DAVID: MY COMMENTS IN ALL CAPS BELOW. In a message dated 1/14/02 8:03:55 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>I just read the accounts of Potters turning turtle and as I am new to >sailing a smaller center boarder a couple of question came to mind. > >1. Does anyone know of an M15 or 17 turning turtle? > I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY HEARD OF SUCH AN OCCURRENCE, BUT DON'T DOUBT THAT IT COULD HAPPEN. I DO HAVE A FRIEND WHO EXPERIENCED A KNOCKDOWN IN HIS M15 (SUDDEN GUST WHILE GROSSLY OVERCANVASED). IN SPITE OF SHIPPING CONSIDERABLE WATER INTO THE COCKPIT, THE BOAT WAS EXTREMELY QUICK TO RECOVER (PROBABLY A COMBINED RESPONSE OF BALLAST AND HIGH BUOYANCY RESULTING FROM THE COMPARATIVELY HIGH AND FULL COCKPIT COMBINGS). > >2. Apparently the Potters have some form or center board down locking >mechanism. I can understand why this would be important so why do the >M's not have that capability? Is it really important? > I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME PRONOUNCED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE P15 AND M15 RELATIVE TO THIS QUESTION. THE M15's 250# OF BALLAST IS PRIMARILY CONTAINED WITHIN THE LONG SHOAL DRAFT KEEL (I BELIEVE THE FIBERGLASS CENTERBOARD ONLY WEIGHS IN AT SOMETHING LIKE 40#). I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THE BULK OF THE RIGHTING MOMENT IS DERIVED FROM THE BALLAST IN THIS KEEL, AND NOT THE CENTERBOARD. FOR THIS REASON, I SUSPECT JERRY DID NOT SEE ANY NECESSITY IN ANY TYPE OF LOCK FOR THE CENTERBOARD (WHICH I FIND COMFORTING, AS I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE BOARD WILL PIVOT OUT OF HARM'S WAY). IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THE P15 ON THE OTHER HAND, RELIES ON A COMBINATION OF THE HARD-CHINED HULL FORM FACTOR, THE LATERAL RESISTANCE OF THE CENTERBOARD, AND 'LIVE BALLAST' (WEIGHT OF CREW). TO THIS EXTENT, I THINK IT FAIR TO CHARACTERIZE THE P15 AS MORE AKIN TO LIVE-BALLASTED DINGHY, AND THE M15 AS MORE OF A REAL KEEL BOAT (ALBEIT A LIVELY ONE). > >3. My experience with a center boarder is on a 30 footer with a very heavy >keel. I used the center board at about half on a reach and only dropped >it all the way when beating. Running it was up. The Potter accounts sound >like they felt that the board should be locked down at all times. Is this >correct on the M's? > I TOO WAS A BIG BOAT SAILOR PRIOR TO PURCHASING AN M15 (INDEED, MY CHOICE OF THE M15 OVER OTHER SMALL BOATS WAS IN PART BECAUSE IT FELT MORE LIKE A SMALL KEEL BOAT THAN A LARGE DINGHY). I BELIEVE THE M15 IS MORE AKIN TO THE 30 FOOTER THAN IT IS THE P15 IN THIS RESPECT. AGAIN, WITH 1/3 OF IT'S DISPLACEMENT AS BALLAST IN THE KEEL AND NOT THE CENTERBOARD, I BELIEVE THE M15 CAN BE SAFELY SAILED OFF THE WIND WITH THE BOARD UP (I DO THIS ALL THE TIME). I HAVE, ON OCCASION, FORGOTTEN TO LOWER THE BOARD AGAIN WHEN RETURNING TO A CLOSE REACH/BEAT, AND CAN SAY IN ALL HONESTY THAT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE I NOTICED WAS EXCESSIVE LEEWAY. I DON'T THINK THIS WOULD BE TRUE OF THE P15. > >On another note, I am considering removing the foam blocks from under the >bow to expand storage space. I read the postings on this and couldn't >conclude if this was a bad idea. Opinions? > I AM GOING TO BE THE DISSENTING VOICE HERE AND SAY THAT I WOULD *NOT* REMOVE THE FOAM. IT IS A GAMBLE, AND PERHAPS COULD BE WEIGHED IN THE CONTEXT OF HOW AND WHERE YOU USE YOUR BOAT, BUT I FEEL THAT IF I CAN CRUISE FOR THREE WEEKS AND NOT BE WANTING FOR STORAGE SPACE, THERE IS NO REASON TO TRADE AWAY THE POTENTIAL MARGIN OF SAFETY THIS FOAM MIGHT PROVIDE. WHILE I TEND TO SAIL IN FAIRLY TO VERY ROUGH CONDITIONS (SAN FRANCISCO BAY, PUGET SOUND, BRITISH COLUMBIA, ETC.), I HAVE BEEN SURPRISED THAT SOME OF THE MOST HARROWING CONDITIONS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED HAVE BEEN SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED SQUALLS OR WILIWAWS ON SMALL LAKES. TO ME, THE POSITIVE FLOTATION OF THE M15 WAS A BIG SELLING POINT. I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN AS COMFORTABLE UNDERTAKING SOME OF THE TRIPS I HAVE HAD THE FLOTATION BEEN REMOVED. > >Thanks for your time and experience, > >Dave Rossi > >M15-197 > THAT'S MY $0.02 WORTH. ALSO, PLEASE DON'T MISCONSTRUE MY COMMENTS AS POTTER BASHING. I AM ONLY MAKING THE COMPARISON FOR PURPOSES OF IDENTIFYING THE DESIGN DIFFERENCES AND THEIR DIFFERING INTENDED PURPOSE. SCOTT GROMETER, M15 #478 "BEBE" _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
