Hunter 34 Keel shotening

[Dylan297]

So im thinking about getting a 1983 hunter 34 sloop but in Tampa the water is shallow is there any way i could shorten the keel without ruining the structure i want a wing keel the draft is currently 5'6" i want to make it 4' or less

 

[tomfoolery]

http://www.marskeel.com/repairs-modifications/stability-bulbs. This is one of a number of keel makers who do draft reductions. They may have done one for a hunter 34 there are lots out there. Good luck.

 

[Steve Dion]

Very expensive modification if you do it correctly.

I suggest you purchase one with a shoal keel.

 

[FastOlson]

Very expensive modification if you do it correctly.

I suggest you purchase one with a shoal keel.

Concur!

I checked into this for our about a decade ago, and the 'ball park' quote was around 8K.
Heck, that could be a third or more of the market value of your boat.

Lots of shoal draft boats out there -- and many of 'em are better-built.

Loren

 

[David in Sandusky]

Shoal draft 34

A shoal draft 34 is 4' 3".

Find one of those - this is a great boat IMHO.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Re: Shoal draft 34

I totally concur with Steve and Fast Olson. Before I bought my current 34 shoal draft, I was looking at one that had the 5'6" draft. I needed shoal draft but liked the one I was looking at so much I research doing exactly what you have in mind. Ball park figure for it was around 10K (14 years ago) including Mars Metal quote for the 2 torpedo syle lead bulbs to be bolted on the cut iron keel. Way too hard of a project to tackle on your own and most definitely way too expensive to justify it on a 34 of that vintage ! Plenty of shoal draft 34s around, including Hunters if you are specifically looking for that model. Good luck

 

[PGIJon]

As a SWFL sailor, I would sell the your deep draft on the East Coast and get Shoal Draft one down here... Love our 4'3" H34