Re: M_Boats: more on john in SCA, mast-rake
I have a very simple and strong backstay adjuster, but the amount of rake is controlled by the forestay. Putting tension on the back stay will pull the top of the mast only as far as the forestay allows. Addition tension on the back stay will help prevent the luff of the jib from sagging to leeward. To adjust the amount or rake, adjust the forestay. BTW there is another advantage of a fair amount of rake. I've noticed that when I slack off the tension on the backstay (dowind), the top of the mast moves foreward making the head sail a little fuller and generating a slight increase in downwind speed. I haven;t seen the latest issue of Good Old Boat. I'll check to see if Miss T is in there. John Edwards Miss T M17 # 372
There is an M17 pictured in the Lyle Hess article in the latest "Good Old Boat", but Miss T (Cover Girl?) is on the cover of "Small Craft Advisor". BTW, I think "Good Old Boat" finally got the story straight on who designed what in the Montgomery line, and also some history of how Bob came to acquire all those molds (Norsea and Montgomerys). Now if he can just get his hands on those BCC and FC molds, he will be able to corner the market on Hess boats! Howard On 5/1/04 9:18 PM, "Saltm17@aol.com" <Saltm17@aol.com> wrote:
I have a very simple and strong backstay adjuster, but the amount of rake is controlled by the forestay. Putting tension on the back stay will pull the top of the mast only as far as the forestay allows. Addition tension on the back stay will help prevent the luff of the jib from sagging to leeward. To adjust the amount or rake, adjust the forestay. BTW there is another advantage of a fair amount of rake. I've noticed that when I slack off the tension on the backstay (dowind), the top of the mast moves foreward making the head sail a little fuller and generating a slight increase in downwind speed. I haven;t seen the latest issue of Good Old Boat. I'll check to see if Miss T is in there.
John Edwards Miss T M17 # 372 _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
I've polled the list on this before, but if you'll permit, I'd like to do it again: Since I lost my beloved Mazda B4000 (4.0L 6-cyl., extended-cab, identical to the Ford Ranger) 4X2 automatic, I've been looking for a very inexpensive auxiliary towing vehicle. I think I may have found it, the price is right, it has a 6-cyl. engine, low miles, but here's the rub: It has a 5-speed manual transmission. I "dry sail" an M17 . . . By "dry sail", I mean that I leave her on her trailer, mast-up, near a boat-ramp most of the summer, and launch and retrieve her each time I sail. I know some listers feel pretty strongly that getting off a boat-ramp with a clutch is too difficult, and in some circumstances, nearly impossible. I was wondering if I could hear from those of you who tow, launch and retrieve their M17's with manual-transmission tow vehicles. I'm a little concerned about general trailering, too, because my experience with manual transmissions has been with rice-burner econo-sedans and a roadster, and I never really learned to down-shift. Thanks!
Honshells, Sorry, I don't know your first name. :-) When coming up a ramp, a 4x4 with a 2 speed transfer case, using low range on the ramp, is the best deal. However, they are not as inexpensive as a 2 wheel drive pickup, nor is their gas mileage as good. One way to make things easier on the ramp is to use a wheel chock. You can tie the chock to the truck, so it follows you up the ramp after you drive off of it. This will eliminate the need to learn to run your gas and brake at the same time with one foot. Rik On Sun, May 02 2004 09:27 am, Honshells wrote:
I've polled the list on this before, but if you'll permit, I'd like to do it again:
Since I lost my beloved Mazda B4000 (4.0L 6-cyl., extended-cab, identical to the Ford Ranger) 4X2 automatic, I've been looking for a very inexpensive auxiliary towing vehicle. I think I may have found it, the price is right, it has a 6-cyl. engine, low miles, but here's the rub: It has a 5-speed manual transmission.
I "dry sail" an M17 . . . By "dry sail", I mean that I leave her on her trailer, mast-up, near a boat-ramp most of the summer, and launch and retrieve her each time I sail.
