Alvin and I tried different main sheet arrangements yesterday in our M15's. I have pictures but do not know how to post them. Instructions? We had two M15's and a Venture 17 racing together for three races yesterday. Great fun. We are thinking of having a Messabout and a Fun Race for small trailerable boats here in Lake Charles. The Yacht Club would be Ideal for paddling, sailing, and messing about. Nice beach, protected cove, paved launch, restrooms, a/c clubhouse, etc. Any interest in this in say late July/early August? Yes, I know, VERY HOT then. Ken Abrahams ----- Original Message ----- From: Smith, Tom To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Saturday, June 08, 2002 10:01 PM Subject: RE: M_Boats: Main Sheet Leads M15 That you are happy with your set up is all that counts Joe. Different strokes and all that stuff. Sounds to me like your brand of sailing would suit me fine too. Fair winds. t Tom Smith and Jane Van Winkle M15/345 -- Chukar Sandpoint, Idaho -----Original Message----- From: Joe Kidd [mailto:jk@yosemite.net] Sent: Friday, June 07, 2002 7:11 PM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: M_Boats: Main Sheet Leads M15 >Are you saying handling the main and steering is not more difficult with this arrangement? How so? Isn't there a certain amount of reaching across, or backward handedness to this setup? How did you solve this problem? Tom, et. al., An M15 cockpit is not that big. You can sit almost anywhere in the cockpit and still reach the controls -- with, perhaps, the exception of the outboard. I can sit forward, aft or middle and control main sheet, jib sheets, halyards, reef lines, tiller, etc., with little problem. For me and my admirable, the main sheet tackle was always in the way (blocking the companionway) when attached to the bridge deck, so I moved it to the end of the boom for convenience more than anything else. When combined with the boom vang, I find little difference in main sail control. Obviously, Jerry (the racer) might disagree, but I'm not a racer... in fact, I am usually the only sailor on the lake during my mid-week outings and a tenth-of-a-knot (+/-) is no big deal. As long as the slot between the main and jib is providing good lift, I'm a happy sailor. Perhaps I should give a more complete description of my setup: The top block (w/becket) on the main sheet tackle attaches to the end of the boom with a snap shackle. The lower block is a fiddle block (w/cam cleat and becket) and attaches to the bridle on the transom with another snap shackle. I shortened the bridle until it rides just above the tiller and tied a small bowline loop in the center. The lower snap shackle attaches in the loop. A simple pull up or down sets or releases the main sheet in the cam cleat. Fine tuning the main sail is easy. I made the boom vang with Laser dinghy vang blocks (WM p.1036). Some discussion on this net stated a preference for modern block technology, but I find these inexpensive Laser blocks work just fine. Perhaps they may wear the line more than other designs, but so what? A few feet of 1/4' line is cheap to replace every four or five years. All-in-all, I am very satisfied with my main sheet lead setup. It works for me and I would not want to go back to the previous arrangement. Joe Kidd M15 #207 "Poco a Poco"