Having reread my post regarding the M17 fixed Keel boat and its curved mast, my post should have read "convex forward". The curve in the mast is bowed toward the front of the boat. I have seen this on fractional rigs but never on a masthead rig. My understanding of the purpose of a curved mast is to de power the rig by flattening the sail. Am I anywhere near correct in this conclusion? Is the purpose of having two lower shrouds on a track to be able to adjust mast curve? Was this an original rig configuration? The rigging does look professionally built. On the matter of fixed Keel boats; there seems to be two styles of fixed keels. One fiberglass model and one cast iron. Does anyone have experience boats with the cast iron keel? Are they more weatherly? Are they stiffer? Can anyone post photos of the cast iron keeled boats? I assume there were very few of these boats were made. Jon Barber Monty17 Ol'44