 23.5" draft, board up, which seems more reasonable given the presently advertised waterline of 21" (presumably empty of gear). It still does not compare with Jerry's figure of 19.25" for designed waterline. There is no doubt that the water gets somewhere around the bottom of the 5th wrinkle regardless, but the distance is difficult to measure on dirt. I did not have the trailer level enough the first go-around. David Patterson came up with 22.75" in a boat with standard gear, so we are singing the same tune. To finish up, my IdaSailor rudder apparently extends 7" lower than my stock fixed model, so it makes a better bottom probe. Tom Jenkins Scintilla