3.3 (shoal) draft vs. 4.3 (deep) draft????

[Lyn]

What really is the difference beside the obvious-keel weight,personal preference or shallow waters??

 

[David Foster]

My shoal draft does not point very well

Lady Lillie ('77 shoal draft h27) makes substantial leeway when close hauled. Even with a new main, we make good (per GPS) courses about 110+ degrees when tacking.Leeway dramatically increases at heel over 15 degrees, as the hull "hides" the keel.But the Lillie is great on all other points of sail, and is plenty stable at all times.

 

[John Allison]

My two cents

I have owned two keel boats to date. The first was a shoal draft keel boat and the second is my fin keel Hunter 25. Even though I sail in an area where draft must be considered (Great Lakes, specifically Lake St Clair), I prefer the fin keel to the shoal draft keel. Preference is base on two considerations: responsiveness and pointing capability. As far as responsiveness goes, the fin keel boat is, by far, more responsive and sensitive to her helm. Pointing capability lies with fin keel over shoal draft keel. For the keel 1 ft depth savings (2'11" vs 3'11") for my 25 or your 27 (3'3" vs 4'3"), the pointing ability and responsiveness lost is simply not worth the ability to get closer to the beach for that afternoon picnic.

 

[Andy]

Dave is correct

We are new to sailing and not as practiced as we will be but our shoal draft reacts as Dave's post suggests, it could be more efficient on a tack. All the old salts, or whatever clings to you from the Great Lakes, tell us sailing is compromises so we rationalize losing some ground as being the nature of the beast and not a beginner's inability concerning sail trim. We have found that healing more than 15% does not help. The shoal draft does ride well in large swells although do not develop a false sense of security.Andy

 

[jcherubini]

4-ft keel

I made a response to this under the Cherubini Hunters section, but I will say here that the two contributors before me here are spot-on.J Cherubini II

 

[Bob McDowell]

Now just a second guys...

I have sailed fin keel, shoal keel, and modified fin keel and the different pointing ability can be measured. The difference is only a few degrees not 20. If your boat will only tack through 110+ degrees there is something else wrong. My 35 with shoal draft does much better than 110+.