Montgomery 17 vs Precision 165

A Round 2 Mini-Cruiser Madness Matchup

Another matchup of similar pocket yachts. Sadly, only one can advance.

A favorite among our readership, we had mostly glowing things to say about the Montgomery 17: An old factory brochure reads, “The 17 is overbuilt, over-engineered, and one of Lyle Hess’s very best designs . . . surprisingly fast, surprisingly stiff, handles like a BMW, and is strong enough to be an icebreaker.” Some of these bold statements seem to border on hyperbole. But owners appear equally enthusiastic—consistently reaching for complimentary adjectives like “indestructible,” “solid,” and “heavy-duty” when describing their boats.

Interior photo from Dave Scobie

No doubt respect for the Montgomery 17 grew substantially when the boat passaged from California to Hawaii, and from Cape Hatteras to San Diego—through the Panama Canal. M-17s also regularly cruise the Sea of Cortez, the Bahamas, and California’s Channel Islands…and at least one M-17 completed the 750-mile Race to Alaska.

At sixteen-hundred pounds, with a fixed shoal keel, the Montgomery isn’t a dinghy. But some singlehanders claim they rig and launch in 30 minutes. Like most boats in this class, rigging is more comfortable for skipper with crew, but it’s still possible for the solo sailor with the appropriate maststepping set-up. However, it’s worth noting the 17, with its spreaders, backstay, and larger mast, is significantly more cumbersome to rig than smaller boats like its 15-foot sistership.