Mike, When I bought our used M15 hull #400, it had a deep sail locker on the Port side only. The Starboard side just had a shallow molded locker that was OK for a set of car keys or a screwdriver, or your eyeglasses, and sail stops, but in reality, it was totally useless. On a boat the size of the M15 you need every available cubic inch of volume for storage of necessary boat operating equipment. After some head-scratching and a lot of planning, I carefully cut through the edge of the shallow locker upper rim (cut through the middle of the flat area). Then I added some support blocks on the inside of the cut-out so that I could drop the shallow locker back in place. Now I had the use of the shallow locker for small stuff; but also had complete access to the volume below for useful storage. I added some rope lines at each end of the shallow tray as handles to be able to lift it out easily. Now I had the best of both worlds; full access on the Starboard side to all the space down to the hull for storage, where I then kept the Bimini; cockpit cushions; extra PDFs, the emergency paddle / boot hook; the fire extinguisher. All that previously inaccessible and wasted volume was now accessible and useful. If _/*both*/_ your sail lockers have a shallow tray, where do you put your anchors (2) and anchor rodes? Your spare gas container for the Outboard? Cleaning materials; scrub brush? Long handled brush for doing your decks? Bilge pump? Fishing equipment? Swim ladder? Mooring lines? Fenders? Bucket? Fender board? PDFs? Cockpit cushions? Boat hook? Cockpit tarp? Flag staff and flag; and your food cooler? These are all very necessary items of boat equipment that you have to have on board if you want to have a "properly functioning" boat. We used our M15 extensively (formerly had a 29-footer) and cooked and lived on board. We traveled and sailed our M15 from Moosehead Lake, Maine to the Florida Keys. Different sailing areas require additional equipment - longer mooring lines; a fender board if you moor in tidal waters against a barnacle encrusted piling. Your cockpit is part of your on board living area and where I did the cooking. What are you going to do if it rains....? Sit inside? Mike, do you go anywhere with your M15 or do you just use it on a lake for a hour or two of sailing? If it is the latter, then I can understand your "none of those complications are necessary" comment. For me, they are an absolute necessity, which is why I made the modification. Been there: done that. Connie ex M15 #400 LEPPO ex Tripp-Lentsch 29 (26 years) FUN TOO ex Northeast 38 RHE On 11/16/2020 3:23 PM, michael hettler via montgomery_boats wrote:
Sounds like your boat had cockpit lockers that opened into the boat, rather than to smallish sealed compartments, whether because it was built that way or someone removed the compartments to access more storage below. My stock cockpit lockers don't open into the interior and none of those complications are necessary. Mike Hettler2007 m-15 annebonny On Monday, November 16, 2020, 12:54:43 PM EST, Conbert Benneck <chbenneck@gmail.com> wrote:
The most important thing to worry about is keeping all water out of the boat. If water can't get inside, it becomes a bottle with a good cork, and while it may bob about in heavy waves, if water can't get past the cork, the bottle will keep floating.
A major problem on M15s that has to be addressed are the sail locker lids.
They have to have closed cell gasketing material on the bottom of the sail locker lid, (I used about 1" wide sealing tape with adhesive on one side) that mates with the edge of the sail locker itself, and that forms a water tight seal.
The next, and equally important items ,are latches for the sail locker lids so that they can't drop open in the event of a knock-down. I installed latches with a tight fit. When closed, you had to apply some force to open the latch.
The idea was, that the latches were then self-locking in normal use. You could get instant access to either sail locker, while sailing, but the latches couldn't just drop open by themselves, opening a big hole to let water inside the boat.
In a knock-down, you now may get a small amount of water via the gaps at the sides of the companionway boards; or via the breather slots at the top, but now you are talking about a few quarts of water, instead of what can get inside through an open sail locker lid.
Connie
On 11/16/2020 10:25 AM, casioqv@usermail.com wrote:
I highly recommend the book "A Little Breeze To The West" by Michael Scott Mann. A great adventure, but it also extensively describes bluewater modifications for the M15. If I remember correctly, he added two large drains, as well as a styrofoam block to fill most of the cockpit volume.
The M15 also needs a redesigned cockpit hatch to keep the cabin dry, sea spray will go right under it and soak the cabin.
Sincerely, Tyler '81 M15 #157 S/V Defiant
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Sadler" <jimsadler@jascopacific.com> To: "For and about Montgomery Sailboats" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Monday, November 16, 2020 7:07:57 AM Subject: Re: M_Boats: M15 cockpit drains
Dave
Have other skippers improved the cockpit drains in the M15? I am planning to take the Pelican to sea and if I took a wave over the stern the cock pit would not drain fast enough......right?
Capt Jim
-----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats <montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com> On Behalf Of Dave Scobie Sent: Friday, November 13, 2020 1:15 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: M_Boats: new M15 mast
Jim.
Anything with a buffing agent will remove the alum oxide where the anodizing is missing. The oxide is a very effective protectant.
Buffing compound will also damage/remove the anodizing.
I'm sure there is discussion out there on some www-site on waxing aluminum spars but IMO you are making work and causing more work to be needed in the future. I never once had anyone every question how the masts looked on my '84 M15 and '83 M17. Folks looked at the brightwork and shiny gel coat topsides and hull. SWEET PEA's (a M17) tanbark sails also received positive comments.
Raise the mast and go sailing. Better use of your time.
:: Dave Scobie :: M6'8" #650 :: SV SWALLOW - sv-swallow.com :: former owner M17 #375 SWEET PEA - m17-375.com :: former owner M15 #288 SCRED - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred/
On Fri, Nov 13, 2020, 12:58 PM Jim Sadler <jimsadler@jascopacific.com> wrote:
Thanks Captain
I checked on new mast......$700 plus $300 shipping!
Is there anyway to just clean it? Without damage to anodize ? Maybe wax it? The Pelican looks great except for the bloches on the mast.
Jim S
-----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats <montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com> On Behalf Of Dave Scobie Sent: Friday, November 13, 2020 10:58 AM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: M_Boats: new M15 mast
Unless you do the refinishing yourself, hand painting after taking off all hardware, sanding, sanding, acid etching, paint, repaint, it will be cheaper to buy a new mast.
A spar shop will likely know a place that can do painting (there is an Westsail 26 near me, for example, that has a freshly painted mast - the owner likely had it done at Port Townsend Rigging or SEA Marine at Point Hudson). This is $$$.
A painted mast on a trailered boat, or boat that is rigged/de-rigged often will quickly show wear, scratches and dings.
Save your money and buy new sails - the #1 thing you can do to make the boat sail better. Or put the funds into the cruising kitty and take a long trip!
:: Dave Scobie :: M6'8" #650 :: SV SWALLOW - sv-swallow.com :: former owner M17 #375 SWEET PEA - m17-375.com :: former owner M15 #288 SCRED - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred/
On Fri, Nov 13, 2020, 10:45 AM Jim Sadler <jimsadler@jascopacific.com> wrote:
Thanks David
Not damaged
No extensive corrosion
Not bent
I is just 40 years old and now the Pelican is not berthed the garage, but in a slip in Oceanside harbor.
It just doesn’t look Bristol like the rest of the vessel
Capt Jim
-----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats <montgomery_boats-bounces@mailman.xmission.com> On Behalf Of Dave Scobie Sent: Friday, November 13, 2020 8:34 AM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: M_Boats: new M15 mast
Jim:
Is the mast damaged? Is there extensive corrosion under the hardware? Has it been bent?
:: Dave Scobie :: M6'8" #650 :: SV SWALLOW - sv-swallow.com :: former owner M17 #375 SWEET PEA - m17-375.com :: former owner M15 #288 SCRED - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred/
On Fri, Nov 13, 2020, 5:35 AM Jim Sadler <jimsadler@jascopacific.com> wrote:
Bob Is it possible to get new mast for M15? Or can I get it re anadized or powder coated?
Thanks Capt Jim Sadler SV Pelican