Sounds like yours is the rare case where you'd want an early M17 with the cast-iron centerboard, Steve! I did some damage to my stub-keel when I grounded in the harbor of Mackinac Island, Lake Huron, Michigan. As long as you're sailing in over 1' 9" of water, you'll be okay. The old cast-iron centerboard is indestructible. The stub-keel is not. If you think you'd repeatedly ground that 1' 9" on rock, you're better off with a pure-centerboard boat . . . Or a Monty with depth-sounder! :-) --Craig, M17 #389 ----- Original Message ----- From: <IDCLLC@aol.com> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 7:51 AM Subject: Grounding durability Greetings M Boaters: For years I've been admiring the Montgomeries. I reckon I'd own an M-15 or M-17 by now, but for one significant problem: I live in a shallow water area with lots of rocks. My current boat has a steel centerboard, which is good at detecting and surviving rock collisions without damage. How would an M boat fare? Has anyone hit rocks with their boat? Draft challenged in Tennessee Steve Tyree, P-15 #2098 "Amy Ann"