Hi Gary, Hauled my M17 from Springfield, Mo. to Rockport, Tx. ,900 miles one way. Liked your term "driveway sailing". That's about my situation for this year. My boat has a split backstay and using a double block with eye in between I can use a pulley system off the transom to pull down on the inverted "v" of the backstay and thereby adjust tension on the forestay. Idea for the busted out pin- grind back the fiberglass enough to embed two bronze straps vertically on either side of the keel. Through bolt them together through the keel where possible so as not to pierce the actual cb well, use several bolts to do this. That will spread out the load better from the new pin holes drilled through the new bronze straps (I believe ss buried in fiberglas will not hold up {??}). Then fare out the fiberglass on the outside of the keel. To preserve the original location of the pin just use a straight edge to draw a line from the center of the existing hole to some place on the keel beyond the area that will be affected by your repair. You can also measure to a point on that line to preserve the hole location or just make two lines on your keel at at least a 90 degree angle from each other for accuracy. To relocate the hole just use that straight edge and by aligning it with what is left of your reference lines and redrawing the line until your two lines cross will indicate where to drill your pin hole. If your keel in that area is really curvy use a flexible batten to draw the lines as the batten will better conform to the keel curvature. Seems like a totally enclosed locker outboard of the keel, could hold enough sea water to cause quite a list to that side, maybe enough to allow the next wave to slop over the lowered gunwale. If you drill holes in the locker it would allow the water to drain down into the centerline area of the hull where it would not upset the stability until it could be pumped overboard. ("Best bilge pump is a scared man with a bucket"). Good luck with your fixin'. Regards, Tom B. M-17 hull #258 On Mon, Jul 1, 2013 at 8:49 AM, Gary Froeschner <gfroesch@socket.net> wrote:

Thanks for the responses. Sounds like there were several configurations for the bulkheads and bilge for the M17s. I probably need to wait until I actually sail her for a while before I do much modification.

I do not have a turnbuckle at the diamond plate of my backstay. I was wondering how I would adjust the backstay tension. There is one incomplete turnbuckle laying lose. It's missing one end. Perhaps this is the culprit.

I bought the boat in Minnesota and hauled it home to Columbia, MO. Looking forward to sailing someday. This year may be all driveway sailing. I am new to sailing. We had motor boats in the family when I was a kid. I did complete ASA basic keel boat course last year.

I have a keel repair that I could use suggestions on. The centerboard stop pin is busted out through the bottom of the keel. The pin is missing. Almost looks like the centerboard was dropped hard enough to drive the pin out the bottom. Has anyone ever seen this damage before? Any suggestions on repair? The pin is very close to the bottom of the keel - about 1-1/4" to the centerline. I assume that's normal.

----- Original Message ----- From: "W David Scobie" <wdscobie@yahoo.com> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.** xmission.com <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com>> Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2013 8:30 AM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Bulk heads

Gary:

were the shrouds, backstay and forestay attached when you got the boat?

is there a turnbuckle at the 'bottom' of the backstay, at the diamond plate, were the split backstay attaches?

trying to figure in my head where 18" could be 'lost' ...

as Bones has written not all the old M17s have a 'bilge'. most that i've seen don't. you can, if you like, cut limber holes in the 'offending' bulkheads so water heads into the bilge (again, if you have one).

- dave scobie - M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com

______________________________**__ From: Gary Froeschner <gfroesch@socket.net> Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2013 12:47 PM

I have a 1976 M17. The port side cockpit storage locker, under the bench, is enclosed with plywood bulkheads that are completely sealed to the haul. Water in this locker does not drain to the bilge pump at the low point. Is this the correct arrangement? Seems like it should have drain holes through the bulkheads???

Question #2. It seems part of my forestay rigging is missing. It seems to be approximately 18" short. Does anyone know how long this is suppose to be.

I bought this boat last Nov in Minnesota and have not had it in the water yet. Slow going. Probably won't get to sail until next season.