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:

“Clean slate…No lousy tweaks by previous owners…” And so it was with the “perfect barn boat.”

Take it slow and don’t make any mistakes was our guiding principle as we prepared to install the retractable sprit that would convert the M20 to an Inland 20.

Willie Crear gets a big “high five” for selling us the hood cover for a buck-three-eighty. That “sale” came with lots of advice and good humor. The Inland 20 hobbyist has no better friend than Willie.

Our contribution to the class can be seen in these conversion pictures. Note how the sprit slides in a PVC bearing that is riveted to aluminum bar. That bar is bolted to structural fiberglass fused to the underside of the deck. We were not taking any chances that the hood cover would be ripped out of the deck. The hood cover bears no load. (There is a brace with turnbuckle to keep the rig true so the sprit will slide easily.)

And, because the hood cover is bolted instead of glued to the deck, we have a great new access point for maintenance.

The transom number indicates this hull was manufactured by Melges in March 1974. Hull 20458. My favorite feature is the Proctor spar. To my hand, it has a consistent bend that feels softer when reeling in the backstay. A much kinder spar than the Melges, which can be stiff in spots.