Hey Jerry, I agree with Dave, Jim & others. Teak is nice. Don't want to be too sterile. Good point on the hot steel (in the sun). Teak handrails are nice. Some sort of ventilation I think would be a must. We have a hatch on our boat, but no opening ports. I'm sure you will come up with the best option. I agree with the taller rig and I think, more ballast. What's the depth board up and down? sal M-15 '86 - #361 M-23 '09 - #2 (being built) In a message dated 8/12/2009 3:18:41 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time, wdscobie@yahoo.com writes: must be some accent teak. the teak toe-rail, cabin-top grab-rails, and cabin entry give just enough 'salt' to match the lapstrake. SWEET PEA, having the alum toe-rails looks a bit more utilitarian ... but all those attachment points are nice. i've been around some boats with stainless grab rails ... nice idea ... but HOT to grab after they sit in the sun. alum hanb rails just SCREAMS macgregor 26 or a stinkpotter IMO. i've also toasted my feet on SWEET PEA's alum. toe-rails. teak doesn't' get all that hot ;-) i enjoy doing teak work. i've 'brought back' two Mboats teak. both were just a few days work and with proper monthly care (i'm a sea fin teak oil fan) i'll not need to do any significant teak projects for many many years. my 'teak experience' comes from a choey lee ... now those boats have TEAK! dave scobie M17 #375 - SWEET PEA visit SWEET PEA's www-site - http://www.m17-375.webs.com --- On Wed, 8/12/09, James Poulakis <picfo@comcast.net> wrote: Mark, Bill and the others are completely right about teak being just another maintenance issue. BUT what they forgot about teak trim is that CHICKS DIG IT. Toe rail trim doesn't affect seaworthiness or speed, and teak will be another factor that visually sets the M-16.5 apart from the clorox bottles (along with a lapstrake hull, ivory gelcoat, and opening port(s)). So this is the capitalist in me talking, and forgive me if I'm assuming too much: I suspect the M-16.5 is going to be a bit more pricey then a Potter or Catalina or Precision. If the M-16.5 is going to be successful it's not enough that we True Believers know it's heads and shoulders above the competition - It also has to look like something special to our significant others, and those who are not as enlightened as we. But somehow, Jerry, I think you already know this... By the way, ever since I was 12 years old I've wanted to tell a professional boatbuilder/designer how his boats should REALLY be designed and built. Thanks for giving me the opportunity. Jim M-17 "Spirit" _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet!