We're talking about an M17 here, right? You aren't reaching the forestay from the hatch regardless of where the hinges are. It's too far. If you're changing sails, you're going out on the deck. Lacking roller furling, use the downhaul to get the headsail down until you can get your act together. t -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of edward haile Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 12:02 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: RE: M_Boats: Re: M17 heavy weather capabilities My previous email was written without reviewing some of your comments here. But what would you think of this idea? Turn the hatch hinges around (BoB Eeg told me something about how the law will require sooner or later foreward hinges so he's doing it now). This will allow you to standup and reach the forestay easily. Cast off the jib tack and jib halyard and you are there. You can now pull the peak and the tack together and snap on another jib. Or, if the wind is really screaming, depending on how much slack you build into the tack and peak lines, you could haul the jib, still attached top and bottom, through the hatch and change sails in the cabin, reemerge and let go the new sail and reset it with the two lines. What's the boat doing in the meantime (if you're alone)? What if you raised the rudder out of the water and sheeted the main down amidships. Shouldn't the boat weathercock? The forefoot shd dig in from your weight and the stern will have little lateral resistance. The centerboard down might be a problem. What's yr take on this? ED> From: Nebwest2@aol.com> Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2008 12:34:00 -0500> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: M_Boats: Re: M17 heavy weather capabilities> > I'd have to second Gary's observations about the M17 hatch. I'm a pretty big > boy and honestly I never tried it. My 17 had the backwards opening front > hatch, so even if you fit, the hatch lid would prevent you from leaning forward. > In this photo you can see the hinges are on the front of the hatch and that > there's no way you'd be able to work around it to deal with the luff of the > jib.> > _http://msogphotosite.com/MSOG/b17thomps/b17thomps7.jpg_ > (http://msogphotosite.com/MSOG/b17thomps/b17thomps7.jpg) > > On later versions and I believe the new M17's that Bob builds the hatch > opens from the front...> Hey Gary H.! Doesn't your hatch open from the front??? Could you manage a > headsail change through it???> (http://msogphotosite.com/MSOG/b17thomps/b17thomps7.jpg) > Lately, I have been experimenting for the first time ever (for me) with a > simple downhaul attached to the jib/genoa head. Holly cow, why I never did this > before is beyond me. I don't mind going forward and pulling a sail down when > someone's on the helm but when singlehanding it's a pain. When I'm alone I > try to make sure I don't overcanvass for the conditions, but if I do, now I can > at least get the sail down on the deck and secure before I ever leave the > relative safety of the cockpit. It also allows me to hank on a jib at the dock > , and attach the halyard without worry that the halyard is going to foul > something by swinging around slack before I'm ready to raise it. I just hook up > the downhaul and tension the halyard. I know, I know, roller furling would > solve that issue. Someday I may go back to a furler, but for now I'm happy with > hank-ons.> > Sean> > > > **************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. > http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489> _______________________________________________> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _________________________________________________________________ Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008_ ______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats