Sandy brings up an excellent question to ask yourself: Do you have a dealer for your proposed motor nearby? In my case, the answer is yes. I have a Honda dealer just a few miles from where I normally sail. If there weren't one nearby, then I would most likely not have bought a Honda; I would've bought some other brand which had a dealer nearby. Tod M17 #408 BuscaBrisas -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+htmills=bright.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+htmills=bright.net@mailman.xmission.com ] On Behalf Of Sandyal55@aol.com Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 2:17 PM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: M_Boats: My new mountgomery 15 In a message dated 10/29/2006 10:02:27 AM Mountain Standard Time, nanarry@shaw.ca writes: Hi folks, I'm buying a new Montgomery 15 and would appreciate any information you could give me on several issues. My sailing will be on wild and wooly Lake Superior (water 40 degrees F and big storms). Auxiliary motor: I'd like the quietest one; was thinking of a Mercury 3.5hp vs a Honda 2hp?; short or long shaft? Cabin heater: any experience with an Origo alcohol heater? Tender: I am a kayaker and hope to tow my kayak behind the Mont.15. Would this create too much drag? Trailer tires: the best tires for long distance trailing in winter (Jan /07 from S.Cal. to our home in Thunder Bay on Lake Superior. Overall length and width of Mont.15 on a Pacific trailer? (I'm hoping to squeeze it in between my shed and garage) I am really excited about getting one. Everything I have read and heard sounds like it is a great little boat. Josh at Small Craft Advisor was very helpful. I've made the first of three payments to Bob Eeg. I don't know if construction has started yet(no news is good news?), but my wife and I will pick it up in California at the end of Jan. 2007. I'll keep you posted as to its progress. Any advice /information you could give me would be greatly appreciated Thanks Harry Elmslie P.S I hope this acquisition will bestow some respect on me among the Thunder Bay sailing fraternity. Local kayakers are labled "sea lice" by the sailing crowd. _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats I don't own an M15 but here's my advice on motors. If you need to use it in rough seas, get a long shaft. That way the prop stays in the water most of the time when you're pitching up and down. My choice in motors would be a Yamaha. They have one of the best parts/service systems in the world. The 3.5 HP seems too large for a 15, but when motoring home into a stiff wind, a bit more is good. I just cruised up highway 23 (on a Motorcycle) on the Eastern shore of Michigan last July. You live in one of the most beautiful parts of this country that I've seen. Enjoy your new boat. Sandy _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats