Larry Yake has run both the bolt that fixes the cb in place (well really, that's the way this bolt is configured, except there are recesses in the keel to accomodate the bolt head and nut), plus the bolt that serves to stop the cb tang, directly through the keel (correct me if I misrepresent you Larry). It certainly seems like a common sense thing to do to me. Any resulting disturbance to flow over the keel would in my mind be a minor problem compared to the gains in ease of installation/repair.

If you get an M17 in a position to drop the cb into the cb trunk, you're way beyond knockdown. I've hear this is a concern in a Potter, but have never encountered this worry with an M17. It would be way down my list of things to lose sleep over... t

Tom Smith & Jane Van Winkle
Sandpoint, Idaho
M15-345, Chukar
M17-064, Unnamed

-----Original Message-----
From: Randy Wirth [mailto:randy@caffeibis.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 12:50 PM
To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com
Subject: M_Boats: Keel Stop Bolt Repair

I have a 1974 17' Montgomery,"Fore Play", that I need to replace the keel boat on. I pulled the steel keel last spring and took it down to bare metal and recoated and reinstalled it with a new rope and fittings. I replaced the stainless stop bolt at that time but had it come lose last weekend after a big blow. When I dived overboard to reinsert and tighten it, there was nothing to thread into. I am trying to decide if I should drill completely through and put a longer bolt with washer and locknut or if I should try to epoxy in another nut within the keel housing. I would be greatful for any input. Randy .Bearlake,Utah

P.S. Has anyone ever seen a need to retrofit a keel stop for when you have a knockdown and roll over to prevent the keel from slaming back into the slot and sinking the boat? I am not aware of this ever happening to a M-17 but I know that this provision has been made for other small pocket cruisers.

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