Dan: Are you aware of the two major different centerboard designs in the M17? The earlier cast iron board and the later fiberglass board and greater fixed ballast? Randy Graves can give you the transition date. --Gary Hyde 2005 M17 sailboat #637 'Hydeaway 2' On Nov 8, 2008, at 9:12 PM, Dan Richman wrote:

I am in very much the market for a Montgomery 17, but in two weeks of intensive searching have turned up only models that have the galley. Today, having actually sat inside an M17 for the first time, my wife and I realized the galley model will not accommodate us. There is simply no room for two people to sit face-to-face, and we consider that a requirement.

That leaves us three choices: (1) continuing to search for a non- galley model, (2) order a new boat, or (3) remove the galley from a galley model.

I would welcome this group's opinions as the wisdom, feasibility and cost of of Option 3: removing the galley from a galley model.

I imagine replacing the galley assembly with a horizontal length of fiberglass that would mirror the starboard side in appearance and function.

I've found nothing in the archives about this. If I've missed a thread, forgive me.

Thanks very much for your collective wisdom.

Dan and Jo Marie Richman Shoreline (Seattle), Wash. _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats

We can't change the wind, but we can trim our sails. Sailing is like "African Queening" thru life.