Giles, As you may know, some of us had a fall rendezvous at Annapolis. We visited the boat show on Saturday. Doug Kelch, Al Williams, John Edwards and I sailed in. Gary Valetti, Abby Gura and Tod Mills visited by auto. At least a few of us visited the beautiful and new, but traditional, wooden boat and met the enthusiastic young couple who could be future Pardeys. Bill Riker M-15 #184 Storm Petrel -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Morris, Giles Sent: October 24, 2003 11:30 AM To: 'For and about Montgomery Sailboats' Subject: RE: M_Boats: Boat Advise - Thanks!

6ft 1 inch headroom

Perhaps I'm just getting inflexible (physically, that is) but standing headroom seems to make such a difference in overall perception of well-being. It doesn't have to be everywhere, but being able to stand up inside is such a joy! It's different with my M-15 (I've never been aboard an m-17) because in my mind, the cabin is a tent -- and therefore becomes luxurious by tent standards. I'd mentioned the Compac 23 in another reply to this thread, and it seems rather wonderful, but I'll never (well... who can say "never" about anything?) own one because of the headroom. I know that other people feel differently about this. (Rambling even further from the point) At the Annapolis show a couple of weeks ago, I went aboard a reproduction of an English wooden fishing boat that a couple had built for themselves. They (and the boat) seemed lovely people and a younger version of the Pardeys who had built their boat in just over two years from basic materials (i.e. logs!). Although it was well over 30 ft on deck it would be considered small below, but it was one of the most comfortable boats I've ever been aboard. It only had standing headroom in the doghouse under the aft hatchway and in the workshop, but it was enough. Was anybody else on the list lucky enough to go aboard that wonderful boat? Although it was based on an older English design, it felt very much like Lyle Hess's work -- or perhaps that should be the other way round. Giles Morris -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com]On Behalf Of John Fleming Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 1:24 AM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: Boat Advise - Thanks! Randy Graves wrote:

Friends,

Our trips would be roughly 4 weeks in length with just the 2 of us. Our target destinations, initially, would be to sail in and around the Pacific North West; San Juan's, Desolation Sound, etc. The boat would need to be trailerable with our 3/4 ton Van with a maximum trailering capacity of 8,100 lbs. Target price range for boat & trailer is $15 - $20,000. Things that are important to us in a boat are; strong & sea worthy, sailable by 1 person, an old boat that we can invest some time and money into and use for many years and in a variety of sailing conditions. A boat that would hold the bulk of its value. In essence; a larger Montgomery!

Randy, It's somewhat heretical (or more like unfaithful, nautical philandering!) to discuss other boats when you're committed to a particular beauty, but here goes ... As a committed Montgomery owner, the only other boat I'd consider for your (or my) requirements would be a Laguna 26. There aren't many out there, but it's a good one, and I'd say it'd work. My good friends have one (they're former M-15 owners), and have sailed it in the San Juan's for the summer. They have trailered it all around the West, even sailing it in Jackson Lake at the foot of the Tetons. It is currently in Pimlico Sound, North Carolina, awaiting my friend's return from his year of duty in Iraq. Our family is getting bigger, and my wife is tired of hitting her head. One of the nicest things about the Laguna 26 is it has 6ft 1 inch headroom. There's plenty of room, quite a lot actually for a 26 footer. It comes in several different interior configurations: port/starboard settees, port U-shaped seat with starboard galley & nav station, and another kind. Like any boat that size, it has to be specially rigged for single-handling. You need to make sure it either has it, or you know how to install it. On a Montgomery 15 or 17, it hardly matters. As long as you have a foresail downhaul, which are trivial to make, everything else can be handled from the cockpit no matter how it's rigged. Another difference is that the Laguna 26 has shallow cockpit coamings, unlike the deep ones of the Montgomery. It's definitely a different feeling. The bridgedeck on the Laguna is a little better than M-17 but not much. I believe there is one currently for sail in Portland, OR, for about 15K asking price. Regards, John Fleming M-17: "Star Cross'd" _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats