Tom, For years, when my brother owned Griselda, he carried a cheap plastic inflatable boat. He would tie off the bow to the split backstay where it was resting over the raised motor. That left only the stern dragging in the water. Later he had a 9 foot fatty knees dinghy that he towed but found it a bit big for the boat. Since Griselda is one of the origonal 20 fin keel montys, a dinghy is a necessity so, I ordered a 6' 7" "Mini Dinghy" inflatable from West Marine. It has double chambers, is nylon fabric covered and has inflatabel floor. I have rowed it around a bit from my dock but since Griselda is still on the hard for bottom refinishing and new keel bolts, I haven't tried to tow it yet. I plan to tow it with the bow lashed to the backstays like the former plastic toy. It came with a very efficient manual inflate/deflate pump and looks like it would fit on the foredeck partially inflated. Once I have Griselda back in the water, I will do a test tow around the cove I live on and let you guys know how it works. It should get a really good test at the Florida 120 and Texas 200. Ron (Whitebeard) M17 #14, Griselda Lake Livingston, Texas

From: tjenk@gte.net To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 13:17:41 -0700 Subject: M_Boats: tenders

Hi all, I imagine that you who do overnighters drag along some sort of dinghy to access shore, so I would appreciate your conveying your experiences as to what type of two-person craft a Montgomery 17 can pull comfortably under various sailing conditions. Thanks, Tom Jenkins M17 Scintilla _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats

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I have a two person inflatable and it works....but is so frustrating to actually get anywhere that I use an actual boat for a tender. I found a baby wrinkle boat that matches my 17 nicely. Cost me $300. There is no brand name or make anywhere on the boat....but I have since seen a couple more and they appear to have been made in the Vancouver area. I did some small repairs, added some stronger areas for the row locks, got new row locks and made some long spruce oars. I added a better seat in the stern...small stuff. It takes a bit of fancy technique for getting in and out of from the cockpit. But I have not fallen in yet....close. It tows very well, but certainly has some drag. If you could tell anything by what tension is felt on the painter while towing....it can't be any more than 10 pounds. But I am sure there is some weighty math formula for determining what actual effect there might be on the tow boat. Personally, I don't care. It is worth having just to actually row any distance, get somewhere, ferry supplies and people....and most of all, not be blown down wind away from the boat. I can reset an anchor when required. I can cover miles of shoreline on a nice summer day. During a three day sail last Fall I was just catching my breath after getting the big boat sorted from sudden arrival of a 30 knot ninjawind....when I remembered Jr. at the end of it's 25 foot painter. I looked back just in time to see a gust pick the wee thing up of the crest of a wave like a fat kite, tip it on her side and then come down. It could have gone either way....but fortunately it settled keel down.....not rail down. I shortened up the line to where the stemhead was just behind the rudder ...oh 10" or so...and she was fine from there on. My goal is to make a Sunbrella cover over spring battens so if she does flip there might be a better chance of recovery. On that day I happened to have a friend along and his help made sorting Jr. possible. If I was in the same situ solo, it might have been a different story. Next time I will shorten up the painter first....then sort the big boat. Or at least try and remember to check Jr. a little sooner. The length of the tow line seems critical with how she tugs as well. Best on the crest or leading(nearest to the tow boat) edge of a wave. Easy enough when motoring. Hard to determine when sailing. I have sailed quite a few miles with Jr. behind and I don't see or feel any issues worth thinking about really. Personal choice in the end. As for anchoring...that is another story. After two seasons of being woke up by thumps on the hull...usually seeming right about where my face was...I devised what I thought was a clever technique. Turns out it is common enough....I saw it in some book or website somewhere after I 'invented' it. I use my adjustable spinnaker pole. I clip one end to the chainplate area, run two lines off the outboard end, back to the boat to adjust and belay. The outboard end is clipped to the painter with the end coming back to the big boat for adjustment. This allows the little boat....as long as it is shorter than the reach of your pole.....to go round and round and not bash into the big boat. So far....I have tried that about 3 times and it works well. Takes a bit of time to sort and monkey around...but again, I still feel the hassle is worth it. I usually cruise by myself anyway and I like staying busy fussing with dumb stuff. Cheers, Tim in Kelowna....where it is STILL *^&*^$&$%# COLD!! ...I am moving to where ever Sean lives. (those videos are torture.....) Here is a link to a youtube vid of my son Zach riding in Jr. while being towed by M17 (PUFF). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zivo3lmHMlk Here is an image of the team. Casper, PUFF and Jr. http://timtone.com/monty/images/Puff-Casper-Jr Hi all, I imagine that you who do overnighters drag along some sort of dinghy to access shore, so I would appreciate your conveying your experiences as to what type of two-person craft a Montgomery 17 can pull comfortably under various sailing conditions. Thanks, Tom Jenkins M17 Scintilla _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet! No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.9/1989 - Release Date: 03/07/09 18:43:00