Emergency Monty 17 (pretty rough shape!) need guidance.

[Epic1969]

I can’t log into the Trailor Sailor forums to post for some reason so I’ll put it here hoping someone knowledgeable finds it!

Ok! So I find it! After year of striking out—-a Monty 17 about 7 hours away. Apparently the sailor died and family is selling it. It looks like it sat in his yard for 6 years uncovered. According to his brother he last sailed it 6 years ago on The Great Lakes.

The boat is a 1977 model. The family sent me a ton of pictures (no leaking noted from chain plates or cabin walls, transom mount engine cutout looks secure/laminated) keel looks normal. I bet a power washing off leaves, dirt etc (first thing I do) before towing home will increase value by $1000s!

$3600 negotiated price. I told them I will give a yes/no before end tomorrow.If I say yes 20% sent to them and I pick-up next weekend. Thumbs up or down on this deal?

Bonus ? How do I get this in my yard to work on (it is yellow and red) my wife is indifferent to my boat fetish but she’ll know it’s not the very white P18!!!!!!!

 

[Epic1969]

Here she is!

 

[kappykaplan]

Nice looking boat. No opinions on good deal or not.

 

[shemandr]

It doesn't look that rough. Yeah, needs cleaning. Was it covered during it's hiatus? Do any of the pictures show to your satisfaction that there wasn't water sitting inside the cabin for lengthly times. That is a big concern with boats that sit. I wouldn't expect much from the motor. You probably will need to work on the trailer before towing it away. New wheel bearings and maybe tires. I would almost guarantee that the lights don't work. Speaking of the trailer I assume it's registration is expired. It can be a big hassle to register an older trailer - at least it was in NY. Make sure you have the right size ball before going to pick it up.
As for the rig, the SS rigging may be OK if it's away from salt water. You do need to make sure the rigging is complete. On older boats sometimes parts are hard or impossible to find - especially for something like a gooseneck or spreader fittings.
I assume it has a centerboard. That mechanism needs to work. It's hard to test on a trailer but you have to see that it isn't stuck.
I wouldn't expect much from the sails either. But if properly stored they may be good. Or they could be falling apart.
Regarding the price it's really a matter of what it's worth to you. You're going to spend at least the $ 3,500 on it and probably more. If that's OK with you (And the Mrs.) then go for it.

 

[Timm R Oday25]

"If it were me ", I'd make the drive thinking "it's ok " to come home empty handed . I realize 7 hours is a bit of a cruise . I wouls also plan to replace the tires before dragging it home . I agree a pressure washer will work miracles . Let us know how you make out .

 

[shemandr]

I agree with Timm. If fact, for a seven hour drive I would be prepared to stay several days to look over the boat and trailer. Put up the mast to verify completeness.

 

[Epic1969]

Great feedback much appreciated!
I can see from the pics sent that the interior “looks” dry based on running rigging, sails looking dry. I will probably order new sails and if any doubt replace standing rigging. The wildcard with these older M17s is the Centerboard/rotted steel ballast in stub keel which could be a big project.

The trailer has new tires I was told and I do plan on spending a couple hours getting it road worthy (bearings, lights etc)

 

[Epic1969]

"If it were me ", I'd make the drive thinking "it's ok " to come home empty handed . I realize 7 hours is a bit of a cruise . I wouls also plan to replace the tires before dragging it home . I agree a pressure washer will work miracles . Let us know how you make out .

Problem is that these M17s are rare as hens teeth. The seller has a fella that wants to look at it Friday if I don’t send down payment to secure it. I can’t get to it until next week Tuesday at earliest. A 70s M17 in even rougher shape sold in one day recently down in TX.