I know some listers feel pretty strongly that getting off a boat-ramp with a clutch is too difficult, and in some circumstances, nearly impossible.
I was wondering if I could hear from those of you who tow, launch and retrieve their M17's with manual-transmission tow vehicles.
I'm a little concerned about general trailering, too, because my experience with manual transmissions has been with rice-burner econo-sedans and a roadster, and I never really learned to down-shift.
Thanks!
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Thanks, Rik! My first name is Craig. I always did fine with the 2-wheel-drive Mazda, even on some relatively steep, slick ramps, but with its automatic tranny, never had to worry about a clutch and, as you say, trying to use the brake and gas pedals at the same time. The wheel-chock idea was suggested by one of my local friends. Do you know how it's done? Another point I should have made about this budget truck is that the emergency brake is somewhat awkward to use. Again, my #1 choice would be an automatic transmission, but the price is right on this truck, which happens to be in cherry condition, too. --Craig Honshell, chonshell@ia4u.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rik Sandberg" <sanderico@earthlink.net> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2004 10:48 AM Subject: trailering with a clutch Honshells, Sorry, I don't know your first name. :-) When coming up a ramp, a 4x4 with a 2 speed transfer case, using low range on the ramp, is the best deal. However, they are not as inexpensive as a 2 wheel drive pickup, nor is their gas mileage as good. One way to make things easier on the ramp is to use a wheel chock. You can tie the chock to the truck, so it follows you up the ramp after you drive off of it. This will eliminate the need to learn to run your gas and brake at the same time with one foot. Rik On Sun, May 02 2004 09:27 am, Honshells wrote: I've polled the list on this before, but if you'll permit, I'd like to do it again: Since I lost my beloved Mazda B4000 (4.0L 6-cyl., extended-cab, identical to the Ford Ranger) 4X2 automatic, I've been looking for a very inexpensive auxiliary towing vehicle. I think I may have found it, the price is right, it has a 6-cyl. engine, low miles, but here's the rub: It has a 5-speed manual transmission. I "dry sail" an M17 . . . By "dry sail", I mean that I leave her on her trailer, mast-up, near a boat-ramp most of the summer, and launch and retrieve her each time I sail. I know some listers feel pretty strongly that getting off a boat-ramp with a clutch is too difficult, and in some circumstances, nearly impossible. I was wondering if I could hear from those of you who tow, launch and retrieve their M17's with manual-transmission tow vehicles. I'm a little concerned about general trailering, too, because my experience with manual transmissions has been with rice-burner econo-sedans and a roadster, and I never really learned to down-shift. Thanks!
Craig, Here's another data point for you research: Since I got my M15 in '98, I've used a RAV4 5-speed for towing and launching. It now has 95k miles and the original clutch. I have been driving mostly manual transmission cars for 40+ years. I often use the hand brake when retrieving, but almost never use it otherwise. Bill Riker M15 - #184 Storm Petrel -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+wriker=mindspring.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+wriker=mindspring.com@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Honshells Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2004 10:28 AM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: M_Boats: trailering with a clutch I've polled the list on this before, but if you'll permit, I'd like to do it again: Since I lost my beloved Mazda B4000 (4.0L 6-cyl., extended-cab, identical to the Ford Ranger) 4X2 automatic, I've been looking for a very inexpensive auxiliary towing vehicle. I think I may have found it, the price is right, it has a 6-cyl. engine, low miles, but here's the rub: It has a 5-speed manual transmission. I "dry sail" an M17 . . . By "dry sail", I mean that I leave her on her trailer, mast-up, near a boat-ramp most of the summer, and launch and retrieve her each time I sail. I know some listers feel pretty strongly that getting off a boat-ramp with a clutch is too difficult, and in some circumstances, nearly impossible. I was wondering if I could hear from those of you who tow, launch and retrieve their M17's with manual-transmission tow vehicles. I'm a little concerned about general trailering, too, because my experience with manual transmissions has been with rice-burner econo-sedans and a roadster, and I never really learned to down-shift. Thanks! _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
