Jerry Montgomery’s Pocket Cruiser Design Changes: Late 1960s through 2016 M17 – 90% of the hull shape designed by Lyle Hess. Jerry had some set ideas for the type of boat he wanted when contacting Lyle. What ultimately went into production was about 90% Lyle and with the remainder Jerry’s perspective on sailing boat design. … More Jerry Montgomery Designs: 1970 – 2016
I’ve updated the links page. Have added a link to the Montgomery Owners Facebook page (most active location to get information about the boats), added new details to some of the others and removed the links to Sage Marine (Sage is closed and boat owners should visit the MSOG Facebook page for information on the … More Been a while but I’m still here
As the coronavirus delayed 2020 sailing season begins I’ve received many requests on how to use the reefing systems that Jerry Montgomery installed on the Montgomery 17 & 15 and I installed on the Sage 17 and 15. I covered reefing before and here I’ll provide some more details and some pictures taken of SWEET … More Reefing the Jerry Montgomery designs
18 June ’18 – After talking with the Choey Lee owner I do the dishes, secure the boat and motor to the Oak Harbor Marina dock to get so gasoline, dump the porta potti and fill the water tank. The day is quickly getting hot and there is not a breath of wind as SWEET … More Swinomish Channel, Anacortes and Spencer Spit
7 June 2018 – I cast off the Hope Island State Park buoy at 7am and motor with the tide to Strawberry Point with 5kt wind on the nose the entire way. The Skagit Bay channel heading south along Whidbey Island is narrow and busy with boats and crab pots for (easy) short tacking. The … More South to Edmonds
If you plan on leaving your boat in the water for an extended period of time applying antifouling bottom paint to you boat required (usually). Most locations will result in bottom growth after a few weeks, though there are exceptions. … More Antifouling bottom paint: selecting bottom paint
I just love going for a cruise and finding a quiet cove away from all the other boats. Gunkholing requires an anchor. Here I’ll discuss how I store, launch and retrieve an anchor … … More Anchoring
Your sailboat’s deck hardware should have been installed using a bedding compound. (I sadly write ‘should’ as I have worked on boats where there is no evidence that bedding compound was used!) Commonly used are Sikaflex’s 291 and 3M’s 4000 and 4200 (remember, 5200 is for under the waterline applications that will very very very likely never be removed). SPECIAL NOTE: do not use silicone to bed deck hardware! 99.99% of the time silcone has NO PLACE for use in the marine environment! … More Do you know the condition of your boat’s deck hardware bedding?
The [Sage 15 and Sage 17] sails way better with a small jib and a reefed main. All boats of this type should have a storm jib – if the winds looks like it’s going to come up to 25 or so, put up the storm jib; you’ll be amazed at how little it slows the boat down to even in a 15 knot wind … More More on sailing in strong & heavy winds
The Sages are very capable sailboats being excellent in light AND heavy winds. I have sailed all of the Sage boats in winds above 20 knots with gusts above 25. The highest winds I’ve sailed a Sage were in the mid-30 knot range in a SageCat & Sage 17. … More Heavy weather sailing – wind
M17 #375 - SWEET PEA 