Hi Tyler, Always a trade off. Does one buy a less expensive boat and spend a certain amount of time and effort improving it or does one spend a bit more up front and get sailing sooner with a lot fewer decisions as to who, where,how and when to fix this and that. I recently bought an M-17 that will require some cosmetic work and before purchasing it I made sure the centerboard lowered just fine. That one particular item seems to be the biggest headache for these boats which are otherwise pretty much bomb proof. Do all the research you can as to the price of how to get done what you need with the keel, if you can look at that situation a bit more closely and ascertain how badly it is stuck that would be helpful. Look for another boat without this problem as per other advice on this site. I have been where you are in my boat buying past. I always try to remember the advice I got years ago...... "Act in haste, repent at leisure." Your choice of craft is great. M's are fine boats. Fair winds, Tom B. M-17, #258 On Sun, Sep 15, 2013 at 10:47 AM, <casioqv@usermail.com> wrote:
In my search for an M15, I found a 1981 where the swing keel is rusted and expanded so that it won't lower.
How difficult and expensive is this to fix? Should I run scared or consider this a good opportunity for an affordable boat?
How does the swing keel come out? It seems that it pivots on a pin, but is the pin permanently glassed in and require cutting a lot of fiberglass to get it out?
Thanks, Tyler Riverside, CA