This M10 I'm looking at is in good shape and comes with trailer and decent sails. What is a good price? The guy wants $1000 and I'm thinking this is a real sweet deal.



I realize there are a million factors going on here but I'm just wondering if this is in the ballpark of a good deal.



Any advice?

Marty

Pardon my ignorance but.....what is a M10?

Never mind. I had meant M20, but the boat in question was a different M20 from a different era. I hadn't noticed I'd typo'd M10 until your reply. No wonder I got nothing back. Doh!



Marty

a Marstrom 20 for $1000? Can you elaborate on the name - I think this is still not right? An M20 is an all carbon fiber boat and there's not many in existance.

When I talked to the guy on the phone I was thinking Marstrom also. No such luck. He talked about how he saved up for this 'M20', paid $14k (didn't say new or used and I didn't ask at the time) then his sons weren't into it and he was disapointed and just wanted to get rid of it. He said it was not a monohull and 'like a catamaran, but for racing'. Whatever that was supposed to mean, I got it in my head that he might have a Marstrom and just not know what he had or how to describe it.



At this point I'm thinking this is possiibly a real sweet deal. He could not remember the manufacturer, which seemed real strange indeed, but still it seemed to deserve a looking at so I dropped by after work (after posting my initial post here in a rush just before I left early from work).



What I find when I get there is a double-breasted glass monohull thing that looks like the missing link between a cat and a monohull. The beam is only about 6.5' while the length is 20'. it is dual ruddered and has dual daggerboards like a cat and carries quite a bit of sail from the look of it. The owner said it was designed for a crew of six to hike out on and with that skinny beam and no keel I believe it. The mast was British, the cleats Australian. I couldn't find any other identifier on it. A lot of stainless steel. A standard marconi rig with a spinnaker tube in the foredeck. No keel whatsoever, in fact, the centerline is raised like its trying to go through mitosis and become a cat.



I know I don't want it as it looks like it requires too much crew for me to enjoy often enough.



Any clues as to what this boat is?



I told him I'd try to find an ID for the boat and perhaps someone who is interested. It needs new rope sheets etc but the stainless stuff all looked great. The wood trim needs some TLC and the glass could use some surface beautification.



Marty

I'll bet it's probably a Melges designed scow. Tell the owner to post in the SE Wisconsin area as there are a lot of scow sailors around here. Lake Geneva and Pewaukee Lake in particular come to mind.

Thanks Paul, will do. If you come across anyone who might be interested yourself, drop me a line. AMelges designed 'scow', eh? Thanks for the clue, I needed it.



Marty

Melges Performance Sailboats builds the C Scow which you have described. It sounds stock with the exception of the spinnaker rig.

sail fast

That looks a lot like it, Andrew. But I just remembered that he had a state reg. sticker from '83 on it so its a fairly old scow. The foredeck did not have that splash triangle I see on the Melges C. I suppose it may not be a Melges. I dropped them a line describing it and how old it must be (at least) and asked if it might be one of theirs.



Oh yeah, the rudders are not off the transom, but integral to the hull (no pop up!)



Thanks for the info.

Marty

You are looking at a Melges M-20 designed by Buddy Melges in the 60s as the scow alternative to the Flying Dutchman. Having owned a 1968 model, I can say it is a FANTASTIC boat. The only way you need a crew of 6 is if your name is Snow White and your crew lives in a tree. It is a 2-3 man boat and very fast as well as easy to handle. It does have quite a bit of busy work as you change bildgeboads when you tack as well as a running backstay etc. The **** is huge and could carry 6 people. The down side is it is a bit heavy and has no ball system so the raising of the mast is a chore. The boat is sailed heeled to create a 20' wateline with a 3' beam...hence the speed. They also plane like a big windsurfer. The only bad traits on the water is they do not handle chop and waves well and if you let it turtle, like a cat it is tough to right. If I remember the Portsmouth is around 80 which makes it a bit slower than a h-16, and faster than a h-14. It only carries 175' in the main and jib, with about 200' spinnaker...it is not overpowered and a blast to sail on inland lakes.

I checked on the Portsmouth and it is up to 84. I am sure this is due to the fact the class has died off and the old boats have been modified to a new version with a retractable pole and a spinnaker very similar to the ones we use. The stock M-20 looks like a smaller version of the E-Scow and was still the favorite boat at the University of Minnasota sailing team last time I was up there (12 years ago) The graffitti on the wall of the sailclub read "thou shall not covet thy neighbors M-20". If you live on a protected lake....buy it if it is in good shape. If you live on the ocean or great lake leave it alone unless you have friends in the salvage business.

Thanks for the detailed info! I am considering getting it. It is not really what I'm looking for, but it could be fun and could be traded away or sold later I suppose.



It does need some TLC.



Does anyone know of an internet discussion list for scows?





Thanks again.



Marty