Doug, I've just been through all the pictures from the Maine cruise, including several of you with a giant smile on your face. I truly enjoyed our time on the water, and then our dinner in Kansas City, as well. I hope that you are well, I always smile when I see a post of yours on the board. I still have the Pearson Ariel in New England, and my M-17 here in Kansas. Perhaps our paths will cross in the material world as well as the digital one, until then, Fair Winds and Large Sheaves to you. T Thomas Howe McGrew Real Estate 785-550-1169 -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Douglas Kelch Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2014 12:00 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: New group member... I think you have to pick your own personal trade offs. Comparing cruising in a 22 ft boat to an M15 is like comparing an RV to backpacking ( M17 being tent camping in a car or truck). I have cruised the M15 single handed for over 15 cruises up to 2 weeks at a time and love it. My longest trip was 10 days on the water among the the mangrove islands west of Key West. I easily carried enough food and water to live well without a marina stop for 10 days. It is very comfortable sleeping and quite seaworthy. Almost all of my cruising has been in remote areas where I can avoid marinas. I used saltwater soap and shampo with a fresh water rinse via a spray bottle. I have spent two weeks in the soggy San Juans and enjoyed it but you have to manage the wet foul weather gear and never let it into the cabin. I always sleep without hatch boards and with the hatch open. As it gets colder I close things up but always leave one hatch board out as there is little ventilation in the cabin. When it gets below 30 Deg F I do put in all of the hatch board but slide the hatch back about 3 inchs. The drawback to the M15 is actually using marinas or in larger boat raft ups. In order to gain some privacy you must use a boom tent to close off the side visibility into the cabin for some privacy. This does make the boat seem a bit claustrophobic. I also have a Sandpiper 565 (18 ft, comfortable interior with sitting head room) which also seems claustrophobic when living in its comfortable little cabin. Most people seem to put way to much in thier boats and then complain about a lack of space. I found myself carring 4 anchors and 900 ft of rode at one point. I then cut back to 2 anchors of different types ( CQR and Bruce style) with 300 ft of rode each and still have room to to do a 10 day cruise with out stopping at a marina. It does require reconfiguring the interior several times a day as much of my cloths and food are in canvas bags in the cabin and the cooler moves out of the footwell or cabin in the evenings. I have cruised in company with some couples who overnight with the M15 but their limit seems to be 2 or 3 nights. The M15 is a fantastic boat for a single handed cruiser as long as you keep that backpacking mentality. I am 68 years old and still find the M15 easier to get around on than the 18 foot SandPiper. Thanks Doug Kelch M15G #310 "Seas the Day" On Sun, Mar 30, 2014 at 7:39 PM, Kearns, Kevin P <kkearns@pitt.edu> wrote:
Hi Alec,
While I am not in the New England area, I too have owned the Capri 22 and now have downsized to the Monty 15. I love this little boat, but I can say that it would probably seem quite cramped to you in comparison with the Capri. The Vee berth on the M-15 is not bad, but there are no side berths and there is not a lot of room for storage of equipment, food, etc... The Capri has that handy ice chest that doubled as a step into the cabin...a nice place to store ice, drinks, and food. Anyway, the Monty is a wonderful little boat for many other reasons. You might want to look at the M-17 for a bit more interior space, but it also is a lot more boat than the M-15. As with everything in sailing, as you know, there are compromises.
Best wishes with your search. I really love the boat. Attached is a nice photo.
Kevin Kearns, Pittsburgh ________________________________________ From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [ montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Alec McCandless [alecmccandless@gmail.com] Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2014 3:53 PM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: M_Boats: New group member...
Hello all! I'm new to this group, but not new to sailing.
I'd love to see a member's 15 or 17 in the New England area. I'm in CT now, but will be in northern VT later in the summer. I have a Capri 22 now, but am thinking of downsizing to a Monty 17 or maybe 15...
Can one of you who has cruised the 15, even just for weekends, shoot me a note about it's ability to do this in (relative) comfort? I've done so on the 22, without difficulty, so have some clue what I'm in for...
Much thanks, and the boats seem excellent! -Alec
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