Hi: I just took delivery of a 2003 model M-15 # 620 named Sweet Dream. She sits on her Pacific Trailer in my back yard in Mobile, Alabama right now. Sweet Dream has a factory installed Bimini top to shade my wife. I've added a 2 HP. 4 stroke Honda and a Thetford 135 Portapotti. I decided on the M-15 for a number of reasons. I principally daysail but wanted a boat with a small cabin so my wife can change clothes, nap, and answer natures call. The boat had to be seaworthy and stable, but have a shallow draft. I plan to single hand half the time so I wanted a boat that I could launch and rig quickly and easily. Having been stuck with no wind and an outgoing tide (hello Cuba), a motor and a 4 knot hull speed was essential. I narrowed my search to trailer-sailors from 15 ft to 19 ft. Good cabin layout and storage was a prime consideration. I looked at Potters, used Commodore 18's, Compac 16's and Suncats, P-18's, M-17's, etc but picked the M-15 because it is easy to trail, launch, set up, has shallow draft, a good interior layout, and LOOKS GREAT. I plan to sail the 40 mile long Mobile Bay and in Mississippi sound and around the barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. With the ICW running through the Bay, I've got access to several hundred miles of protected water from Lake Borgn (New Orleans) to St Andrews Bay (Panama City, Fla) with clear water and white sand beaches. There are many great launching ramps up and down the stretch on coast which give me good daysailing access..With the addition of a rod holder, I plan to do some offshore trolling also (Fishing is great here). I'm 61 years old but in great shape. Up to now, I've sailed Hobie cats, sunfish, and my escape Rumba (a little small to fish the gulf out of but I managed). Any rigging and handling suggestions would be appreciated Fair Winds Don Ludlow
Hi Don, Congratulations on your new Montgomery 15! She sounds like a great boat and a well thought out purchase! Have you seen the MSOG website? www.msog.org My wife and I have a 1988 M-15 (our 3 rd and best boat). We are very pleased with our M-15. Mostly I sail single handed, and my wife joins me from time to time to soak up some sun and go for a swim. We sail in N. Idaho and are beginning to venture out into other locations in the Pacific N. West. Changes we have made to our M-15: We brought all the lines aft for single handed sailing, added a bracket to our trailer to hold the motor, added keel guides (really makes launching and retrieving a snap!) Added a quick-pin to the rudder/tiller to lock the rudder in the up position for launching. I think that is it, we are the 2 nd owners of our boat, traded our Laguna 24 for her in 93. The original owner had teak hand rails added to the top of the cabin, a boarding ladder, and bulk-head mounted compass. All of which were great additions to the boat. Our boat also came with the factory electrical system. Congratulations again on your boat! As we become better sailors we are considering adding a second set of reef points to our mainsail, and possibly a smaller storm type jib. Winds in N. Idaho are often strong, in the 20 - 30 knot range.
From time to time we think of getting a bigger boat, recently we were considering a Compac 19 or 23, with the idea that a bigger boat might help us go on longer trips or handle rougher conditions. Then we thought about all the great things about our M-15 and decided that we had several more years of activities with our boat before we had sailed her to her potential and decided to keep her. I mean, how many good sailboats can you store in your garage? How many can be in the water ready to go 20 min. after arriving at the launch ramp? We have adopted the idea that the best sailboats in the world are the ones that get sailed. With that philosophy, our M-15 is among the worlds best boats!
