These stiffeners--I call them stringers--appear elsewhere in the older M17s besides the cabin top. They're aft on the hull beneath the cockpit too, running parallel to the lapstrake. This has probably been discussed, and I've talked offline with a couple people about it, but has anyone changed the main sheet arrangement on the M17 (the older models with the track just behind the bridge deck--I know sheeting's been moved back on the later models)? The M15 mainsheet is mid-boom sheeted too, but the sheet also runs back to the boom-end and then to a yoke across the transom. I like this setup (even though the yoke and sheet can foul under some circumstances) because I believe it distributes the main sheet stresses and provides additional mechanical advantage (maybe I'm wrong on this point--it just seems easier to sheet the main in on the M15). The M17 boom is considerably stressed and I have to think the track and cockpit floor are too. Additionally, the M17 boom is significantly less stout than the M15's and gets swayback over time. Any opinions (dumb question...)? Tom Smith & Jane Van Winkle Sandpoint, Idaho M15-345, Chukar _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats This message was scanned for viruses.