 

[Timm R Oday25]

This may speed things up . Our 25' Oday nees to be backed fairly far into the water to float free . It got old quick trying to keep the trailer lights and wiring corrosion free . I mounted the lights on 3' wide nylon board . I simply clip the wiring to the frame and remove the lights when it comes time to dunk. I can trouble shoot the lights with the board in my lap as I'm sitting in the truck . . you could make up a board ahead of time and have it ready to hang off the back . They also sell lights that have magnets on the base

 

[Epic1969]

Good news! PO said they’ll hold it for me without down payment until the 25th when I can get over there to look at it. Maybe I’ll just launch her in Lake Michigan and sail her back to Ohio!

 

[Epic1969]

Good news! PO said they’ll hold it for me without down payment until the 25th when I can get over there to look at it. Maybe I’ll just launch her in Lake Michigan and sail her back to Ohio!

Me joking of course!!!

 

[HEINZIR]

Here she is!

Congratulations!
I see you joined the Montgomery listserve, lots of good information there. There is also a very active Montgomery Sailboats group on Facebook with many of the same members (but lots more pictures!)
Also look at the many technical posts at msogphotosite.com .

Henry
1979 M17 Monita

 

[Epic1969]

I posted most of this on Montgomery emailing list but will add here also.

Well M17 SV Reality of Waukegan WI has a new Port on the Great Lakes Geneva Ohio. I did a marathon 16 hour round trip yesterday picking her up. ProTip! don’t try to tow a boat through downtown Chicago, it is way more exciting than most would enjoy. I will re-Christen name in Spring 2023.

After looking it over (cockpit/topside full of leaves , twigs and dirt) and envisioning what she could be transformed into…I made sure all the important parts were solid I made a offer with cash on hand for quite a bit less than they were asking and the seller said sure!

I drove straight to a car wash bay checked tires/bearings/lights and cleaned/sprayed her off over a two hour span.I couldn’t bare seeing the M17 covered in 6 years of 4 seasons of the elements. With 2 hours of elbow grease she was transformed into something presentable.


Positives

Solid topsides. I sounded whole deck and walked every inch a couple of
times it feels and sounds solid/dry.

Solid hull with no blisters.

Keel looks perfect with no bulge and is symmetrical. Early M17s can have ballast rusting issues from steel punchings being used.

Inside floor/sides of walls are bone dry despite no cover over boat.

Newer main and 135 Genny only sailed with in 2012 about 3x I laid them out in my yard and they look brand new!

Negatives

Companion way drop boards are pretty rough shape MAY be salvageable but probably not. That should be a easy replacement.

Inside looks like a 80s time capsule tons of stuff within. It will take me a couple hours to clean and sort that out.

Hull needs a full compounding, polish, wax since lots of oxidation-epoxy or maybe just paint it.
Bottom barrier needs redone.

Standing rigging will probably be good but all running needs replaced. Brand new shrouds were found on my clean out!

Most of cockpit floor has very fine spider cracks but it is. I believe just superficial/cosmetic as well as a couple spots on topsides.


Anyway I got it for about half of the $4000 asking price and I wasn’t expecting a show room boat. I plan on floating her later this week to test
the centerboard and for leaks. I plan to work over the winter and have her ready for next Spring
launch.

One observation! The M17 is massive and looks true to her reputation as being TOUGH built. I have a 98’ Precision 18 that I’ve been sailing the
past month (which is a great boat by the way) but the P-18 will look dainty next to the M17!

I’ll spend a couple days tidying her up then put her in storage until fall. I’ve got sailing to do! (Our season NE Ohio is @5 months)

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

That’s better on the price. Check for tire dry rot for sure.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

ProTip! don’t try to tow a boat through downtown Chicago, it is way more exciting than most would enjoy

Yesterday afternoon had lighter than usual traffic. You should've seen it when we still had the short "suicide" on ramps!

Careful with that pressure washer. You can blow away sealant without realizing it

 

[Epic1969]

It Floats! But more importantly steel centerboard moves freely!

Yay!

 

[Epic1969]

That’s better on the price. Check for tire dry rot for sure.

Luckily the PO put new tires on last week. I drove for about 20 minutes and checked bearings for heat Port one was very slightly warm while Starboard was warm so I put some more grease in bearing buddy. Next 7 hours it was fine.