Randy Graves M-14 #407 Dinky Boat Post Falls, ID ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ludlow, Don" <LudlowD@BEK.com> To: "Monty mail list (E-mail)" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 7:11 AM Subject: M_Boats: New M-15 Sweet Dream
Hi: I just took delivery of a 2003 model M-15 # 620 named Sweet Dream. She sits on her Pacific Trailer in my back yard in Mobile, Alabama right now. Sweet Dream has a factory installed Bimini top to shade my wife. I've added a 2 HP. 4 stroke Honda and a Thetford 135 Portapotti. I decided on the M-15 for a number of reasons. I principally daysail but wanted a boat with a small cabin so my wife can change clothes, nap, and answer natures call. The boat had to be seaworthy and stable, but have a shallow draft. I plan to single hand half the time so I wanted a boat that I could launch and rig quickly and easily. Having been stuck with no wind and an outgoing tide (hello Cuba), a motor and a 4 knot hull speed was essential. I narrowed my search to trailer-sailors from 15 ft to 19 ft. Good cabin layout and storage was a prime consideration. I looked at Potters, used Commodore 18's, Compac 16's and Suncats, P-18's, M-17's, etc but picked the M-15 because it is easy to trail, launch, set up, has shallow draft, a good interior layout, and LOOKS GREAT. I plan to sail the 40 mile long Mobile Bay and in Mississippi sound and around the barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. With the ICW running through the Bay, I've got access to several hundred miles of protected water from Lake Borgn (New Orleans) to St Andrews Bay (Panama City, Fla) with clear water and white sand beaches. There are many great launching ramps up and down the stretch on coast which give me good daysailing access..With the addition of a rod holder, I plan to do some offshore trolling also (Fishing is great here). I'm 61 years old but in great shape. Up to now, I've sailed Hobie cats, sunfish, and my escape Rumba (a little small to fish the gulf out of but I managed). Any rigging and handling suggestions would be appreciated Fair Winds Don Ludlow
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Randy, Compac is introducing a new 19 footer later this year. Be on the lookout for it. I love my M15 too but this new boat Compac is offering looks promising. Jesse ----- Original Message ----- From: "Randy Graves" <RandyG@cite.nic.edu> To: <LudlowD@BEK.com> Cc: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 10:48 AM Subject: Re: M_Boats: New M-15 Sweet Dream
Hi Don,
Congratulations on your new Montgomery 15! She sounds like a great boat and a well thought out purchase! Have you seen the MSOG website? www.msog.org My wife and I have a 1988 M-15 (our 3 rd and best boat). We are very pleased with our M-15. Mostly I sail single handed, and my wife joins me from time to time to soak up some sun and go for a swim. We sail in N. Idaho and are beginning to venture out into other locations in the Pacific N. West.
Changes we have made to our M-15: We brought all the lines aft for single handed sailing, added a bracket to our trailer to hold the motor, added keel guides (really makes launching and retrieving a snap!) Added a quick-pin to the rudder/tiller to lock the rudder in the up position for launching.
I think that is it, we are the 2 nd owners of our boat, traded our Laguna 24 for her in 93. The original owner had teak hand rails added to the top of the cabin, a boarding ladder, and bulk-head mounted compass. All of which were great additions to the boat. Our boat also came with the factory electrical system.
Congratulations again on your boat! As we become better sailors we are considering adding a second set of reef points to our mainsail, and possibly a smaller storm type jib. Winds in N. Idaho are often strong, in the 20 - 30 knot range.
From time to time we think of getting a bigger boat, recently we were considering a Compac 19 or 23, with the idea that a bigger boat might help us go on longer trips or handle rougher conditions. Then we thought about all the great things about our M-15 and decided that we had several more years of activities with our boat before we had sailed her to her potential and decided to keep her. I mean, how many good sailboats can you store in your garage? How many can be in the water ready to go 20 min. after arriving at the launch ramp? We have adopted the idea that the best sailboats in the world are the ones that get sailed. With that philosophy, our M-15 is among the worlds best boats!
