Hi Stan, See the M-Archives for my version of a 19" Tool Box Galley that contains everything you need for a nice and efficient galley for an M15. It allows you to cook "proper" meals, and not just open and heat a can of something. It contained everything we needed for pleasant living on board: dishes, plates and cups for two: cooking utensils: pots, kettle, frying pans; spatulas, knives, forks and spoons; a can opener, a salad bowl, a cutting board, kitchen knives, a corkscrew...and wine glasses. Our stove was a square propane unit that is used in restaurants for cooking at your table. It stows nicely; has a hot flame; and when not in use the propane cannister is disconnected from the stove so that there is no leakage. I bought it at a place called Ocean State Job Lot for about $25.00. We used the filler piece from the middle of the berths to make a work surface at the aft end of the cockpit (adding some rails to the underside so that it stays in place). I made another low hatch board with a table, that was great for sandwiches and a beer for lunch. - again, see the Archives for the details. Another specific purpose low hatch board I built, had a teak holder for: binoculars; drinks; the GPS, and a small Grundig radio that provided music while we sailed (the antenna fitted in the hatch board slot, so it was out of the way. A SONY pancake CD player allowed us to play any of our CDs through small speakers - all the comforts of home on an M15 scale. Connie Joe Murphy wrote:
Stan, So nice to hear that you are still sailing into your 70's. I'll be 63 at the end of next month and hope I'll continue sailing in my 70's as well. And thanks for the useful tips. Re the bimini, do any of you M17 owners have a bimini and if so where did you find one? I had a nice awning on my previous NS27 that was fantastic. I'll probably make one or have one made for Seafrog. Nice weather right around the corner. Joe Seafrog M17 #651
----- Original Message ----- From: "Stan Winarski" <winarski@cox.net> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 8:16 PM Subject: M_Boats: M15 cruising
My wife and I have recently entered our 70s and she now limits us to no more than two nights on the hook. I'm 6'2" @ 185 she's 5'2" at 110 so I take up the most room on the V birth - however, she takes up most of the ample storage on board with "comfort" items.
A friend once told one of his yachting friends that we have spent 4 or 5 nights cruising aboard our M15. The guy's response to me was, "On purpose?" Guess I can't blame him, it is a bit like camping in a VW Beetle.
There are several major issues you will want to address.
A bimini for us is a necessity. Easily attached and detached front, rear, and side curtains are almost a necessity to block the late afternoon sun but an absolute necessity at night (when the porta- potty is moved up into the cockpit since it can't reasonably be used in the cabin once I'm taking up 3/4 of the width and 75% of the length of the bedding. With all our privacy curtains up we resemble a gypsy caravan but that is the price this guy must pay for companionship.
Mosquito netting fitted to the companion way is vital for most places we've sailed and will be for the ICW - and this year I'm finally chopping a hole in the front deck and will install a port to get more air below. We bought the boat new in 1981 and have always wanted cross ventilation but putting a hole in a perfectly fine boat was always anathema to me - still is, but I guess at this age we've earned some perks.
Bay water is okay for a scrub down but we carry extra fresh water for a rinse off.
Thrown together meals are very rarely acceptable. We don't have to have wine glasses but if we're only going to be out two nights, there will be room for them along with three small ice chests. Real pillows and sheets and several blankets all fit nicely on board too.
We may sit a little deeper in the water than our single handing companions but we have a great time.
Carol can sit up in the cabin. I can too if I sit in the porta-potty well which is quite comfortable for a couple of chapters. Reading is most often done supine with our heads raised on doubled over pillows.
Stan
Carol II, 1981 M15, #177
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