I've written this to the list before, and it probably just reveals my novice-ignorance, but in most conditions I feel as safe in my M17, at 1/3 the displacement of a Flicka, as I did in the Flicka. The M17 is far-and-away better in light air and with the stub-keel it turns on a dime, but the Flicka has a proven record of circumnavigation, so you can't argue with that. My sob-story is that the Flicka hasn't sailed since the fall of '99 because "The Partnership" just hasn't had the funds to keep her in a slip or on a can. So I decided in Y2K that I had to have and affordable boat of my own, a boat for which I wouldn't have to pay slip fees and a boat that I could sail in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan both in the same week. I wanted a trailerable boat that was seaworthy, with a deep comfortable cockpit. So far, the M17 is the only pocket-cruiser I've seen and sailed that fits those criteria (of course, I've never had first-hand experience with the M15, which I'm obviously not discounting). But I do kinda miss that standing headroom and inboard diesel of the Flicka. And the Flicka is a boat that heels significantly before she stiffens up, which is fun because you can bury the rail in lively conditions with the confidence of a Cadillac's-worth of weight in the keel to keep you from turtling. But now I'm off the Monty topic, so I'll stop. :-) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael L Bowden" <bownez@juno.com> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Cc: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 8:08 PM Subject: Flicka Hi Craig, I've always wanted to try a Flicka and her bigger sister Dana. The M17 must feel like a hot rod compared to a F20. But, in big wind....... Once again, you buy the boat suited to the conditions you'll be sailing in. Later, Bones