That was about the time when I switched from steel punchings to lead shot in the ballast; I'd guess that your boat has lead ballast but the old iron board. You can check the ballast by running a compass or magnet over the keel, and the board by crawling under and looking. jerry ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Wickett" <billwick@gmail.com> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 2:38 PM Subject: M_Boats: Iron centreboard on M17

Who can advise the year that the CB was changed from iron to laminate? Which CB would an '89 M17 be likely to have? Would the ballast be iron or lead?

Thanks,

Bill Wickett Makin' Time M17 #622

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Bill: from information shared by Randy G. - In 1988 (roughly at hull #400) the centerboard was changed from 220 lbs cast iron to the same centerboard as is used in the M15, weighing 40 lbs. The M15 is comprised of a fiberglass-lead-fiberglass sandwich and does not require a winch to raise and lower. Also, the ballast was increased to compensate for the change in centerboard weight, and the ballast was changed from steel punching to lead. These changes took places over several boats. For example; our [Randy's] 1988 M17 #410 has the fiberglass centerboard but steel punching ballast. (can't remember where i got this specifically ... what i have is credited to Randy.) :: Dave Scobie --- On Wed, 3/27/13, Bill Wickett <billwick@gmail.com> wrote:

Who can advise the year that the CB was changed from iron to laminate? Which CB would an '89 M17 be likely to have? Would the ballast be iron or lead?

Thanks,

Bill Wickett Makin' Time M17  #622

Bill, The CB change for cast iron to laminated fiberglass/lead occurred around hull number 400, roughly early 1988. I have 1988 hull #407 and it has the fiberglass/lead CB but steel punchings for ballast. As far as I know all the non-cast iron CB's are fiberglass/lead. I believe the same fiberglass/lead CB is used on both the 15 and the 17. The change from steel punching to lead ballast occurred sometime after hull #407. The best way to tell which type of ballast a 17 has is to see if a large magnet is attracted to the keel (takes a pretty good size magnet for the test). Randy Graves On Wed, Mar 27, 2013 at 2:38 PM, Bill Wickett <billwick@gmail.com> wrote:

Who can advise the year that the CB was changed from iron to laminate? Which CB would an '89 M17 be likely to have? Would the ballast be iron or lead?

Thanks,

Bill Wickett Makin' Time M17 #622