Mr. Bill,
Just another thing to code (great just what I need lol) Hope to have the 2013 model in a few weeks. I'll be sure to post it!
How do I like the Montgomery 17? I don't I LOVE it! Which may come across as surprising since I stepped down from a 29' boat with a 10'6" beam! Like you said, it's a well built little boat and is kind the little tank of trailerable sailboats. The lapstrake hull makes it stiff and strong and also give you a dryer ride in the cockpit when the seas get up. It sails well, I'm not a racer so can't say it sails awsome for that but it sails awsome for me.....
The thing I like most about it is it's small size which give some advantages I like.
-Being fairly light it's easier to tow (although I think it is the heaviest trailerable boat of it's size which speaks for it's toughness and seaworthyness)
-The mast is really easy to stand by yourself.
-It's pretty simple to get on and off the trailer, one person has no problems and holding it at the dock is so easy.
-Shallow draft with the shoal keel and centerboard is very nice drafting only 1'9" with the board up so you can get real close to the beach and not worry about running aground much.
-All these make it great for single handing which is what I end up doing most of the time yet still there is enough room for two people to overnight and for 3-4 to do a daysail.
Get one if you can find one for sale
M17's don't come up for sale as often as other boats do, I think this is partly because their owners love them so much. I waited about 3 years for mine to pop up on the market and when it did I immediately drove about 10 hours to get her.
As you can tell, I love my boat and love talking about her!
centerline,
I like the fact that it can be used in different places like you pointed out. When on a small boat that's pretty valuable.
