Welcome aboard, Danelle, and I wish you and your family wonderful cruising in the Great Southeast. We lived on Annette Island, just SW of you, '69 to '71 where I was a SAR pilot and XO of the CG's Air Station, now at Sitka. My wife does not like sailing when it gets fun, so we cruised extensively as far north as Skagway in a pre-WWII 30' Matthews twin screw sedan cruiser (also barged up from Seattle). Sold it to a local character in Ketch when we transferred to New Orleans, sure she is long scrapped now. Our shakedown cruise was the Behm Canal, ran out of gas just short of the CG Station, they towed us in and laughed a LOT at the fly-boy! I am on my second M15, never been close to a M17, but I can guess that she will serve you most faithfully. Enjoy the many gunkholes in the Beautiful Southeast for overnight cruises, or 30-day cruises like we did! I, like everyone else here, will look forward to your upgrading and eventual sailing and cruising stories. John R. Butler Villa 401, The Arbors 2100 West New Hope Road ROGERS AR 72758-5626