Hi Joe.... That's the ticket. Never raise the main to the very top. I usually raise it to the top and lower it so the boom is about 19 inches up from the mast base. Tie in the boom downhaul and raise the sail-stop just underneath the boom. There is some room to shorten the boom on the boats with a loose footed main. (all the boats I build) Simply remove the gooseneck, cut 1.5 inches off, square and clean, press the gooseneck back into the boom and drill a #25 hole, follow with a 10-24 tap, install the stainless machine screw. (do it in two places off set from the old holes in the gooseneck. which you can't see anyway) Should take 15 minutes. Joe, I posted a few photos of your Idasailor Rudder on the Montgomery Trailersailor site. How is that rudder working for you?....any complaints? The reason I ask is WILLI on Strawanza is wanting one for the next leg of his solo world trip. His M_17 is on the hard while waiting for Typhoon Season in the Indian Ocean to pass. He said a couple of times the fixed rudder would get stressed out in horrible storm conditions while lying ahull. The boat would be sliding down the backside of a 40 foot wall and the rudder would DIG sideways....he wants to be able to LIFT the rudder totally CLEAR of the water in these conditions and we are probably going to beef up a new Idasailor rudder for him (more stainless gussets) and AIRBORNE it to Vanuatu. Fair winds Bob
From: seagray@embarqmail.com> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:05:41 -0400> Subject: Re: M_Boats: 17 boom length> > Jim,> Just out of curiosity, what is the lenth of the luff on your mainsail? Do > you raise the main to the very top? I ask because my boom does not hit the > backstay until it is raised to a height equal to the split of the backstay. > However, having said that, if I raise my main all the way then I find the > upper edge of my leech will hit the backstay due to the cut of the roach. > If I get enough power in the tack or jibe it's not a problem, but it has > hung up on occassion.> Joe> ----- Original Message ----- > From: "James Poulakis" <picfo@comcast.net>> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" > <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com>> Sent: Friday, October 10, 2008 8:16 PM> Subject: Re: M_Boats: 17 boom length> > > > Thanks Arnold,> >> > From boom end to center of gooseneck slide of Spirit's boom is 8'> > 2.5". If I lop 2.5" off the end of the boom it will just clear the> > backstay at all angles. Anything more then this will put me into> > mainsail modification territory and I do NOT want to go there.> >> > Jim> >> > On Oct 10, 2008, at 3:35 PM, Arnold Sharpe wrote:> >> >> Jim, I measured the length of the boom on my M-17, It measures> >> 7ft-11" from end to centerline of the tack pin and 8ft-01/4" to the> >> center of the gooseneck slide.> >> Regards..Arnold Sharpe M-17 "LITTLE BREEZE" hull # 265.> >> On Oct 10, 2008, at 2:38 PM, James Poulakis wrote:> >>> >>> Thanks Jerry. Your input is invaluable and very much appreciated.> >>>> >>> "Spirit" is M17 #648 built in 2008 with Dwyer mast & boom extrusions.> >>> A careful measurement reveals her boom w/ end fittings to be 8'-3/4"> >>> long (aluminum extrusion without any fittings is 8'-1/4")> >>>> >>> Jim Poulakis> >>> "Spirit"> >>>> >>> On Oct 9, 2008, at 1:49 PM, jerry wrote:> >>>> >>>> just measured an old M17 boom standing in the corner of the shop-> >>>> it's 7'9" long.> >>>>> >>>> jerry> >>>> _______________________________________________> >>>> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/> >>>> montgomery_boats> >>>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________________> >>> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats> >>> >>> >> _______________________________________________> >> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats> >> >> > _______________________________________________> > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats > > > _______________________________________________> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats