Chris, Julie: Jiffy reefing worked fine on my M15. I tried single-line reefing but went back to 2-line reefing, with the Clew reef line lead forward along the boom so I could handle the halyard and reef line both at once. The tack reef could be done with a reef hook on the boom, or a line thru it down to a cleat. Regarding boom length and hitting backstay, of course the M15 doesn't have a backstay, but on the M17 a boom vang prevents such interference.
--Gary Hyde 2005 M17 sailboat #637 'Hydeaway 2' We can't change the wind, but we can trim our sails. Sailing is like "African Queening" thru life. On Oct 4, 2008, at 1:31 PM, James Poulakis wrote: > Chris, Julie, & Joe > > The following are comments on my 2008 M17 “Spirit” but some issues > may apply to M15’s as well. > > The way Spirit handles San Francisco Bay conditions is simply > stunning. Spirit has also been day-sailed in the Pacific Ocean and > her handling instills confidence. The build process with Bob Eeg was > very positive. I am extremely happy with the boat, so the following > is offered as constructive criticism and should not be taken as > grumblings of overall dissatisfaction. > > Issue #1: Lack of a credible reefing system. > > The standard gear consists of reef points on the sail but no > dedicated boom or mast hardware to support it. Yes, something can be > cobbled together with slug stops and bits of line - but it's a > hassle. I suspect many Monty owners make-do by simply dropping the > jib - but this is asking for trouble in places like San Francisco > Bay, so... Solution: Order the boat without a mainsail, then get > with your favorite sailmaker to work out the details of a reefing > system that fits your needs. > > Issue #2: Boom Length. > Booms should not hit backstays under any circumstances. Mine does, > even when the mast is raked as far back as the hardware allows. > Measurements of older M17s indicate that booms were a few inches > shorter. I haven’t figured out a solution that doesn’t involve > cutting down both the boom and mainsail leech. > > Maybe I’m being paranoid. Spirit sails fine with the standard boom. > It’s just that if you do get knocked down… and the boom angles up a > bit and gets caught in the backstay… and the mainsail fills with > water… well, you get the picture. > Issue #3: Cockpit drainage. > > The cockpit sole is too low and water backs up into the cockpit. > This has been discussed ad-nauseum (including a post I wrote a few > weeks ago). Solution A: have Bob install seacocks in the drain lines > so that you can close them while sailing (he offers this as an option > on new M17s). Solution B: Simply plug the drains. > > The problem is that both these solutions completely defeat the > purpose of a self-bailing cockpit. I went with flip-ring drain plugs > because they can be snatched out in a panic. This beats rummaging > through the lazarette and trying to twist the fragile plastic handles > on notoriously cantankerous seacocks when your boat is half-full of > seawater. > > Issue #4: Rudder hum. > Spirit's rudder vibrates loudly at normal sailing speeds. This may > be an isolated case because I haven't heard many others raise this > issue (see recent posts for possible cures). > > Issue #5: Gel coat wrinkles > Spirit has small lines around many corners that look something like > stress cracks (they’re not). I’ve seen these wrinkles on other > Montys as well. Solution: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Montys have > lots of “corners” in their lapstrake hull. This gives the boats > structural hull strength and longitudinal stiffness that other > fiberglass boats simply don’t have. > > Issue #6: I can’t keep up with Corsair 24 trimarans on a power reach. > Okay, I figured if you read through all this doom and gloom you > deserved a chuckle. > > Let me end by reiterating; I liked doing business with Bob Eeg, and I > LOVE this boat. It’s a real adventure-sailer for those of us who’d > rather explore new areas then sit in a slip swilling vodka martinis, > or go to the same three anchorages over and over and over again (been > there-done that). > > Monty On > > Jim Poulakis > M17 “Spirit” > > > On Oct 4, 2008, at 7:20 AM, Joe Murphy wrote: > >> Congradulations Chris, >> I, too, just bought Seafrog, an M-17 from Bob. Sounds like he gave >> you the >> same advice that he gave me... keep it simple and figure out what >> you really >> need. Previously I owned a NS 27 and figured that I would need a >> lot of the >> same things I had on her but here's what I've discovered with a >> boat 10 feet >> shorter and 7,000 lbs lighter... >> - anchor - I drop anchor a lot at get-togethers here on the Bogue >> Sound >> (NC) I get a lot a strange looks dropping anchor from the stern >> and walking >> the rode up to the bow to cleat off. A lot of good friends have >> lent me >> various types of anchors and I found the aluminum Fortress to be >> the easiest >> to manage and holds extremely well. I keep all the anchor rode in >> a heavy >> duty nylon bag with a net bottom. The bitter end goes thru the >> bottom of >> the bag with enough length to cleat off. I pull out what I need >> and cleat >> it off the bow and keep the bag on the foredeck with bitter end >> also cleated >> as a precaution. The bag has a 20" diameter opening so it's fairly >> easy to >> fake the rode back into the bag and carry the whole mess back to >> the cockpit >> locker. I am looking at a bow solution. I miss the ease of doing it >> all from >> the bow and dropping the rode down the hause pipe into its own >> anchor line >> locker. >> - reefing lines - I started off with a single jiffy method with cheek >> blocks, etc on the boom. It worked great, but the downside was >> having a >> combined 60 ft of line draping all over when the sails are down. >> So I made >> it simpler by having two separate contol lines at each clew and tack. >> Getting to the lines is so easy with a boom that is a tad under 9 >> ft and a >> mast that is within easy grasp from the cockpit. >> - cockpit led lines - I too was an inch away from getting blocks, >> turning >> blocks, and line clutches to run the halyards aft, but I find that >> I can >> easily manage the halyards and stay mostly in the cockpit. If I >> have the >> hatch open and the drop boards out, I can easily do it. So for >> right now, >> I'm keeping that part simple. Besides, stretching is supposed to >> be good >> for me... >> That's my two cents. >> The temp is 72. winds are 8-10 out of the northeast. Gotta go. >> Fair winds, >> Joe >> Seafrog, M-17 651 >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Chris and Julie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2008 8:40 AM >> Subject: M_Boats: New M15 Owner >> >> >>> Hello everyone. My wife and I have begun the process with Bob Eeg >>> to have >>> an M15 built. Her name will be "Julie Suzanne". As of right now >>> we are >>> going with the following decisions & options: >>> >>> Ivory Hull with Single Blue Stripe >>> Camcleats >>> Longer handrails mounted atop the sliding hatch teak runner covers >>> Electrical package with group 24 battery under v-berth with space >>> for 2nd >>> battery for longer cruise >>> Tracks on the coaming for jib cars or moving cleat >>> Stern pulpit >>> Opening stainless ports in cabin (Can never have too much >>> ventilation in >>> my opinion.) >>> >>> Although this will be our 5th boat (22-36 feet and lived aboard >>> the 36 >>> footer) we are both pretty excited about this boat. They are such >>> great >>> looking boats and we have always heard great things about them. >>> It will >>> be nice to own a small boat that we can store in our garage, >>> trailer to >>> where ever we want, and yet still overnight on with some comfort. >>> >>> Honestly this is the first boat whose design I would not change >>> (at least >>> based on my research thus far). Everything from the cockpit size >>> to the >>> v-berth and the storage seems to be the best compromise for the >>> size and >>> the intended use. >>> >>> Our primary uses will be long daysails and 1-3 day short cruises >>> with both >>> my wife and I aboard. We live in Florida and anticipate doing >>> plenty of >>> trips to various cruising grounds all over the Southeast. Like most >>> others, I work plenty of hours and will be limiting most of our >>> trips to >>> vacations and long weekends. >>> >>> Also, like every boat I have owned, I will always have a project >>> going on >>> with 2-3 in the planning stages.... >>> >>> Some already planned projects include: >>> >>> Leading halyards back to cockpit >>> Jib downhaul (Have always had furlers, but with trailering and the >>> fractional rig, I wonder if it makes sense here....) >>> Some sort of anchor and rode storage that makes sense based on >>> balancing >>> the weights on the boat and the ability to quickly deploy if needed. >>> Boom tent (Need something to make the cockpit a part of the >>> interior based >>> on the situation) >>> Interior storage (Looking at some minor teak and some canvas based >>> pouches >>> in strategic locations) >>> Tiller tamer or autopilot (Probably a tiller tamer at least in the >>> immediate future) >>> Special hatchboard for instrument mounting (Custom built board >>> with hold >>> GPS, depth finder and can be locked in place) >>> >>> We dont own a tow vehicle yet, but will be purchasing one >>> shortly. Right >>> now I am leaning towards a used Toyota RAV4 or Honda CRV or >>> something >>> similar. Based on my research the M15 is not a difficult boat to >>> tow, and >>> I need to keep the MPG as high as possible for obvious reasons. >>> >>> The intent right now is to get the 2hp 4stroke Honda outboard which >>> appears to be standard equipment on the M15 based on my readings. >>> I DO >>> NOT look forward to refilling the tank while underway. I >>> anticipate some >>> sort of a solution to this in the near future. I know I have read >>> some >>> information about some great solutions to this already. >>> >>> Any recommendations regarding the boat or outfitting it as we move >>> forward >>> with the construction? Anything not listed above is currently >>> standard >>> and already included(such as swim ladder). Like most people who are >>> considering a new M-boat, I have been lurking on the email group >>> and have >>> scanned quite a bit of the older messages (although you cant scan >>> everything...). I have also been through all the websites I can >>> find and >>> have appreciated all the great information. >>> >>> Bob has been great to work with so far. I have had a number of >>> email and >>> phone discussions with him. He is working with me on options >>> while also >>> helping me to keep the boat simple (at least for the initial >>> build....). >>> >>> Thank you all for the great information I have received from this >>> group so >>> far.... >>> >>> Chris Rechtin >>> _______________________________________________ >>> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ >>> montgomery_boats >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats > > > _______________________________________________ > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
