On Thu, 8 Sep 2005 14:29:45 -0700 "David W. Wood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > I've been looking at Bill Lamica's photo site (thanks again for such > > a useful resource, Bill!), and there are a couple of older M17s > there > that have a mainsheet traveler arrangement remarkably close to what > > I'm thinking of doing on my M15. Fred Berthong's "Dulce" and Perry > > Bolin's "Windsong" both appear to have a traveler track tucked up > against the companionway with the mainsheet angled aft and attached > > to the boom about midway. There's one picture of Windsong's cockpit > > in particular that has a great view. > > Perhaps it would make more sense to mount the traveler track on the > > cockpit floor on my M15 just a hair aft of the companionway shelf, > > thus clearing the shelf, but keeping the track away from my big > feet. > I could put the boom attachment point aft as it is on these two M17s > > and keep a little better sail shape that way. > > I'm wondering if perhaps this was the original design of the M17. If > > so, I'd like to hear from the owners (if they lurk here) how that > arrangement works for them, especially in regard to sail shape > control. Does anyone here know if those two boats exhibit what was > > Jerry Montgomery's original design? Or are they owner's > modifications? > > David >
Yes, that is the original design on the older boats. Tullamore was that way, until I replaced the original track and traveller with a Harken windward sheeting car and moved it back about 14", closer to the location on the newer boats. The problem with it right by the companionway, is when you have passengers, you have to reach past their legs to reach the mainsheet or move the traveller. I moved mine back just enough for their legs to be in front of the track, but still far enough forward that you have room between the mainsheet and tiller for moving across the cockpit. The performance in both locations has been very good, but I'm not familiar enough with the 15's fractional rig to know if it would work as well on it. I recall an e-mail from Jerry some time back where he mentions the mainsheet on the 15 also functions as a forestay tensioner when beating to windward in strong winds. If you slack the mainsheet in the gusts to spill the wind, it also slacks the forestay, causing the jib to sag and dragging you to leeward. Thus, you need to reef the main and keep the mainsheet tight. Larry _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
