Montgomery 15

The Montgomery 15 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Jerry Montgomery as a pocket cruiser and first built in 1980.

Production
The design was built by Montgomery Marine Products, Nor'Sea Yachts and Montgomery Boats in the United States, with 500 boats completed, but it is now out of production.

Design
The Montgomery 15 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with simulated lapstrake construction molded in. It has a fractional sloop rig, a nearly plumb stem, a vertical transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed stub keel with a retractable centerboard. It displaces 750 lb and carries 275 lb of ballast.

The boat has a draft of 2.04 ft with the centerboard extended and 1.25 ft with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water or ground transportation on a trailer.

The boat is normally fitted with a small 2 to 5 hp outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.

The design has sleeping accommodation for two people. Cabin headroom is 48 in.

The design has a hull speed of 4.9 kn.

Operational history
The Montgomery 15 has a reputable history as a safe and seaworthy sailboat including one ocean passage from California, US, to Hawaii.

In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "several hundred of these little boats were built and sold by Montgomery Marine over a period of 14 years, and in 1999 production recommenced, under the wing of Nor’Sea Yachts. Now the boats are being built under yet another name, Montgomery Boats. Best features: With her springy sheer and simulated lapstrake hull, she looks very graceful despite the relatively high freeboard ... Attention to detail in her construction is above average. Her ballast and displacement are high enough to give her good stability for a 15-footer. Worst features: She has the shallowest maximum draft (2' 6" with board down), making for somewhat poorer upwind performance compared to other comp[etitor]s, which all have drafts in the 3' to 4' range."