Hello Lenny' Of course I was kidding about heading to Hawaii altho I think an M15 did it. The question about "ultimate stability" would include a 180 degree capsize. The calculator I mentioned came up with a Capsize Rating for an M17 with a displacement of 2050 [1600 + 450 crew and gear] of 2.31 and Comfort of 13.66- not the kind of numbers one would want in really rough conditions. Our Montys are quite beamy and the cast iron board has no preventer to keep the board from falling back into the trunk in a full capsize. You are absolutely correct that they are coastal cruisers and great ones at that. The calculator even rated the M17 as a cruiser/ racer! We believe "reef early and often" and don't get into a dangerous situation but we have had the rail under on our local mountain lake when a gust came swirling around one of the surrounding hills. The biggest concern I have is if she did a 180 could we get her back over? We have never come close to a knockdown when others were coming close including Catalinas and Santanas. When the going gets rough we'll reef and install the hatch boards. Respectfully, Ron Goodspeed