it is exceedingly rare to need any jib on an M15 besides the standard 128%. first step should be to reef the main, and then reef the main again. only after two reefs in the main consider going to a smaller headsail (or going back to the dock and going to the marina bar). put a downhaul on the jib so no foredeck work is needed to get the headsail down. if a furler is really wanted note: the CDI unit is challenging because you cannot adjust the headsail tension as wind speed changes ... let alone set the tension well when first loading the jib. the Schaefer Snapful is a much better unit and uses the jib halyard to raise the sail ... meaning you can also adjust the tension on the jib's luff. -- :: Dave Scobie :: former M15 owner - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com On Fri, Jun 26, 2015 at 11:59 AM, George Iemmolo <griemmolo2@gmail.com> wrote:

I was t4elling myself that I need to get a roller furler. I had one on a WWP15 I owned 9yrs ago and one on my Pearson 23 that I sold prior to getting my M15 3 yrs ago. Which model CDI do you have and did you install it your self & if so how hard was it?

George -----Original Message----- From: Robert Hall [mailto:bert.hall@bell.net] Sent: Friday, June 26, 2015 10:44 AM

Hi George, Yes I had a life jacket on as always. I have a CDI furler which I

had partly rolled as the wind rose. Glad that I am not the only old sailor out there.RTH.

-----Original Message----- From: George Iemmolo [mailto:griemmolo2@gamil.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 10:53 PM

Robert

PTL all went well you & the boat survived. You were wearing your life preserver right. Good advise regarding drop boards. I was wondering regarding your reefing sequence. I have always reefed the Main prior to dropping the Jib. Do you have roller reefing & had reduced the jib area that way?

George (83 yr) Merry Helen II 96 M15 #602

-----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats [mailto: montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Robert Hall Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 6:16 PM

Hello All,Unfortunately at 1600 today while sailing alone in blustery wind on the Ottawa River with a reefed jib and full main I learned the answer to a question many of us have asked ourselves." If knocked down, will the M 15 continue heeling and finally turn turtle?" The answer "yes". In my case when the gust hit there was no time to steer off, cast off sheets or to take any other remedial action.I was in the water . Possibly had the drop boards been in place the disaster might have been lessened, but I do not know.Any way over I went with both sails set. Fortunately fellow boaters arrived within half an hour and two of us righted the boat as one would a dinghy,bailed a little and got towed back to our club. Drying out will take a while and the teasing will take even longer to fade. This 84 year old has come safely through a nasty experience and henceforth will at least keep the drop boards in place when sailing in gusty weather. A word to the wise.Cheers . RTH.

Interesting findings. I've had two IdaSailor rudders (now RudderCraft), both on M17s, and they've performed well (but certainly not in 8 foot seas). I suspect the conditions were major factors in this failure, but would also like to hear Joel's side of the story. The pic you attached certainly shows critical damage to the plastic rudder... I also suspect the stock units (still possessing one and using it occasionally when I want to be old school) may not have fared much better under the circumstances, but maybe I'm wrong. Like you, I'd like to hear from Joel. tom On Fri, Jun 26, 2015 at 3:06 PM, <casioqv@usermail.com> wrote:

I hope Team Excellent Adventure doesn't mind me reposting this image (attached).

The Ruddercraft kick-up rudder on their M17 failed twice during the Race to Alaska, once breaking a weld, and the second time actually snapping the rudder blade itself.

They were in much rougher conditions (8 foot seas) than most M17s ever experience. I don't mean to attack Ruddercraft, but just wanted to mention/discuss this as I suspect the factory solid mahogany rudder is stronger.

Joel Santarone of Ruddercraft has been straightforward in the past about collecting and sharing failure statistics, and shows here that they have had failures, but their failure rates on most boats are lower than with the factory rudders:

http://forum.trailersailor.com/post.php?id=1248931

The factory rudders can also fail, my M15 had a cracked pintle strap when I bought it, but I don't know under what conditions the damage occurred.

Sincerely, Tyler Davis, CA '81 M15 "Defiant"