I've moved my M17 traveler to the transom: You can see my new traveler horse at www.msog.org/how-to/rudders/honshell.cfm However, I ALSO installed a kick-up rudder in the process, which means I no longer have a lifting rudder, so my traveler horse doesn't interfere with the tiller as it would the stock model. I've given a lot of thought to how someone could sheet to the M17 transom without modifying the rudder . . . The only practical idea I've had is a triangulation between blocks port and starboard, as you see on many traditional boats, especially gaff rigged (see the Sanderling in the latest issue of "Small Craft Advisor"). I don't think I have much pressure on the boom with my new end-boom sheeting, however, I understand that I probably don't have the best mainsail shape . . . I am considering leading the sheet back from the boom, mid-boom and down to a swivel-cam-cleat on a removable board across (and directly in front of) the companionway, so that I'll have an arrangement very similar to the M15's . . . However, for now I'm enjoying the uncluttered cockpit . . . I've been converting my hardware to bronze and have a honey of an angled swivel-cam-cleat in bronze from Bristol Bronze, so I'll likely make the conversion, more to utilize the beautiful piece of hardware I bought in '02, rather than out of concern to improve performance . . . Perhaps I could accomplish the same thing adding a boom-vang that I would leading the sheet back to mid-boom? I wonder why Jerry didn't use stringers on the later boats? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Smith, Tom" <Tom.Smith@itron.com> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 10:19 AM Subject: stiffeners and the M17 mainsheet These stiffeners--I call them stringers--appear elsewhere in the older M17s besides the cabin top. They're aft on the hull beneath the cockpit too, running parallel to the lapstrake. This has probably been discussed, and I've talked offline with a couple people about it, but has anyone changed the main sheet arrangement on the M17 (the older models with the track just behind the bridge deck--I know sheeting's been moved back on the later models)? The M15 mainsheet is mid-boom sheeted too, but the sheet also runs back to the boom-end and then to a yoke across the transom. I like this setup (even though the yoke and sheet can foul under some circumstances) because I believe it distributes the main sheet stresses and provides additional mechanical advantage (maybe I'm wrong on this point--it just seems easier to sheet the main in on the M15). The M17 boom is considerably stressed and I have to think the track and cockpit floor are too. Additionally, the M17 boom is significantly less stout than the M15's and gets swayback over time. Any opinions (dumb question...)? Tom Smith & Jane Van Winkle Sandpoint, Idaho M15-345, Chukar