Randy Graves M-14 #407 Dinky Boat Post Falls, ID ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ludlow, Don" <LudlowD@BEK.com> To: "Monty mail list (E-mail)" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 7:11 AM Subject: M_Boats: New M-15 Sweet Dream
Hi: I just took delivery of a 2003 model M-15 # 620 named Sweet Dream. She sits on her Pacific Trailer in my back yard in Mobile, Alabama right now. Sweet Dream has a factory installed Bimini top to shade my wife. I've added a 2 HP. 4 stroke Honda and a Thetford 135 Portapotti. I decided on the M-15 for a number of reasons. I principally daysail but wanted a boat with a small cabin so my wife can change clothes, nap, and answer natures call. The boat had to be seaworthy and stable, but have a shallow draft. I plan to single hand half the time so I wanted a boat that I could launch and rig quickly and easily. Having been stuck with no wind and an outgoing tide (hello Cuba), a motor and a 4 knot hull speed was essential. I narrowed my search to trailer-sailors from 15 ft to 19 ft. Good cabin layout and storage was a prime consideration. I looked at Potters, used Commodore 18's, Compac 16's and Suncats, P-18's, M-17's, etc but picked the M-15 because it is easy to trail, launch, set up, has shallow draft, a good interior layout, and LOOKS GREAT. I plan to sail the 40 mile long Mobile Bay and in Mississippi sound and around the barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. With the ICW running through the Bay, I've got access to several hundred miles of protected water from Lake Borgn (New Orleans) to St Andrews Bay (Panama City, Fla) with clear water and white sand beaches. There are many great launching ramps up and down the stretch on coast which give me good daysailing access..With the addition of a rod holder, I plan to do some offshore trolling also (Fishing is great here). I'm 61 years old but in great shape. Up to now, I've sailed Hobie cats, sunfish, and my escape Rumba (a little small to fish the gulf out of but I managed). Any rigging and handling suggestions would be appreciated Fair Winds Don Ludlow
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Don, Do you subscribe to Small Craft Advisor? Check out July/Aug 2003 Issue #22, page 43 article about "Gerr" Downhaul. Its a great singlehand jib handling technique - and it's simple and inexpensive. Jesse Tate M 15 #343 Carolyn J ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ludlow, Don" <LudlowD@BEK.com> To: "Monty mail list (E-mail)" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 9:11 AM Subject: M_Boats: New M-15 Sweet Dream
Hi: I just took delivery of a 2003 model M-15 # 620 named Sweet Dream. She sits on her Pacific Trailer in my back yard in Mobile, Alabama right now. Sweet Dream has a factory installed Bimini top to shade my wife. I've added a 2 HP. 4 stroke Honda and a Thetford 135 Portapotti. I decided on the M-15 for a number of reasons. I principally daysail but wanted a boat with a small cabin so my wife can change clothes, nap, and answer natures call. The boat had to be seaworthy and stable, but have a shallow draft. I plan to single hand half the time so I wanted a boat that I could launch and rig quickly and easily. Having been stuck with no wind and an outgoing tide (hello Cuba), a motor and a 4 knot hull speed was essential. I narrowed my search to trailer-sailors from 15 ft to 19 ft. Good cabin layout and storage was a prime consideration. I looked at Potters, used Commodore 18's, Compac 16's and Suncats, P-18's, M-17's, etc but picked the M-15 because it is easy to trail, launch, set up, has shallow draft, a good interior layout, and LOOKS GREAT. I plan to sail the 40 mile long Mobile Bay and in Mississippi sound and around the barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. With the ICW running through the Bay, I've got access to several hundred miles of protected water from Lake Borgn (New Orleans) to St Andrews Bay (Panama City, Fla) with clear water and white sand beaches. There are many great launching ramps up and down the stretch on coast which give me good daysailing access..With the addition of a rod holder, I plan to do some offshore trolling also (Fishing is great here). I'm 61 years old but in great shape. Up to now, I've sailed Hobie cats, sunfish, and my escape Rumba (a little small to fish the gulf out of but I managed). Any rigging and handling suggestions would be appreciated Fair Winds Don Ludlow
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Don, Congratulations on Sweet Dream! The M15 fits your criteria to a tee. Your criteria are the same reason I am able to subdue the bigger boat fever when it comes. Three primary things I would recommend. 1. Get a permanently mounted boarding ladder. The high freeboard in the M15 makes it very difficult to get into from the water or the beach. I am sure you will get the urge to walk along those beautiful beaches in your area. Rope ladders do not work. Permanently mounted for that day when a large fish pulls you off balance and you fall in unexpectedly. The permanent ladder is an essential safety feature. 2. Learn how to "heave to". The M15 will foot along forever when you heave to properly and you can take care of personal needs, make a lunch, change a lure, fight the the fish etc with out a worry and all hands free. To heave to, swing the boat hard on the wind (45 deg to true wind). Execute a slow tack without freeing the jib or the main (don't touch the sheets). Don't complete the full 90 deg tack until most of the speed is off of the boat. Slowly start to tack back the other way (don't touch the sheets) and you should find that the boat will stall (not complete the tack)with the tiller to leeward. Tie the tiller off to leeward. The jib should be backwinded at this point, the main sheeted in near the centerline and the tiller tied to Leeward. Observe the hands free movement of the boat and then go about your business. 3. Install jiffy reefing and learn how to use it. I tried reefing hooks at the tack but they jambed between the boom and the mast because they are too big. Welcome aboard! Doug Kelch M15 #310 "Seas the Day" --- "Ludlow, Don" <LudlowD@BEK.com> wrote:
Hi: I just took delivery of a 2003 model M-15 # 620 named Sweet Dream. . .
