Tod, How did the P19 compare to the M17? Regarding the H-Cat, I understand a masthead sloop will always perform better than a gaff-rigged catboat, even if the catboat in question is a "modified" design, with modern keel and rudder. Thanks, Craig ----- Original Message ----- From: <htmills@bright.net> To: ">Mboats<" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 10:40 PM Subject: Annapolis Sailboat Show Arrived back in Ohio this evening after a fine extended weekend at the Annapolis Sailboat Show. It was good to see some fellow M-boaters at the show. While I didn't see any boats I'd rather own right now than the Montgomery 17, it was fun seeing what boats are out there and checking out all the vendor's booths and the pocketbook didn't come away unscathed: Next spring, or maybe even this fall yet, BuscaBrisas will lose her mailbox-lettering and instead be seen sporting her name and home port in fancy new lettering in matching blue on the transom. Unlike last year, I did traipse through a few of the big boats. One of the things I did was sit in the cockpit for a while. My standard for cockpits is our very own M-17's and I have to say, some very large, very expensive boats just didn't measure up. Even the Hinckley Sou'wester 52's cockpit fell short. Despite all the care that went into that semi-custom boat with the coats of immacculate varnish and such, they just didn't get the ergonomics of the cockpit very well at all. On the other hand, the Hallberg-Rassey's cockpits did make the grade. The Pacific Seacraft Dana was there and that is a very impressive boat, although a lot more fancy than I'd ever need or be able to afford. I've no doubt that the new 23 will have no trouble knocking the socks off her speedwise. The boat which perhaps caught my attention the most was the new Com-pac Horizon 20 "catboat", only because I've lately been making some rough sketches of how I'd lay out a small cruiser for my own semi-liveaboard use and lo and behold there is was almost to a tee except for the hull, deck and catboat rig that it was packaged in: minor things. *grin* Got to speak with David Dressler with the Potter 19 and finally actually climbed aboard one. Turns out he's from none other than my home state: Ohio (a former Cleveland resident). Tod Mills