Montgomery 23 - Hull Number 017
When the MSOG E-mail forum first heard of this craft, she was in San Francisco on her trailer and at some distant time, sailing out of SFYC. The skipper was the son of the person who had bought her in the early 1980's and moved her from Arizona. She suffered from lack of maintenance and in a failed attempt to make her "beautiful" she was painted gloss white (see below) to impress anyone looking at her. The "improvement" seemed to seal her fate as a poor example of any sailing craft, to the point (I quote Rick Agrella) "No one in their right mind would have touched her... except some fool in the Northwest who just could not let so rare an example of Jerry Montgomery's craftsmanship and Lyle Hess's design die".
Raven is being massaged back into a Bristol yacht by her new owner Rick Agrella. Enlarge the top right photo to see the stern rail jump seats and cabin doors, both created by Rick from synthetic deck material (Trex). Wood grain, weathered look and absolutely no maintenance. The original companionway boards have been reconstructed and retained for use in off shore applications.
Raven is being massaged back into a Bristol yacht by her new owner Rick Agrella. Enlarge the top right photo to see the stern rail jump seats and cabin doors, both created by Rick from synthetic deck material (Trex). Wood grain, weathered look and absolutely no maintenance. The original companionway boards have been reconstructed and retained for use in off shore applications.
"Raven"
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"Ever since I was a boy I have loved taking old things I find interesting, or think should be preserved, and restoring them. As an adult it seems that my love of boats and the sea have lead me to restore and sail a number of boats. I have worked and sailed and old Norwegian-built 18', M15, M17, Catalina 22, Compact 23, as well as a Bayliner Skagit power boat.
Eventually I sold out of sailing to get a pilots license so I could build/fly an experimental airplane. This was a great experience but eventually I decided to sell the plane to begin another undefined project...perhaps another boat!
As I was looking about I came across the MSOG web site and saw Tonina (1979 #017) in the boats for sale section. What a basket case! However, she broke my heart. I used to love "storm chasing" in my sailboats and had especially loved my M15 and M17 for both the quality of construction and seaworthiness. The other trailerables I had been exposed to over the years just didn't measure up. To see this old girl so down on her luck just couldn't be allowed.
I honestly hoped someone else would claim her. I recognized the massive effort/cost her restoration would require so held off contacting the seller. Finally, after she sat and sat, I called to find that the seller was leaving the States in a few days...so I bought her. I haven't looked back! I knew her next owner would have to be a fool whose only motivation would be to save her for posterity, as there was no financial incentive, or she could be lost. I became that fool.
Upon getting her, I don't think I was too surprised. She had been so well built to begin with that I had the "raw material" for a restoration. Since the previous owner had "blasted" white paint on her in order to impress Sean Mulligan (M23 Dauntless) who had gone to see her, I decided the only chance to make her a great example of type was to strip her topsides. This is a huge and expensive undertaking. It requires grinding off all nonskid and removing every bit of paint, then re-spraying a layer of rough gelcoat. Finally, sanding and buffing until the surface looks brand new. Then spraying new gelcoat nonskid.
I could only afford to do the topsides (from the sheer rail up) and transom with a eye to sides and bottom in the future. All electrical and plumbing elements were removed and are being replaced, new stainless port lights are installed, and the interior stripped and redone. This includes rebuilding the aft bulkheads.
She is work in progress but I have a long way yet to go yet with Raven - Her name was changed to Raven in honor of the trickster and bringer of the sun, celebrated by the natives of the Pacific northwest and the feathered friends I enjoy so much on trips to the San Juan islands. I know I Know, your not supposed to change a boats name! But I did follow the proper incantations...HA
I don't know how long she and I will be together, but my hope is that long after I am gone people will have the chance to sail and appreciate the design/philosophy of Lyle Hess as applied to a trailerable boat and the fine execution of that design by Jerry and his staff.
Rick
Eventually I sold out of sailing to get a pilots license so I could build/fly an experimental airplane. This was a great experience but eventually I decided to sell the plane to begin another undefined project...perhaps another boat!
As I was looking about I came across the MSOG web site and saw Tonina (1979 #017) in the boats for sale section. What a basket case! However, she broke my heart. I used to love "storm chasing" in my sailboats and had especially loved my M15 and M17 for both the quality of construction and seaworthiness. The other trailerables I had been exposed to over the years just didn't measure up. To see this old girl so down on her luck just couldn't be allowed.
I honestly hoped someone else would claim her. I recognized the massive effort/cost her restoration would require so held off contacting the seller. Finally, after she sat and sat, I called to find that the seller was leaving the States in a few days...so I bought her. I haven't looked back! I knew her next owner would have to be a fool whose only motivation would be to save her for posterity, as there was no financial incentive, or she could be lost. I became that fool.
Upon getting her, I don't think I was too surprised. She had been so well built to begin with that I had the "raw material" for a restoration. Since the previous owner had "blasted" white paint on her in order to impress Sean Mulligan (M23 Dauntless) who had gone to see her, I decided the only chance to make her a great example of type was to strip her topsides. This is a huge and expensive undertaking. It requires grinding off all nonskid and removing every bit of paint, then re-spraying a layer of rough gelcoat. Finally, sanding and buffing until the surface looks brand new. Then spraying new gelcoat nonskid.
I could only afford to do the topsides (from the sheer rail up) and transom with a eye to sides and bottom in the future. All electrical and plumbing elements were removed and are being replaced, new stainless port lights are installed, and the interior stripped and redone. This includes rebuilding the aft bulkheads.
She is work in progress but I have a long way yet to go yet with Raven - Her name was changed to Raven in honor of the trickster and bringer of the sun, celebrated by the natives of the Pacific northwest and the feathered friends I enjoy so much on trips to the San Juan islands. I know I Know, your not supposed to change a boats name! But I did follow the proper incantations...HA
I don't know how long she and I will be together, but my hope is that long after I am gone people will have the chance to sail and appreciate the design/philosophy of Lyle Hess as applied to a trailerable boat and the fine execution of that design by Jerry and his staff.
Rick
.
Click on photo to enlarge
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Sailing Washington state's San Juan Islands 2007 (above) Construction photos (below)
Before photos, while she was in San Francisco before Rick bought her (below)
