Add-on keel.

[Steven Dion]

Joe O:Thanks for the pictures. That is really amazing that those little wings add 650 lbs. I would think that it is going to add some lift as well as ballast. This give you some of the benefits of the shoal keel model with the pointing ability of the deep draft.Do you have any idea how much this cost and who did it?

 

[Steve Dion]

More info here.

For anyone interested in these keel modifications.Lead weighs about 700 lbs/ cu ft. The cost for a formed bulb 2 halves is $2.55/lb. plus freight.To give you an idea an add-on bulb for a H'31 at 500lbs would run about $1275 freight for a ballpark cost of $1500.

 

[Tim Schaaf]

Check with a naval architect....

....before making these modifications. They will only up your boatspeed when well matched to the design of the keel. In addition, the added weight creates a greater load on the keelbolts when heeled, and the added stiffness increases the effective sail area for a given angle of heel. This adds loads to the rig, and if either is not designed to support it, you can loose a keel or rig. Tony Lush, a very well known sailor/engineer who WORKED for Hunter (!) tried a heavier keel on his Hunter 54 in the first Around Alone Race (then the BOC challenge) almost twenty years ago, and he lost his keel (and boat) in the Indian Ocean, so make sure your calculations are correct. Why not call Hunter? Good Luck.

 

[Doug T.]

!!

Tim, excellent points!An additional factor: The added weight will lower your waterline somewhat and give you a larger wetted area.... thus slowing you down a bit.

 

[Steve Dion]

More info.

Mars Metals is making the keels for the new Hunter 356. They indicated that they are mfg/shipping an average of ONE per day.

 

[David Foster]

Risk detuning the system

Just one example:Before designing the mast for a new Hunter model, Selden incline the completed hull and keel to understand the actual stiffness of the boat, and the resulting stiffness and load required of the mast.Adding 625 pounds at the end of the keel will change that equation significantly!If you don't like the way she rides, why not look for a boat that (as a whole design) does meet your needs.DavidLady Lillie