Thanks Mark! It sounds like any M17 built in 1987 or later will be difficult to distiguish. I noted that older 17s had on two rudder pintles instead of the now three. I also note that the centerboard pennent on newer 17s is in the cockpit instead of the cabin. The headstay fitting also looks different. It used to be a black aluminum casting. Newer 17s have a fabricated stainless one. I just don't know what year these chages occured. All the best and thanks again for the info. Bill> From: edarts93@earthlink.net> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2007 15:23:07 -0700> Subject: RE: M_Boats: Hull Number> > Bill,> I've never seen a Montgomery without the hull number molded into the> transom. I don't know what happened with the one you saw with the engraved> plate unless it was a boat made by the person who had the molds for a while> between Jerry and Bob Eeg. > In 1981 Jerry made the wet locker in the stern and changed the> cockpit drainage. Any Montgomery 17 before 1984 had aluminum toerails rather> than the teak toerail on newer boats. In 1987 the centerboard changed from> cast iron to fiberglass with a lead core. 1987 was also the year of changing> from steel shot to lead ballast. Also the galley and 4 berth arrangements> were replaced in 1987 with the 3-1/2 berth layout (a short 5' berth on port> with the deep locker aft). > Those are the changes that might indicate the general age of a Monty> 17 of which I am aware.> Hope that helps.> Mark Dvorscak> Former M17 owner> > -----Original Message-----> From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com> [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of bill> safford> Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 7:18 AM> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: M_Boats: Hull Number> > > How can the build year of an M17 be determined with any accuracy if the hull> number is missing? Isn't the hull number supposed to be molded into the hull> in the case of a fiberglass boat? I saw one M17 with a little plastic> engraved plate attached to the hull with seriously corroded fasteners. Is> this common to Montgomery? The plastic plate had white letters and numbers> on a black background. The galvanized Pacific trailer still had its maker's> tag on the tongue (1999).> > I know that cabin layout changed over the years, as did the cut out transom.> A magnet run across the keel would show if the ballast was steel of lead.> Are there any other sutle differences that may give away what year the boat> was built?> > Many thanks to any and all who answer with an opinion, facts, or otherwise.> > Willy> _________________________________________________________________> Express yourself with the latest Windows Live Messenger! Get it free today!> http://www.get.live.com/wl/all> _______________________________________________> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats> > > _______________________________________________> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _________________________________________________________________ Publish your photos to your Space easily with Photo Gallery http://www.get.live.com/wl/all