I love the RAV4, Bill. --Craig ----- Original Message ----- From: "William B. Riker" <wriker@mindspring.com> To: "'For and about Montgomery Sailboats'" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2004 2:17 PM Subject: trailering with a clutch Craig, Here's another data point for you research: Since I got my M15 in '98, I've used a RAV4 5-speed for towing and launching. It now has 95k miles and the original clutch. I have been driving mostly manual transmission cars for 40+ years. I often use the hand brake when retrieving, but almost never use it otherwise. Bill Riker M15 - #184 Storm Petrel -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+wriker=mindspring.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+wriker=mindspring.com@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Honshells Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2004 10:28 AM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: trailering with a clutch I've polled the list on this before, but if you'll permit, I'd like to do it again: Since I lost my beloved Mazda B4000 (4.0L 6-cyl., extended-cab, identical to the Ford Ranger) 4X2 automatic, I've been looking for a very inexpensive auxiliary towing vehicle. I think I may have found it, the price is right, it has a 6-cyl. engine, low miles, but here's the rub: It has a 5-speed manual transmission. I "dry sail" an M17 . . . By "dry sail", I mean that I leave her on her trailer, mast-up, near a boat-ramp most of the summer, and launch and retrieve her each time I sail. I know some listers feel pretty strongly that getting off a boat-ramp with a clutch is too difficult, and in some circumstances, nearly impossible. I was wondering if I could hear from those of you who tow, launch and retrieve their M17's with manual-transmission tow vehicles. I'm a little concerned about general trailering, too, because my experience with manual transmissions has been with rice-burner econo-sedans and a roadster, and I never really learned to down-shift. Thanks! _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
Craig, I have always been biased toward a manual over an automatic and usually towed my M17 with a small truck with manual trans. The automatic is easier to use until you are accustomed to the manual, of course. I don't see any reason why the manual wouldn't work fine for you. All you need is some practice with the clutch and one chock on the drivers side rear wheel (unless that wheel is under water when you retrieve your boat then it may be handier to chock the front wheel) on the ramp works well to help you start out. 1) Back down the ramp until you can load the boat - set brake and chock. 2) Tie the chock with a short piece of line to any handy point on your vehicle (line must be short enough that you don't run over the chock with another wheel as you drive off). 3) The chock will keep you from rolling back as you get started so just pull up onto level ground (or to your storage place if it's close enough) set the brake pick up your chock and you're ready to go. You can do it. Good luck Mark Dvorscak M23 Faith
Whether I decide to buy the standard-tranny truck, y'all have taken some of the anxiety out of it. Thanks! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roberta Dvorscak" <edarts93@earthlink.net> To: "'For and about Montgomery Sailboats'" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2004 5:04 PM Subject: trailering with a clutch Craig, I have always been biased toward a manual over an automatic and usually towed my M17 with a small truck with manual trans. The automatic is easier to use until you are accustomed to the manual, of course. I don't see any reason why the manual wouldn't work fine for you. All you need is some practice with the clutch and one chock on the drivers side rear wheel (unless that wheel is under water when you retrieve your boat then it may be handier to chock the front wheel) on the ramp works well to help you start out. 1) Back down the ramp until you can load the boat - set brake and chock. 2) Tie the chock with a short piece of line to any handy point on your vehicle (line must be short enough that you don't run over the chock with another wheel as you drive off). 3) The chock will keep you from rolling back as you get started so just pull up onto level ground (or to your storage place if it's close enough) set the brake pick up your chock and you're ready to go. You can do it. Good luck Mark Dvorscak M23 Faith
participants (6)
-
Honshells -
Howard Audsley -
Rik Sandberg -
Roberta Dvorscak -
Saltm17@aol.com -
William B. Riker