January 2008 - montgomery_boats - mailman.xmission.com

Montgomery Sailboats are in high demand
by Bob Eeg 15 Jul '13

15 Jul '13

And are built with top-notch quality. There is nothing in the market place faster, better built and as good looking as a Montgomery Sailboat. I don't run a factory; I run a very small boatshop. I built to order on a boat by boat basis. I do a lot of custom work when asked. Bronze ports, Stainless ports, extra ballast, Custom electrical systems, Idasailor rudders, anchoring packages..etc. This work is labor intensive. Quality takes time. I have 3 employees. These people are highly experienced in Laminating, construction, assembly and finish. Woodworking and other skills result in a absolutely beautiful sailing vessel. I use the best sails the best rigging, the best custom stainless fasteners..and yes....(laughing) the best cushions. This last 15 months have been EXTREMELY busy; hiring new help was impossible because all the good people are gone. We had a tremendous BACKLOG and we caught a break only when Pacific Seacraft employees (let go) began filtering into our shop looking for work. We did add some additional crew in the Laminating Shop and because of that we are caught up. Pacific Seacrafts Bankruptcy was good for us. Bad for the dozens of good people who are out of work. The FIRST question of anyone buying a new boat should be 'How is the construction quality'? First and foremost that is the most important issue. I can say that everyone has experienced and will continue to experience a BACKLOG of orders; especially if the boat is as popular as a Montgomery Sailboat. When we had an 8 month backlog and I actually turned down 2 M_17 orders so we could catch our breath. It is impossible to work any harder or any faster. Now that were caught up we can get back to our normal 50-70 days (depending on model and options). Also custom work really adds to the production time. One beautiful M_17 we did we cut the V berth out of and installed an oval bulkhead, custom shelves and inline potti area; with 4 bronze ports she is an amazing boat, but custom work takes time. Expect delays if you go radical on the interior. (I think BONES has a photo of that one...) We are really one of the only builders that entertain changes and options to satisfy the customer. This new Passagemaker M_17 were building (and installing a windvane on tomorrow) is going to be amazing. Other actual boat factories that produce boats for DEALERS (that Tod mentioned) like Precision and Compac are built on Factory Production lines for a large Dealership Network. Dealers who have these boats in stock can supply them right away. But ask for major changes on a future production boat and the wait will be many months. International Marine builds boats faster with more employees but those boats are piss poor sailers (upwind) and many arrive with a list of problems that are pathetic. That's not me. So try not to focus on the TIME factor. We can only go so fast. Hiring additional help is not an option because by the time you train someone the season gets slow and you have to lay them off. I can't do that. I have people that have been with me for 20 years; I keep us small and efficient on purpose. So be surprised if we hit the delivery time; which we do quite often. Be a little disappointed when we miss it; but get over it when you see your boat. Dozens of you know me; you've arrived to see me rig your boat, pack you up and shake your hand. (Heck...Gary Hyde even brought me a bottle of wine..!..Thanks Gary.!) One man bought a new M_15 from us and a new M_17 a year later.! The C word...Cushions. I inspect everyboat before it leaves for home. Scott's boat was leaving for the Bay Area early Friday morning; I was at the boatshop at 10:30 PM Thursday night, sleeping at the picnic table just inside the door, waiting for the cushion guy to arrive with the (late) promised cushions. He drove up, woke me up and I watched as he stacked them on the deck. We left. My man arrived at 3AM and hooked up the boat and slid the cushions inside the boat. I should have loaded them myself then I would have noticed they looked good but didn't have the required 'Squeeze' factor. Let's move on, shall we....? Fair winds Bob Eeg (949) 489-8227 Boat Builder

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Re: M17 heavy weather capabilities
by Nebwest2＠aol.com 07 May '08

07 May '08

I'd have to second Gary's observations about the M17 hatch. I'm a pretty big boy and honestly I never tried it. My 17 had the backwards opening front hatch, so even if you fit, the hatch lid would prevent you from leaning forward. In this photo you can see the hinges are on the front of the hatch and that there's no way you'd be able to work around it to deal with the luff of the jib. _http://msogphotosite.com/MSOG/b17thomps/b17thomps7.jpg_ (http://msogphotosite.com/MSOG/b17thomps/b17thomps7.jpg) On later versions and I believe the new M17's that Bob builds the hatch opens from the front... Hey Gary H.! Doesn't your hatch open from the front??? Could you manage a headsail change through it??? (http://msogphotosite.com/MSOG/b17thomps/b17thomps7.jpg) Lately, I have been experimenting for the first time ever (for me) with a simple downhaul attached to the jib/genoa head. Holly cow, why I never did this before is beyond me. I don't mind going forward and pulling a sail down when someone's on the helm but when singlehanding it's a pain. When I'm alone I try to make sure I don't overcanvass for the conditions, but if I do, now I can at least get the sail down on the deck and secure before I ever leave the relative safety of the cockpit. It also allows me to hank on a jib at the dock , and attach the halyard without worry that the halyard is going to foul something by swinging around slack before I'm ready to raise it. I just hook up the downhaul and tension the halyard. I know, I know, roller furling would solve that issue. Someday I may go back to a furler, but for now I'm happy with hank-ons. Sean **************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

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For your winter time pleasure...
by Bill Lamica 16 Feb '08

16 Feb '08

Hi All, The following is over a year old. I saved it so I could one day put it on the site. Robbin Rodderig provided excellent info and pics of his blister/gelcoat repair. Brian Gilbert sent photos of his self made battery box install - good idea! Note to Brian & Robbin... Better late than never. These finally got on the site! See What's New for the links... Bill http://www.msogphotosite.com/WhasNew.html I'm taking a few days off! More great information coming next week to the Photo Site!

