another what kind of boat should I get post

[tcoursey]

I currently have a Hunter 25.5 sailing on a small lake. What I would like to get is a boat more resistant to heeling. So I was looking for full keel boats but most of the boat search engines don't have a option for keel type. So any suggestions on particular boats that come with full keels (or don't tend to heel as much regardless of the keel type). I'm looking for a 28' to 32' under the $20,000 range. Used of course.

 

[Eric M]

Sail Area / Displacement is the ratio you want to be looking at when looking at different boats compared with yours. As the sail area decreases or the dispalcement increases the boat will become somewhat less prone to healing. We have an Island Packet 35 which at 18,000 displacement and a full keel does heal less than other boats I have owned, however we still see 10-15 degrees of heel in 15 knots of breeze.
You don't mention why the heeling is an issue, but with your current boat, a reefed main, a smaller headsail, eased traveler, tightened vang will all help to reduce your heeling. You will likely be surprised at how little performance you loose with a reefed main and a 100% headsail vs the larger overlaping headsail shown in your photo, while at the same time greatly reducing the heeling of the boat. Just trying to point out there may be a simpler way to achieve your goal.

 

[Maine Sail]

I currently have a Hunter 25.5 sailing on a small lake. What I would like to get is a boat more resistant to heeling. So I was looking for full keel boats but most of the boat search engines don't have a option for keel type. So any suggestions on particular boats that come with full keels (or don't tend to heel as much regardless of the keel type). I'm looking for a 28' to 32' under the $20,000 range. Used of course.

Generally speaking full keel type boats, eg: Bristol, Cape Dory etc. feel more tender as they are narrower in beam and have low free-board and a deep sheer. All mono hulls heel. Some are more tender than others and will bury the rail fairly easy while other fin keel designs with high freeboard can feel like they are heeling less because the rail is not buried due to higher free-board and straighter sheer line.

Also, heeling is all in your control with the sail trim. If you want to heel less reef earlier and trim them better and that will help..

 

[tcoursey]

I've just never liked heeling much. I've only been sailing for about 3 years and don't get the chance to get out there every week like I should. That being said I know now from lots of reading that the boat won't tip over but the sensation still get's to me. Being on a lake with trees it does get puffy and the wind can change direction constantly as you go because of the landforms.

I do have the Gonoa(sp) up front and I do reduce it from time to time since it's on a roller. I have a smaller jib I can put on it but it doesn't have the sunbrella cover like the Gonoa. What's the difference between a using smaller jib and a reefed (using roller) Gonoa?

I've reefed the main once but didn't get very good shape out of it.

Also I was just thinking of getting a bigger boat and wanted to get one not so tender. My idea of sailing is just to get out there and enjoy the day. I'm not to worried about performance and racing.

 

[r.oril]

My Mac 26D likes to heal at about 15+ degrees and gets there real quick. I do most of my sailing on a lake, have learned to reef early and have time to shape the sail best I can. Washing the windows can be exciting for the captain but not for the newest crew members.

 

[Tim R.]

I've just never liked heeling much. I've only been sailing for about 3 years and don't get the chance to get out there every week like I should. That being said I know now from lots of reading that the boat won't tip over but the sensation still get's to me. Being on a lake with trees it does get puffy and the wind can change direction constantly as you go because of the landforms.

I do have the Gonoa(sp) up front and I do reduce it from time to time since it's on a roller. I have a smaller jib I can put on it but it doesn't have the sunbrella cover like the Gonoa. What's the difference between a using smaller jib and a reefed (using roller) Gonoa?

I've reefed the main once but didn't get very good shape out of it.

Also I was just thinking of getting a bigger boat and wanted to get one not so tender. My idea of sailing is just to get out there and enjoy the day. I'm not to worried about performance and racing.

You need to go buy a sunfish or a laser. This will surely make you more comfortable while heeling in your Hunter.

 

[tcoursey]

Did I say I have a fear of drowning?

 

[Clark]

A few things. A smaller sail has better shape than a large sail furled part way. Have someone add a UV cloth for your jib - it doesn't have to be Sunbrella - and give it a try. Getting decent shape from your reefed main usually just takes practice (don't worry about the bunched up cloth around the boom). You should be able to do it in about 30-40 seconds depending on how your control lines are routed. Believe me, it'll help your heeling a bunch, especially with a smaller jib. Also, get a feel for the wind before you leave the dock and 'pre-reef' if you are pretty sure the winds will kick up.

Those who have no fear (caution) are nuts. Get a comfortable life preserver and wear it!

 

[Tim R.]

Did I say I have a fear of drowning?

Can you swim? Do you wear a lifejacket?

So it is really not the heeling but rather your comfort level around water. A more stable boat will not solve this. People fall overboard all the time and boats can sink. Work on your fear of the water and you will enjoy sailing more.

 

[Ross]

Did I say I have a fear of drowning?

Wear yyour PFD. That will help. Put a PFD on and walk into the lake from shore and check it out. A good one will keep you head and shoulders out of the water.

 

[tcoursey]

All this being said and it does help out a lot. What are some 28 to 32 full keel boats?

Regarding the earlier post that full keel boats are more tender because they are more narrow. I'd have thought the whole idea of a full keel was to keep the boat more stable. I'd have to look at my inclinometer to see at what degree of heel I'm conforable with but 15 degrees is probably my limit. It's probably because the 25.5 heels over quickly that surprises me.

So what's a more stable sailboat outside of getting a cat?

 

[tcoursey]

I'm comfortable on the water and I wear an inflatable PFD with a strap when I'm by myself. I'm not a strong swimmer so I do have a healthy respect for the water. Same thing happens on my tractor. When I'm cutting grass on a slope I pucker up when it gets more than say 5/10 degrees off level.

 

[Ross]

You need to develop an intellectual confidence in the boat and the tractor. The tractor does have a tipping point but usually they slide sideways before you get to that unless you hit a woodchuck mound. Boats will come back onto their feet if you don't fill the sails with water during a knock down.

 

[tcoursey]

yeah I've gotten that about the boat. I read were the sails get less efficient the more you heel over then right themselves. And then have seen the same affect in real life when I was sailing.

 

[Tim R.]

Damn woodchucks!

The Pearson Triton is a very nice and affordable full keel boat. I have never sailed one though.

A boat that I have heard does not heel much would be a Nonsuch

 

[Ross]

My Islander is full keel and rather tender at first but we have never had her heel as far as she has rolled in a large wake. Even rolling 45 degrees left and right she responds to the helm very nicely.

 

[Eric M]

Back to your question on a rolled up Genoa vs a smaller headsail, as is mentioned above the smaller headsail will induce less heel. The reason for this is the center of effort of the sail is lower to the water. As you roll up the Genoa, yes it gets smaller, but the center of effort actually moves up, and in almost all cases, the sail becomes too deep drafted which also causes more heel.
You might even want to consider the purchase of a cut down main so the whole sail is the size of yours reefed. I make this suggestion as flatter (usually newer) sails are much less prone to inducing heel as they fill with wind. Not only will smaller sails make the boat heel less, they will prevent the boat from heeling so quickly in a puff. I used to race J/24's and as the breeze built the key to going fast was keeping the boat on her feet. It was not uncommon for teams that switched to the smaller jib to actually beat teams that didn't because they were able to keep the boat flat.
You want to find the right combination of sail size, and sail trim so even when those puffs hit the boat remains comfortable for you. After all, it is your boat and you have it to enjoy the time you get to spend on the water.

Good Luck!

 

[zeehag]

i think the best thing to do before going out an dbuying a boat --sail on other peoples boats to see how the y perform and if you like the action the boat presents, then find out more about her...westsail has both 28 and 32 ft full keel boats--all are used--gotta look hard and carefully for well maintained ones.....they sail slow and dont heel a lot when finally under way. then there are multihulled boats also....they dont heel but they move differently than do monohulled boats.

 

[Clark]

An added note; a full-keeled boat is Not necessarily less tender but it does track better than a fin keel. Don't confuse the two. Tenderness is determined by sail area vs displacement (weight); hull shape - the flatter hulls have more initial resistance to heeling and displacement vs ballast weight and how that ballast is carried.
With all that said, the vast majority of sailboats regardless of these specs are designed to heel. Just keep going out in fair weather and get comfortable with it.

 

[Honeyman]

No one has suggested a catamaran for this guy...