Oh Connie, What great words to hear. Thanks for the encouragement. I might add that I certainly enjoy reading all the sage advice that you provide our group from time to time. (As an aside, I think Neptune was probably just a little jealous) Joe ----- Original Message ----- From: <chbenneck@sbcglobal.net> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 8:04 PM Subject: Re: M_Boats: M17 Bimini and Awnings??
Hi Joe,
Neptune had to twist my arm to convince me to quit sailing our M15 when I was 85 years old. You have a lot of years of enjoyable sailing ahead of you - 22 years by my count.
Enjoy them.
Happy sailing.
Connie
ex M15 #400 LEPPO
Joe Murphy wrote:
Stan, So nice to hear that you are still sailing into your 70's. I'll be 63 at the end of next month and hope I'll continue sailing in my 70's as well. And thanks for the useful tips. Re the bimini, do any of you M17 owners have a bimini and if so where did you find one? I had a nice awning on my previous NS27 that was fantastic. I'll probably make one or have one made for Seafrog. Nice weather right around the corner. Joe Seafrog M17 #651
----- Original Message ----- From: "Stan Winarski" <winarski@cox.net> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 8:16 PM Subject: M_Boats: M15 cruising
My wife and I have recently entered our 70s and she now limits us to no more than two nights on the hook. I'm 6'2" @ 185 she's 5'2" at 110 so I take up the most room on the V birth - however, she takes up most of the ample storage on board with "comfort" items.
A friend once told one of his yachting friends that we have spent 4 or 5 nights cruising aboard our M15. The guy's response to me was, "On purpose?" Guess I can't blame him, it is a bit like camping in a VW Beetle.
There are several major issues you will want to address.
A bimini for us is a necessity. Easily attached and detached front, rear, and side curtains are almost a necessity to block the late afternoon sun but an absolute necessity at night (when the porta- potty is moved up into the cockpit since it can't reasonably be used in the cabin once I'm taking up 3/4 of the width and 75% of the length of the bedding. With all our privacy curtains up we resemble a gypsy caravan but that is the price this guy must pay for companionship.
Mosquito netting fitted to the companion way is vital for most places we've sailed and will be for the ICW - and this year I'm finally chopping a hole in the front deck and will install a port to get more air below. We bought the boat new in 1981 and have always wanted cross ventilation but putting a hole in a perfectly fine boat was always anathema to me - still is, but I guess at this age we've earned some perks.
Bay water is okay for a scrub down but we carry extra fresh water for a rinse off.
Thrown together meals are very rarely acceptable. We don't have to have wine glasses but if we're only going to be out two nights, there will be room for them along with three small ice chests. Real pillows and sheets and several blankets all fit nicely on board too.
We may sit a little deeper in the water than our single handing companions but we have a great time.
Carol can sit up in the cabin. I can too if I sit in the porta-potty well which is quite comfortable for a couple of chapters. Reading is most often done supine with our heads raised on doubled over pillows.
Stan
Carol II, 1981 M15, #177
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