Hi Rick, Those are always the problems to consider.....
Our Bolger MICRO was ideal, and was an excellent sailer, but..... stepping a 20 foot free standing mast became too much. Phil Bolger recognized the problem and made a newer version with the mast in a tabernacle, where it could be easily raised. However, by then I was into the ComPac 16 - easy mast stepping, but that was about it. Having learned of the ComPac problems, I went looking for a "real" ship, and found it in the M15. Admittedly, accommodations are tight; but in all other aspects it has what is needed in any ship: good storage for sails; anchors; fenders; and all the gear that accumulates as you travel; the Bimini; swim ladder; outboard fuel; cleaning equipment and supplies; it sails beautifully, is seaworthy, and is trailerable behind a small car. You can't ask for more in 15 feet length. When we sold LEPPO, I was building a yuloh so that I could scull the M15, if need be. Why row facing backwards, when you can scull facing forward....? Connie Rick Langer wrote: > Thanks Doug, > > Your evaluation is very helpful. I'm attracted to the open space, the easily > stepped mast and of course the rowing. But, crawling around a wet cabin on > my knees doesn't sound like fun and the lack of storage is definitely a > negative. I found a users manual last night that mentioned a couple of > other features that I consider negative. Throughout the manual it stated, > "stay off the deck", because with a person up there the boat is very > unstable and some have capsized. It also recommended that you keep gear to > a minimum to keep weight down. Compared to junk we pack into our M15s for a > two week cruise, would make a Dovekie seem pretty sparse. Seaworthiness is > definitely also a factor. It doesn't seem likely that anyone will be > sailing a Dovekie to Hawaii soon. > > I seem to go through the same process every six mouths or so. Even though I > recognize the M15 as near perfect, I see something in another boat that > looks neat (like more space, easy mast stepping while underway, and rowing) > and I think maybe I'd like to try that. "SporadicFanatic". Anyway, these > are good exercises for me and I hope some of the members of this list, to > help see the virtues of the M15. > > I got a couple of ideas from the Dovekie exercise. One is to address the > space issue in the M15 cabin, on the next cruise, I'm going to remove all > the cushions and use a thermorest camp mattress to sleep on. Hopefully, > this will give me more vertical space, make it easier to slide stuff around, > make access to the lockers easier and reduce that claustrophobic feeling I > sometimes experience. But probably the best thing that I've learned is that > I already have a fine boat that already has most of the things I want. > "Jerry, you did a nice job on this one." > > Rick > > >> Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:19:52 -0700 (PDT) >> From: Doug Kelch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Subject: Re: M_Boats: What do you think of Dovekies? >> To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats >> <[email protected]> >> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 >> >> Rick, >> >> Dovekies are an amazing boat and they have always been high on my list. >> >> I have been on 3 or 4 cruises with the Shallow Water Sailors and continue >> to be impressed with the boats and the people who use them. >> >> It is definitely a different boat that is well suited to it's intent.? >> Sailing in protected waters is it's forte. >> >> They do literally sail on a heavy dew. >> >> The first cruise I went on with them I towed my Bolger Dory in >> anticipation of their ability to anchor in shallow water.? It turned out >> to be a good thing as the fleet of 10 boats (not all Dovekies but all flat >> bottom sharpies of one sort or another) anchored in about 8" of? water at >> low tide. >> >> This entire group used to sail without motors.? Towards night fall two of >> the Dovekies, split off, put out thier 12 foot oars and with thier heads >> above the deck, rowed off into the sunset to an even shallower cove.. >> >> The wind that weekend was rather strong, 18 -20 with gusts to 25 and I was >> at least 10% faster, even towing the dory,? than all of the boats thier >> with the exception of the 28 ft Shearwater. >> >> This speed differntial is closer with lighter winds but I have always >> sailed circles around them. >> >> On the other hand they scrape me off on shallow sand bars and low >> bridges.? I once watched a Dovekie sail full steam at a bridge with only >> 10 ft clearance, drop the mast 20 yards from the bridge while sailing, >> coast under the bridge, raise the mast while still moving and continue >> on.? An amazing boat. >> >> On the other hand they are not self bailing and hold an enormouse amount >> of water.? All of the SWS cruises avoid a lot of open water and I would be >> reluctant to cross the Chesapeak Bay in one without a very reliable >> forecast. >> >> The interior is truely camping on a boat.? The center part of the deck is >> covered by canvass for the night or they the use a boom tent. >> >> The interior is just a flat bottom hollow cave with little to no built in >> storage.? Good floor based siting head room but you have to crawl around >> the boat on your knees.? From this aspect it is a young man's ( or older >> and still quite limber) boat.? At my age they are no longer on the list. >> >> If you are familar with the comforting sound of the Montgomery chuckle >> while at anchor with little wavelets you may not appreacitate the drum >> beat of a flat bottom boat with a section of the bow above the actual >> water.?? Booom?? Booom? Boom unless you move enough weight to bow. >> >> The new boats added a centerboard well forward in the bow in order to be >> able to tack better in stronger winds.? Without that the forward hull >> windage will push the bow off the wind and the boat will miss stays. >> >> But still, sailing on a heavy dew is a unique experience.? eone cruise >> with very light winds I anchored the Montogomery and went for a ride in a >> Sea Pearl.? We sailed 1/2 mile into a marsh that only forced us to turn >> around at when the water was down to about 6 ".? Saw wildlife galore. >> >> But I ramble. >> >> The M15 sure is a fabulous boat for my needs :-) >> >> Thanks >> >> Doug Kelch >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats > > _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
