Connie, No problem. Yes, the VWs are nice, practical vehicles all around, and also more economical than SUVs or trucks. Turbo lag is actually pretty minimal on the 2004 Passat (but more pronounced on our 2002 GTI 1.8T). So, I think that with chocks for safety as you recommended, an extended trailer tongue, and careful throttling on the ramp, things should work. Of course, the proof of the pudding is always in the eating. But there may not be a way I can be sure that it'll work until I have actually tried it. Well, unless I can find someone with a M15 who happens to have the same exact car and uses it on the same exact ramp. Not likely. Thanks again! Robert --- On Thu, 5/21/09, Conbert H. Benneck <chbenneck@sbcglobal.net> wrote: From: Conbert H. Benneck <chbenneck@sbcglobal.net> Subject: Re: M_Boats: Paging Connie Benneck To: robertohess@yahoo.com, "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Thursday, May 21, 2009, 2:20 PM Robert O. Hess wrote:

Hi all,

I live in the LA area and have decided to buy a M15 as my first sailboat. It's really the only boat of this size that I find seaworthy enough for longer trips out to the islands. I am sure you agree :-)

My problem right now is that I am not sure whether my 2004 VW Passat 1.8 Turbo will make a proper towing vehicle at the launch ramp. While the car is rated - at least in Germany - for 650kg (ca. 1400 lbs) of trailer weight, the car has only front wheel drive and, even without a trailer, is not easy to start smoothly on a steep - dry -  incline, due to the turbo charger and also the manual transmission. Several knowledgeable M sailors have also recommended against using the Passsat as a towing vehicle, basically for these reasons.

Soooo, I am trying to track down Connie Benneck of this site, who apparently tows or towed a M15 with a VW GTI 1.8T, a smaller and lighter version of the Passat. Specifically, I want to ask her what her experience is when pulling the trailer out of the water on a wet ramp. Do the car's front wheels get a good grip? Does she ever slide backwards? How steep is the ramp she is using? And so on.

If you are on this list, Connie, I'd greatly appreciate your feedback. If not, maybe someone else who knows how to get in touch with Connie could forward this mail to her. My hope is that this list is small enough to make this work somehow.

Many thanks for your help in advance!

Robert Hess (unfortunately no relation to Lyle Hess :-( )

P.S. I am reading Robert Manry's "Tinkerbelle" right now and am seriously wonder whether the Montgomery line of boat was at least in part insprired by Manry's boat. Anyone know?

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    Hi Robert,

Sorry, I sent all the answers you raised to Skip, rather than to you.  However, I think I've answered all your questions. I didn't have the turbocharged GTI (but my wife does now,  - a 2008 car - and it's a great machine - absolutely no turbo lag).  Maybe someone else can say a few words about a Passat with the 1.8T engine. Prior to my VW Jetta VR6 wagon, I had one of the first VW GTIs with the 1.8T engine and an automatic transmission.  The car was nice, but the turbo didn't kick in till you got to about 3200 RPM, so around town it was sluggish.  That's why I then bought the Jetta  (a 2002) with the VR6 and no turbo. The Jetta has been a great towing vehicle for our M15.  The NYMPH dinghy was carried on a roof rack; the M15 followed along behind; the interior of the station wagon was loaded with all our supplies.  It made for a very happy operation. Connie Benneck ex M15  #400  LEPPO