I asked this very question a few months ago and Jerry replied. He said that he changed to lead sometime around 90/91 but he couldn't be sure with which hull number. My boat is a '91, number 478, and I confirmed it has lead ballast. I tried the magnet method but gave up due to uncertainty. I ended up cutting a small area in the bilge under the third "hatch" forward of the head. They are small lead pellets. I believe Bob replied that all his boats have been lead ballast. Ashley M15 #478 Morgan Hill, CA ----- Original Message ---- From: John Tyner <tynerjr@md.metrocast.net> To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 4:41:23 PM Subject: RE: M_Boats: Lead Keel Someone mentioned checking with a magnet. This (with a strong magnet) verified that there's steel in the keel of my '88, #412. But it doesn't seem to be everywhere, the magnet wasn't attracted near the front or rear. It could just be that the fiberglass is too thick there, though. I was kind of hoping there'd be no attraction anywhere. ~ John Tyner M-15 #412 "Chimpanzee" -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+tynerjr=md.metrocast.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+tynerjr=md.metrocast.net@mailman.xmissi on.com]On Behalf Of RandyG Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 7:20 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: RE: M_Boats: Lead Keel Christian, I might be able to help with your question. It was some time in 1988 that M15 went to lead ballast in the keel. I believe M15 centerboards started using lead as the ballast some time before the keels became lead ballasted. As I understand it, early M15's used shot as the ballast in the centerboard. We sailed 1988 M15 #407 for many years. The ballast in the keel area was not lead, but the ballast in the centerboard was lead (a sheet of lead sandwiched between two sheets of fiberglass). Same with our 1988 M17 #410, she has a fiberglass centerboard with lead ballast, but the keel is ballasted with steel punching. As I understand it, it was sometime during the 1988 production year that all boats switched to lead. Also, the fiberglass centerboard in the M17 is the same fiberglass centerboard used in the M15, this is true even today. M17's up until late 1987 used a 220 - 240 lb cast iron centerboard. The fiberglass centerboard weighs about 40 lbs.... (or is it 70 lbs.....). I think my dates are close, others can pitch-in with more accurate information. Randy Graves M17 #410 From: Hughston, Larry Sent: Tue 3/13/2007 3:39 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: RE: M_Boats: Lead Keel This "lead keel" question is for Jerry Montgomery. Bob Eeg might know too. ---L. Hughston M-15 #189 (1981 manufacture) -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+larry.hughston=dgs.ca.gov@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+larry.hughston=dgs.ca.gov@mailman.xmiss ion.com] On Behalf Of m15@frontiernet.net Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 1:27 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats; Jorge Johnson Cc: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: M_Boats: Lead Keel Quick Question, What year did the M15's go to a "LEAD" keel? Thanks Christian _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/features_spam.html