Prior to 1975, the M20s that rolled out of Melges Boatworks sported a spar manufactured by an English firm known as Proctor. These masts and booms, anodized gold, were carefully tapered and heat treated. They are as much artisanal works of art as instruments of speed. Continue reading Ode to the Proctor Mast
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Prez Cup 2014
The I20 fleet launched four scows Sept 6, including the newcomer “Barnstormer,” a beautiful 1974 Melges converted by Scowsailing.com. Also competing was a TC Williams high school team driving the 1977 Melges known as Avocado.
South winds built from a morning of 10 mph to an afternoon of 15.
The fleet ran four races. To keep things safe, spinnakers were tucked below deck for the last two races, when winds peaked at a solid 15 mph.
Race 4 was won by High Schooler Mac Dickson and his teammates Mohammed and Ford. Barnstormer driven by Carl Schaefer scored a second in the first race. UffDah! took three firsts largely due to clean hoists and douses by crew. Good starts helped a bit.
A heartbreaker occurred in race number one when Tim Dickson’s OSP collided with a catamaran, ripping the scow’s nose open. That boat is off for repairs and Tim is vowing to be back for the fall series. In race 4, we saw a capsize of Barnstormer.
| Pl | Sail | Crew | From | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 806 | Stewart Harris & Karen Currie | PRSA-WSM | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 2 | 519 | Mac Dickson & Ford & Mohammed | PRSA | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | F314 | Carl Schaefer & Sarah Harvey | PRSA | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5\DNF | 13 |
| 4 | 1 | Tim Dickson & Braden Copeland | DC SAIL, AYC | 5\DNF | 5\DNS | 5\DNS | 5\DNS | 20 |
Conversion of Barnstormer, the 1974 Melges
This M20 belonged to a friend from Wisconsin. It was virtually untouched for 40 years, down to the phenolic winch and cleats. Sailing fanatics see boats like this and think: Continue reading Conversion of Barnstormer, the 1974 Melges
Gushing Gunwales? Read This!
It is an “old school” joint on a thoroughly modern boat. The deck on a Melges M20 meets the hull like the lid of a shoebox. A string of screws or bolts hold the two parts together, with a rubrail on the outside, and in some cases, a strip of wood on the inside. Continue reading Gushing Gunwales? Read This!
M20 Tuning Guide (vintage)
This tuning guide is courtesy John Spargo, who worked with Melges in the 1970s. It is most appropriate for the aluminum spars on so many of our vintage boats. Continue reading M20 Tuning Guide (vintage)