Wouldn't this be really hard on the rudder gudgeons and pintles as well as the pivoting rudder points? I am going to try to "paddle" my M-15 this weekend with a long canoe paddle and the rudder tied off. I have a short channel(about 30 yards) out of the marina with about 6 or 8 seaplane wings sticking out into the channel. Very narrow clearance but I think I can make it. Wish me luck! -Rusty --- wayne yeargain <wayne@ev1.net> wrote:
Hi Bill Enjoyed your account of rudder sculling your Monty 15. Might be intresting to you to know I too have used this technique on occasion on my M17 & it does work, however as the weight of a boat goes up the effect goes down proportianally. I have even used it on my previous boat a Hunter 23 which weigs in at #2500 . Regards
Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill & Gigi Day" <billgigi@train.missouri.org> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 9:56 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: C'mon, join the Pardey!
I've been lurking on the list, for some time, enjoying the questions and answers, and especially the friendliness and helpful attitudes.
I thought I'd drop in and mention how easy it is to scull the '15' with its rudder. By rhythmically flipping the rudder from side to side, it's very easy to propel the boat forward. I discovered this the very first time I took my boat out, which happened to be in the San Juaquin delta. My 2 horse Honda died just as I left the marina and entered the main channel. The current immediately caught me and was carrying me toward a low bridge and I didn't have time to get the sails up. Out of desperation, I started pumping the tiller back and forth and, lo and behold, I started moving against the current. I sculled the boat about a quarter mile against a slow but relentless current and got back into the marina. At that point, without the current, I probably could have pulled a skier or two. Fear does that to a person.
Since then, I often maneuver into and out of slips and away from docks using this rudder sculling technique. To move forward just flip the tiller rapidly from side to side and as far as possible each way, with a very slight hesitation at the end of each stroke. To turn to port, flip the rudder rapidly to the port side and return it slowly to the the starboard side and repeat. You'll be able to turn the boat almost on a dime.
I discovered that first day of sailing my "15" that I hadn't opened the gas valve on the outboard, and it died as soon as it consumed the thimbleful of gas in the carb. Now, that's on my checklist of pre-launch tasks. Also, that day, I realized how easy it would be to lose the gas cap on the Honda motor. Fortunately, I didn't lose it, but I figured I had better do something before I did. I bought a plastic spring loaded clip (like you would use for clipping papers or a small towel on the wall) and attached it with double sided tape to the motor case. When you remove the gas cap, you just clip it to the motor with the clip and it stays put. Later, I got a more substantial clip and mounted it with screws, but the original one lasted two years or so.
We're Bill and Gigi Day and we bought our boat new in 1986. It's number 363, but we've never named it. We jokingly call it "das boot", but don't really want that as an official name. After reading this list and seeing all the clever boat names, I've decided that I must soon name the boat lest it develop a complex. When we settle on something, the list will be the first to know.
We sailed mostly in the delta, San Francisco Bay and many northern California lakes. We enjoyed camping on the boat or guesting in marinas and yacht clubs. We belonged to the Potter Yachters, and also the Lakeville Yacht Club.
About 6 years ago, we moved to Houston, Missouri. If you can find Houston on a map (it's only half a dot, and one of those places Rand doesn't even tell McNally about), you'll see that it's the farthest place in Missouri from any body of water. We can drive a couple of hours, though, and be at some pretty nice lakes. Most of the lake traffic is power boats, and as a sail boat, we're pretty much a novelty. I don't know how many times I've been asked what makes it go, and how can it sail into the wind. When I explain, I usually get, "Whooeee! What won't they think of next!"
I'll look forward to participating in the discussions on the list. In my years of sailing the '15' I've made every mistake possible (repeating some two or three times), so I'm a treasure trove of bad experience. In a future message (this one's already too long) I'll relate my adventure of picking my boat up at the factory. It's one of those events that wasn't too much fun at the time, but is funny to look back on.
Bill & Gigi Day
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