Melges 17

Encyclopedia : M : ME : MEL : Melges 17

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Specifications Under Current Rules
Number of crew 2 LOA 16ft 7.75in Beam 5ft 6in Draft 3ft 11.5in Hull weight (with fittings) 300lbs Sail Area of total of Jib 66ft² Sail Area of total of Main 154ft² Sail Area of total of Spinnaker 280ft²

The Megles17 was first launched in January of 2004 by Melges Performance Sailing. The boat consists of a main with a large roach, a roller furling jib and an asymmetrical spinnaker.

Design

The Melges17 is simuler in design to the M-16 and it is thought that it is infact, a modern M-16. The project began in 2002, when Melges became the Vangaurd Dealer for Wisconsin. At this time, Vanguard was pushing their new boat, the Vanguard Vector. Melges had a Vector at their location on the shores of Lake Geneva, to try to promote the boat. With in a few months, an M-16 appeared next to the Vector with Vector rigging. The M-16 was complete with a carbon fiber mast and asymmetrical spinnaker. Two years later, the Melges17 came to market.

Melges approached Reichel/Pugh to redesign the hull and the foils. Although the Hull shape and size is much like the M-16, the boat itself is a different creature.

Reichel/Pugh also designed other modern Melges boats, such as the Melges 24, the Melges 30, and the Melges 32.

External Links

• [Melges17 Offical Page]
• [Melges Performance Sailing]