Tom, every time you trailer most of your boats weight is on the keel. I wouldn't worry as much about the keel as I would about the centerboard getting jammed due to sand. Also, it might be difficult to get off the beach if wind and waves drive you up a ways. Rick Langer M15 #337 Bluebird
Date: Sat, 07 Jul 2007 14:50:46 -0700 From: "Tom Jenkins" <tjenk@gte.net> Subject: M_Boats: beaching m17s To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Message-ID: <05b601c7c0e0$fcab98e0$5e2e2b3f@scss7iw3axjsyt> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi all, I am wondering if anyone could share experiences with the latest-generation M17 keel. Will it snap off if I ground my boat in sand or mud for a picnic or an overnight stay in calm lake weather (you know, as with one of those unmentionable P-boats)? Will sand tend to jam the centerboard? Pushing the envelope further, has anyone supported a boat on its keel without disaster? I read a posting from the archives indicating that a 17 can be supported on custom sawhorses just fore and aft of the keel (so the trailer can be slipped out), but that is another matter.
Thanks, Tom Jenkins Scintilla