WOW ... i really read your message too fast ... and made poor comment on the motor recommendation. i'm sorry for the miss-information Doug. you want a long shaft motor on the M17. a 4HP motor is a great fit for the M17. i have a Suzuki 4HP and the motor moves the boat just fine. the Yamaha 4HP is also very nice ... especially as the Yamaha has an external tank option (not easily available for the Suzuki). the Honda 5HP motor is also popular on the M17. you can use a 2HP outboard on the M17 IF you don't get into high winds/seas. a good fit for folks that only motor to and from the dock, and don't cruise long distances in high winds/seas. a 3 or 3.5 HP outboard is also good for the M17. i suggest you remove the outboard bracket, patch the holes, and install the motor directly on the transom as jerry and lyle designed. the boat will sail MUCH better with the motor in the designed location. the motor weight is closer to the boats centerline and center of effort ... resulting in more stable and faster sailing. if you choose to remove the motor mount confirm that the new motor's throttle arm will fit OK ... some motors will not fit into the cutout because their throttle arms make the motor to 'wide'. as your 17 had such a heavy outboard on an after-market bracket i recommend you check the transom for cracking along the cockpit to transom joint. an overweight outboard on a poorly installed bracket have been known to cause transom damage on the old-style M17s. :: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 - SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com :: Sage Marine - www.sagemarine.com --- On Wed, 5/18/11, W David Scobie <wdscobie@yahoo.com> wrote:
my POV on two of your questions doug -
* the honda 2HP long shaft outboard is a great motor for the M15. anything larger is wasted horsepower and way to much weight. as you have a different motor mount you may be able to purchase a short-shaft motor and save a few bucks.
* i like sail slugs for the main. it is a preference. reefing a boat with slugs or boltrope are equally fast. some feel bolt rope provides a better sail shape.
:: Dave Scobie :: M17 #375 - SWEET PEA :: Sage Marine - www.sagemarine.com
--- On Wed, 5/18/11, Doug Vogel <shadowmt@earthlink.net> wrote:
My name is Doug Vogel, and I am a new owner of an 1980 M-17. It is my first boat. I live in Jackson,Wyoming, and sail my boat on Jackson Lake, in Grand Teton National Park. A amazingly beautiful and tricky place to sail. Lots of challenging mountain (6770') weather to deal with. Like ice still on the lake till probably June this year. Most years, the marina opens on May 21st. What a winter....
I have a few questions.
1) I am trying to repair a few minor gouges in the hull. 1.5 " long and only 1/16 to 1/8" deep. I have a gelcoat repair kit with the color tubes. I sanded the gouges yesterday, and ended up very quickly exposing the green layer underneath my cream colored hull. I was not trying to sand just inside the gouges. So have I screwed up? Now i think I have to apply the gelcoat over both the gouge and the exposed green layer. And that will have to be like a 1/32 or less. Then sand the gelcoat repair very carefully to not get to any green.
Is there a better way ?
2) My motor that came with the boat is an 9.7 horse regular shaft Mercury. Too big & too short. A previous owner installed an adjustable motor mount about foot below the notch in the transom. Soooo about $1500 can fix that issue. Maybe later in the summer.
3) I just spent a half hour reading older posts for the first time. I need to do more. I was considering going with slugs as there are some monster gusts on my lake. I will get some Sailcote next week. Do the slugs have to be installed by a sailmaker , or is it possible for an owner to install them ?
Thanks all for being happy hardworking sailers , and sending back some advice.
Doug