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jib sheet location--M17
by Tom Smith 05 Feb '08

05 Feb '08

Has anyone located working jib sheet blocks up on the combing just in front of the winches on an M17? I think you could trim in a bit more and maybe point a bit higher from that location rather from the toe rail. I know you could achieve the same thing with a barber hauler, but that's not the question I'm asking. Thanks. tom -- Tom & Jane M17 dharma bum

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(no subject)
by Rodney Holland 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

What site should I check out? I didn’t see a name or a link. I’m not likely to be a candidate to put my boat back on a trailer to take to another lake once I get here in the water at Lake Livingston, but I would love to know when you (or anyone) is launching at Livingston on a weekend. A “raft up” would be fun! Let me know. Rodney P. Holland Sr. VP of Sales & Marketing Midstream Fuel Service LLC Office: 713 350 6833 Cell: 713 825 5568 e mail: rholland(a)martinmlp.com

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Re: M_Boats: Re: Water in hull -montgomery_boats Digest, Vol 59, Issue 27
by chbenneck＠juno.com 30 Jan '08

30 Jan '08

Hi Bonnie, Since you are the new owner of the M15, you have no way of knowing if the water you found is "your" water - from sailing in 2007 - or if it is 10 or more year old water from the previous owner(s). Test No. 1: Stick your finger in the water and give it a taste: If the water is salty, it's probably a tiny leak down below. ( I assume you haven't been sailing where you had green water coming over the bow as you bashed to windward) If the water is fresh, then it's probably rain water leakage from the deck through bow pulpit stanchion bases; deck hardware; etc. - where old bedding compounds are not properly sealing the hardware items any more. -------------------- Since this is your first look in that bow area, you really have no idea how old that water may be (drink a Martini after doing the water test to disinfect your mouth). I'd first get the water out and dry the area. Then after you start sailing in 2008, you can periodically check that bow area to see if it remains dry; viz. either you don't have a problem; or, you'll find out if any new water accumulation is fresh water or salt water. Then the real search for the source can begin. As another check: - Are any of the bow pulpit stanchions wobbly or loose? They should be securely fashened with no movement discernable. - Bow chocks? - Bow fitting? - Cleat? - Any gelcoat craze cracks in the bow area next to the teak toe rail? - Any faint water drip lines on the paint surface in the bow area (that would show you where the water is coming from) Any of the above might be a source for rain water leakage. Don't fasten the cover with screws again. Just put it in place, and then you can easily check after each visit to your boat: is the area dry; or does it have water? ----------------- How about the bow eye for the winch hook? Is it loose? Does it have bedding compound to seal it? ----------------- M15s all have styrofoam blocks in the bow area for flotation, as well as under the cockpit sole. ---------------- I used that bow area as storage for my big anchor / chain / and rode. It is also a good spot for stowing some gallon containers of water: it gets weight up forward where it is most useful. Give me a call in Spring, and I'll be glad to come down and do some searching and inspection for you. (860-633-5351) Hope this information starts to narrow the search for the leak. Connie

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Re: M_Boats: Wykeham-Martin Furling Gear - M15 Cutter
by Wcpritchett＠aol.com 30 Jan '08

30 Jan '08

I also had a 42' gaff cb ketch...no roller furling on this one. The only part I didn't care for on the gaff was in calm or light downwind conditions offshore where the boom would flip flop around and empty the sail. It needed a preventer which was basically more to deal with. When the wind piped up it didn't matter. Otherwise dropping the sail with lazy jacks made it pretty easy. The low rig also made it possible for me to squeak under a fixed bridge into a mooring that large marconi rigs couldn't get to. **************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

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Re: M_Boats: CDI Furler on M-15
by JDavies104＠aol.com 30 Jan '08

30 Jan '08

About the foil needing to be straight and flat, CDI says that putting it on the forestay will take care of that if it isn't quite straight. That said, I found that in spite of CDI's suggestion that you need several people around to help straighten and reverse coil it, I found that after it was uncoiled for ten or fifteen minutes it lay straight and flat (no reverse coiling needed) on the floor, where it still is, waiting for some warm(er) weather. Still have to figure out how to get it into (or onto) the car for the trip to the boat .... CDI's warranty is for six years, and covers only hazards at sea (including unseamanlike use and dismastings), but not any abuse of the foil when off the boat, when it must be stored straight and flat at all times. Any kinks or bends that the owner puts in (such as by driving a truck over it) I think are the owner's problem. Rick ************** Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp0030000… 48)

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Re: M_Boats: jib sheet location--M17
by GILASAILR＠aol.com 30 Jan '08

30 Jan '08

Tom, I think having them on the coaming places the lead too far forward for anything other than a 135 or so. Not far enough forward for some of the smaller sails lead angles. If they are lead to track on the deck below the windows - take the sheet from that lead location to the blocks normally located at the toerail next to the winch area then to the winch - a little more friction but at least the lead is 'fair' and located the same for the crew to deal with. Send an e-mail to the Dr.M and see what he say. Take Care, Have Fun GaryO **************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

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Re: M_Boats: M-15 Running Lights
by GILASAILR＠aol.com 29 Jan '08

29 Jan '08

_http://www.railmakers.com/about.htm_ (http://www.railmakers.com/about.htm) Jim, Try these guys, they probably build the OEM ones. Good people to deal with also. GaryO. **************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

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