Mel Levine, my father in law (though not at the time), bought this M17 in 1987, just two years old, from the estate of the original owner. Over the next twenty years he sailed it sporadically in the northern Gulf of California, in San Diego, and in southern Arizona. It was last registered in 2006, then sat on its trailer for another ten until his somewhat new son in law offered to put it back in the water, in 2016.

The hull and most of the standing rigging were in fairly good shape. The ropes and cabin cushions had rotted away, as had plastic parts like the portlights and compass. Most other problems were either cosmetic or minor, except for a sprung centerboard-trunk seam which could be fixed with epoxy.

Mel passed on in April, 2016. His boat had sailed again, but he never recovered enough from his illness to sail on it.

"Gloomy Kerploppus" was intended to be a temporary name but now I think it might stick. It comes from a children's book by Mercer Mayer.