On my M23 there are definitely places in the San Juan Islands where I can barely make 0.2 kts head way against the current with a Honda 9.9 at full throttle (and other places where I would never even attempt to go against the current). Obviously there is a large difference between boats here, but a 2 hp motor on an M17 or even an M15 would probably have a similarly difficult time. Usually one can plan a course to coincide with the currents but occasionally you have the dilemma of choosing which location you will have to buck the current (or choose an alternate destination). My 2¢ only. Others with M17 or M15 experience in the Islands may have better information. Mark Dvorscak M23 M15 Former M17 On Mon, Apr 5, 2021, 11:35 Peter Zimowsky via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
Hi all: I worry about the currents in the San Juan’s and the need for the 4 horse. But I will investigate getting smaller motor Pete
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On Apr 5, 2021, at 08:18, Jon Barber <brbrbarber@gmail.com> wrote:
Why do you have a 75# outboard on a Monty 17? My 2 hp pushes my boat easily at 4kts, 1/2 throttle. Its plenty of motor. It weighs 27# and keeps the aft of the boat light and out or the water. The motor stays in the garage till I leave on a trip. When leaving I clamp it to the transom where it stays for the duration. To tow, I rotate the motor to the"reverse" position so it can't move up.
I launch many times in a season and not having to deal with the motor each time saves me a lot of trouble. I also changed to the Rudder Craft rudder with the extendable Mast support for the same reason. When I arrive at the marina the rudder is in place and I am also ready to raise my mast. Lately I have been rigging and unrigging after I launch. I find it safer to do so when the deck is not so high from the parking lot.
I also like no fuel tank in the cockpit. Nothing underfoot.
On a sail in the delta there was much water hyacinth tangling up on motors. Because my motor is mounted directly to to transom, the prop is closer and within reach to clear of obstructions.
Keep it simple!
Jon Barber Monty 17 Ol'44