I plan to sail the 40 mile long Mobile Bay and in Mississippi sound and around the barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. . . clear water and white sand beaches. ..With the addition of a rod holder, I plan to do some offshore trolling also (Fishing is great here). Any rigging and handling suggestions would be appreciated Fair Winds Don Ludlow
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Doug: What permanently mounted ladder do you recommend? --Gary Hyde M15 #235 'Vanilla' On Friday, August 1, 2003, at 02:03 PM, Doug Kelch wrote:
Don,
Congratulations on Sweet Dream! The M15 fits your criteria to a tee. Your criteria are the same reason I am able to subdue the bigger boat fever when it comes.
Three primary things I would recommend.
1. Get a permanently mounted boarding ladder. The high freeboard in the M15 makes it very difficult to get into from the water or the beach. I am sure you will get the urge to walk along those beautiful beaches in your area. Rope ladders do not work. Permanently mounted for that day when a large fish pulls you off balance and you fall in unexpectedly. The permanent ladder is an essential safety feature.
2. Learn how to "heave to". The M15 will foot along forever when you heave to properly and you can take care of personal needs, make a lunch, change a lure, fight the the fish etc with out a worry and all hands free. To heave to, swing the boat hard on the wind (45 deg to true wind). Execute a slow tack without freeing the jib or the main (don't touch the sheets). Don't complete the full 90 deg tack until most of the speed is off of the boat. Slowly start to tack back the other way (don't touch the sheets) and you should find that the boat will stall (not complete the tack)with the tiller to leeward. Tie the tiller off to leeward. The jib should be backwinded at this point, the main sheeted in near the centerline and the tiller tied to Leeward. Observe the hands free movement of the boat and then go about your business.
3. Install jiffy reefing and learn how to use it. I tried reefing hooks at the tack but they jambed between the boom and the mast because they are too big.
Welcome aboard!
Doug Kelch M15 #310 "Seas the Day" --- "Ludlow, Don" <LudlowD@BEK.com> wrote:
Hi: I just took delivery of a 2003 model M-15 # 620 named Sweet Dream. . .
I plan to sail the 40 mile long Mobile Bay and in Mississippi sound and around the barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. . . clear water and white sand beaches. ..With the addition of a rod holder, I plan to do some offshore trolling also (Fishing is great here). Any rigging and handling suggestions would be appreciated Fair Winds Don Ludlow
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Gary, The one I used is no longer available. Bob Eeg is Seems to be using one of the newer telescoping models. Maybee he will hop in and let us know what he is using. Doug M15 #310 "Seas the Day" --- "Gary M. Hyde" <gmhyde1@mac.com> wrote:
Doug: What permanently mounted ladder do you recommend? --Gary Hyde M15 #235 'Vanilla'
On Friday, August 1, 2003, at 02:03 PM, Doug Kelch wrote:
Don,
Congratulations on Sweet Dream! The M15 fits your criteria to a tee. Your criteria are the same reason I am able to subdue the bigger boat fever when it comes.
Three primary things I would recommend.
