Dik, I'm a do it yourselfer too but dropping the boat on my body is a scary thought. My trailer has removable keel rollers rather than a plank or channel under the keel stub. My thought, I have not done this, is to jack the whole trailer up and block it securely. It is much easier to block the trailer frame than the slippery boat shape. I will pull the keel rollers and their axles. Then, with other blocking, lower the board. My thought is to refinish it with that POR rust sealer that car restorers use. I doubt that it will work long term though as the boat was wet slipped in warm salt water for years and the salt has likely penetrated the cast iron and will push it apart over time. When salvors raise old iron cannons, they keep them immersed until they can be sealed (I don't know how they do it) to prevent them from swelling up and flaking away.
Jerry Montgomery, if your are reading this, have you tooled a board mold for this vintage M 17 yet ?? In my opinion, bronze would be cool but ballasted fiberglass or Foss Foam would be more practical -- lighter weight, the boat does not need more stability, and it would hold antifouling paint. As I said at least a year ago, I will buy either one rather than fool with the old iron. Do you want a deposit ? Pete Brown 1975 M17-053 in St. Pete, FL _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
