Thanks for putting up this video. I've been wondering whether to buy a 15 or a 17, a quick search on youtube, and voila!

Nice looking boats.

Very nicely done, Sir. Fair winds.

TY... great comparison. I like the 17 myself. The 15 is cool too.

An old video, but this is my review on both 17 and 15: 1) Skip the 15. It's just too damned small in the cabin. It should have been made with an open skiff option. Some early 17's were open flush deck racing models. Very rare. 2) Cost: Newer M's are hugely over-priced, IMO, but, they're the best sub-18 sailboat out there at any price. If you want one, get an old one for $3,000-$5,000 (1970's). Move fast. He who hesitates is last. 3) I've owned two 17's, a 1974 and a 1975 (first two years production). Both were not inexpensive - even in rough condition. These boats have a cult following like few others, and for good reasons. Hand made like bank vaults. 4) Cost of upkeep is low, as they are deliberately outfitted as Basic. Excellent boat choice for beginners, or experts who will upgrade or add details. 5) Great beginner boat because they are so forgiving of mistakes, and are extremely seaworthy. I tried to dip the rails many times in higher winds, but the design is so good that the boat just turned upwind and stopped dead, as a truly great sailboat should. Such a design allows for this because under harsh conditions, IF you are thrown from the boat, it will instantly turn into the wind and stop, allowing you to swim to the boat. No other small boat I have ever sailed does this so quickly, leaving you to self rescue at a shorter distance. 5) There are may choices in the sub18 range. None are better boats - no matter what model year. Lyle Hess designed a masterpiece in the M-17. He was the god of cruising designs and put very similar charateristics into the little m's. High freeboard, dry running, superb sea keeping, and safety. The best open ocean designs do not heel farther than 12-15 degress. The tiny M's are no different. Very stable and give the feeling of hunkering down into the line, rather than being dominated by wind. You never feel like you're fighting it. A single reef was all I ever had to use in 25-30knots of wind. I will admit that the ride was not fun in a 1700lb boat, but it was safe. And Jerry Montgomery made them fast by narrowing te entry a tad and rounding the departure lines a bit. 6) IMO, the only thing that limits them is the lack of space for provisions for a trans oceanic passage - although it has been done. I would not attempt that in a Precision 18 or a Cape Dory Typhoon, or a Siren, or any other boat in the range of the M-17.

Really appreciate the artistic hand in your video..

The fish eye effect negates proper comparison

I am curious if you do not mind How much a boat like the 17 foot cost? I could not find one through yachtworld or anything maybe because they are small??

Just curious, did you reach a decision on which boat you plan to keep? I'm considering purchasing an M-17 to learn to sail in. Thanks!