1. Get a permanently mounted boarding ladder. The high freeboard in the M15 makes it very difficult to get into from the water or the beach. I am sure you will get the urge to walk along those beautiful beaches in your area. Rope ladders do not work. Permanently mounted for that day when a large fish pulls you off balance and you fall in unexpectedly. The permanent ladder is an essential safety feature.
2. Learn how to "heave to". The M15 will foot along forever when you heave to properly and you can take care of personal needs, make a lunch, change a lure, fight the the fish etc with out a worry and all hands free. To heave to, swing the boat hard on the wind (45 deg to true wind). Execute a slow tack without freeing the jib or the main (don't touch the sheets). Don't complete the full 90 deg tack until most of the speed is off of the boat. Slowly start to tack back the other way (don't touch the sheets) and you should find that the boat will stall (not complete the tack)with the tiller to leeward. Tie the tiller off to leeward. The jib should be backwinded at this point, the main sheeted in near the centerline and the tiller tied to Leeward. Observe the hands free movement of the boat and then go about your business.
3. Install jiffy reefing and learn how to use it. I tried reefing hooks at the tack but they jambed between the boom and the mast because they are too big.
Welcome aboard!
Doug Kelch M15 #310 "Seas the Day" --- "Ludlow, Don" <LudlowD@BEK.com> wrote:
Hi: I just took delivery of a 2003 model M-15 # 620 named Sweet Dream. . .
I plan to sail the 40 mile long Mobile Bay and in Mississippi sound and around the barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. . . clear water and white sand beaches. ..With the addition of a rod holder, I plan to do some offshore trolling also (Fishing is great here). Any rigging and handling suggestions would be appreciated Fair Winds Don Ludlow
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design software
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Hello, Having asked for advice on the net concerning my wayward centerboard pin and having received several suggestions from many people including Montgomery boats (Thanks Bob!) I thought I would describe what I did. PROBLEM: Center board pin keeps working its way out due to use and most likely, trailer vibration. SOLUTION METHOD: Modify pin and use marine grade epoxy SOLUTION PROCEDURE: 1. Shorten (if necessary) the steel pin so that when inserted back into boat the depth on each side is no greater than @1/16". This is unfortunately a 'rough cut and then fine grind' procedure as you want as much pin to hull contact as possible. 2. After correct pin length for your M - 15 is determined, remove the pin and seriously rough up the ends where they contact the hull. I used a grinder to put @1/32" deep gouges around the ends. This is to give the epoxy something to grab on too. Those of you who have access to a lathe and a knurling tool could a more elegant job of it...even make up extras to sell on the net...but I digress. 3. Insert the pin back into the boat through the center board BEFORE you apply any epoxy. You want to epoxy the pin to the hull, not the center board to the pin. 4. Push the pin completely through one side (don't forget the center board) so that the ruffed up end is showing through on the other. Coat the hole and the exposed pin end. Now push the pin back through the hole till the other side of pin is exposed and then coat the exposed pin end and the hole on the other side of the boat. Next push the pin back in till the recessed depth on both sides is equal. 5. Let Dry completely. I let it set two days. 6. You can finish sand smooth as the spot is under water and the dark spot won't be seen or you can be anal about it (like me) sand the area with 80 grit paper, fill with Bondo light activated fiberglass repair (the cream colored one matches the boat color pretty good) and then sand smooth. There will still be a dark spot but it will not be as obvious. RESULTS: I have just completed a round trip from Moscow, ID to Ogden, UT (GPS 924 miles) with sailing on Cascade Lake, ID and Bear Lake, UT which translates to a trip total of well over 1000 miles. There is no cracking evident so I must judge the repair a success. I will report back if and when the repair fails. MATERIALS: Bondo brand light activated fiberglass repair Ace Marine grade epoxy Various grades of sand paper Hope this helps those with similar problem. And again thanks to all who sent me suggestions! Vince and Sharon Himsl M-15 Duet P.S. I sure hope I don't have a need to remove the pin...
participants (6)
-
Doug Kelch -
Gary M. Hyde -
Jesse Tate -
Ludlow, Don -
Randy Graves -
Vincent Himsl