February 2004 - montgomery_boats - mailman.xmission.com

Re: M_Boats: No longer without a boat
by chbenneck＠juno.com 01 Feb '04

01 Feb '04

Ah, George, One of the subtle beauties of the M15 is that it fits in a normal garage. Work on the boat in comfort, in your own garage, with tools readily available Glad to have you as a new member of the gang. If you have questions or need help, just holler. Connie M15 #400 LEPPO Glastonbury, CT

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Re: M_Boats: Tongue Extension M15 Pacific Trailer
by chbenneck＠juno.com 01 Feb '04

01 Feb '04

Hi Peter, I have an M15 with a Trailrite trailer. My local welding shop made me an 8 foot trailer tongue extension that I use when launching and retrieving the M15. The tongue extension is a square tube. On one end they welded a ball, about 18 inches from the end, that fits into the trailer hitch and locks in place. On the bottom side of the trailer tongue itself, they welded a "U" that holds the end of the tube. Now extension is locked in place on the trailer. The front end of the extension has a trailer hitch that fits the ball on my vehicle. At this point you have about another 8 foot between trailer and car. My system works fine, the only caveat is that if there is a considerable angle change between the parking area and the launch ramp, then you occasionally have a problem of the tongue extension hanging up on the lip. However, even if this happens, just keep backing up and you'll be over the hump in another few feet. I use the trailer tongue extension all the time, because I don't like to get the wheels of my car in the water (fresh or salt), and I also want to keep them on dry pavement............ Warning: Always use chocks to block your wheels while on a ramp. It keeps you from sliding backwards into the water if you don't let out your clutch soon enough; the engine dies; you are nervous; etc. Chocks in back of your wheels are an absolute MUST HAVE safety item. Having seen a tow vehicle and trailer totally in the drink, with salt water over the hood of the pickup truck, that was lesson enough for me. Chocks prevent that sort of catastrophe. Connie M15 #400 LEPPO

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Maine Cruise tale added to my web page
by htmills＠bright.net 01 Feb '04

01 Feb '04

.....finally have the Maine trip added to my page... would like to add a chart showing the route, but not there yet... http://www.bright.net/~htmills/ Tod

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Maryland slip sailors
by htmills＠bright.net 31 Jan '04

31 Jan '04

I know there is at least one person on the list that keeps their M-boat in a MARYLAND slip: This was sent to a list I'm on.... January 30, 2004 Dear BoatU.S. Member: Did you know that Gov. Ehrlich's budget calls for a yearly $50 per-boat slip "fee" for boats kept in Maryland marinas? The purported purpose of Governor Ehrlich's so-called "user fee" is to raise money to protect Maryland's wetlands. While restoring wetlands is a worthy undertaking that every Maryland resident should support, vessels large enough to be kept in marina slips receive no special benefits from wetlands, so we fail to understand why slip holders are being singled out to pay for this program. Commercial marinas will simply pass this new tax on to their slip holders. To add insult to injury, did you know that the state already collects millions of dollars each year from boaters in marine fuel taxes, but diverts 70% of these funds to non-boating purposes. It just doesn't seem unfair to us to ask recreational boaters to pay more when the money they're already paying isn't being used to benefit boating. Besides, Maryland boaters already pay millions each year to the state in sales and use taxes as well as boat registration and launch ramp fees. Please contact your state senators and delegates immediately to let them know of your opposition to this proposal. For more information go to http://www.BoatUS.com/gov and click on the state news alert section for a sample letter on the issue and a listing of your state legislators. Ask your representatives if you can count on them to just say 'NO' to the boat slip tax. Dick Thompson Associate Director, State Affairs BoatU.S. 880 South Pickett St. Alexandria, VA 22304 Tel: 703.461.2864 Fax: 703.461.2845 E-mail: DThompson(a)BoatUS.com

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Tongue Extension M15 Pacific Trailer
by Peter Deffenbacher 31 Jan '04

31 Jan '04

What is the best way to use the tongue extension? I like to drive with it short but would like to have it extended to back down the ramp. Thanks in advance for any help I can get! Peter Deffenbacher Peanut M15

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