Michael, You didn't go for the Nor'Sea 27'?!!!! I think for the sailing you do, you made the much better choice with Sadhana: The Flicka has a very narrow appeal, but for that select group, she's the perfect boat. The small cockpit on the Flicka has everything to do with the fact that she's a globe-girdling offshore boat: Big waves swamp big cockpits and the Flicka is designed to take the big waves. However, as for performance, I think you'd be pleasantly surprised in all conditions. But you're right: It's when it's blowin' like stink that she really shines. We used to smile smugly to ourselves as we headed further out when the Catalina 22's would head in. The Flicka always inspired confidence and was very forgiving. As for the coamings, I don't remember those being lower than my 17'. One of the things that attracted me to the 17' was its deep cockpit that you sat "in" rather than "on", with seats high enough to assume a normal sitting position with good back support: I looked for this feature in the 17' because I was used to it in the Flicka. I also loved the Flicka's standing headroom, teak and holly sole and teak-ply joinery below. Oh, and the inboard diesel was infinitely easier than an outboard gas. But, having "moved down" to a M17, I'm infinitely happy, which I think says a heck of a lot for the M17'! --Craig
----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael L Bowden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2002 9:47 PM Subject: M_Boats: f l i c k a 2 0 vs M23 Dear Harvey, Cal, Bob, Jerry, Larry, Richard, and listers, Being a proud, happy M17 sailer for 5 seasons I too had become infected with "two foot itus". I looked at dozens of sailboats to gain knowledge about what is available in the real world, what is desirable to me, and what is the end cost. The list of many was narrowed to the list of a few. Visiting the Strictly Sail Show in Chicago with Theo last winter confirmed that most all new production boats had nothing to offer that I was looking for. My list was narrowed to the Flicka, a Cape Dory 25D or 26, or finding a rare M23. Well, I had sailed Theo's M23 on several occasions, and loved many aspects of her. I finally got aboard a Flicka, and although a beautiful small boat with seagoing features, it was too small for my 6'3" lanky body. The cockpit is small and missing the high backrest coamings of the 17 and 23. I have not sailed a Flicka, but at 6000 lbs she must be sluggish in light air. We all like sailing a boat that has some performance. The CD25D is also a beautiful boat. I almost went for this one. Lovely lines, classic Alberg styling, bronze, Lots of room below, but a small diesel with difficult access. I understand this is a rather "stiff" sailer, I have sailed a close cousin, a Bristol 27 on San Francisco Bay. Lo and behold, I had a chance to purchase Sadhana, Larry Barkhuff's M23, formerly Richard Lane's. Upon viewing her, I knew she was the one for me. I think one of the most important buying decisions in choosing a sailboat is where and under what conditions the boat is going to be used. I'm in Minnesoooota, there there are numerous large, beautiful and remote lakes to be expored. I wanted a boat my wife and I could comfortably weekend aboard. I wanted a keel-centerboarder for shallow bays. A heavy displacement full keel boat has it's place on Superior, or the coastlines. The majority of my sailing will be done on inland waters. I don't plan to trailer the M23 like an M17, but the ability to move it once a season without a travel-lift and flatbead semi is a huge plus. Anyway, I believe there is a boat out there for every purpose, and every taste. I'll be sticking with the lovely Lyle Hess Montgomerys. Later, Michael "Bones" Bowden M23 #75 M17 #92 ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
