Best Keel for Coastal Cruising?

[Prairie Virgin Sailor]

I am looking to buy a boat for offshore coastal cruising and occasional overnight sails with friends. My initial plan is to take extended passages along the Canadian and US coasts whereby eventually reaching Mexico and perhaps venturing into the Caribbean. Understanding my intentions, in YOUR opinion, is there a significant difference of importance re full or fin keels? I understand the obvious difference and utilities of each, but for those of you who have long time practical experience ... what say you?

 

[jon hansen]

a fin keel is better if you can quarantee you will not hit anything.

a full keel is better if shallow harbors full of rocks is a problem for your nav skills.

do you worry about ship containers? what about unknown reefs. unknown reefs to you anyway.

if you ask this question to the internet, prolly should not leave the harbor.
maybe take up chess or checkers

you asked

 

[sail sfbay]

Same question came up on this thread: Full Keel vs. Fin Keel ? | Sailboat Owners Forums. You might this article helpful: Full Keel Vs Fin Keel On Sailboats - Better Sailing.

 

[rgranger]

I've owned seven coastal cruisers over the years. I eventually ended up deciding I like retractable keels. They definitly have their negatives with respect to extra maintenance etc. but.... I really enjoy sailing on the inside of North Carolina's Outer Banks and there is a lot of shoal water there. Also, I like being able to go over that sand bar and into a secluded cove for the night. Jon Hanson's pros and cons list is also to the point. How do you plan to sail and where. Every choice is a trade-off and you have to decide (or learn over time) which trade-offs are important to you. Once you start the trade-off game, the next level up is mono-hull vs. multi-hull...

 

[Hollyberry]

Something in between, methinks... An ideal boat for that trip would be a Passport 40 - longish fin keel, well supported rudder, good solid boat for that sort of voyaging. If you're in the PNW a close second (IMO) would a Fraser 41, similar size and attributes for somewhat less money - though many of these were owner-finished, sometimes that's a big bonus.....

 

[DArcy]

Fin vs. full keel is the trade off in performance vs. comfort. A deep fin keel will always outperform a full keel, on all points of sail. Upwind the difference is even more noticeable. This isn't as important for a cruising boat however there will be times when you will wish you could tack off a lee shore, or try to get into the harbor before inclement weather. If you are comfortable using your engine in these situations then it isn't as much of a concern.

Hitting rocks is a bad idea with any keel but I would argue hitting a rock with lead is better than fiberglass. If you are worried about keel bolts failing you can get fin keels with encapsulated ballast (like mine) although they will not be as performance oriented as a bolted on keel.

Heavy, full keel boats will be more sea kindly and more comfortable in rough weather. Years ago I watched a You-Tube video of a passage on a Westsail 42. At one point in the video they were all down below celebrating one of the crew's birthday. The camera panned around to show the anemometer reading 50 knots. I had no idea they were in a gale, the boat seemed very comfortable and calm. The camera then goes on deck and shows the massive waves and howling wind. If you want comfort and are willing to trade off performance and maneuverability then a full keel boat may be for you.

 

[Hello Below]

Maybe add this to your reading list.
Practical Sailor Article - Fin Keels vs. Full Keels

 

[Prairie Virgin Sailor]

I've owned seven coastal cruisers over the years. I eventually ended up deciding I like retractable keels. They definitly have their negatives with respect to extra maintenance etc. but.... I really enjoy sailing on the inside of North Carolina's Outer Banks and there is a lot of shoal water there. Also, I like being able to go over that sand bar and into a secluded cove for the night. Jon Hanson's pros and cons list is also to the point. How do you plan to sail and where. Every choice is a trade-off and you have to decide (or learn over time) which trade-offs are important to you. Once you start the trade-off game, the next level up is mono-hull vs. multi-hull...

Thanks for the response. I will be mostly coastal cruising. I am well aware of the obvious differences, but was curios to ask real cruisers, is there a big enough difference between full/fin, that the rule of thumb MUST be adhered to, or in reality, if only coastal cruising, does it really make much difference? I understand what you are saying re getting into "those spots" where others can't.

 

[Parsons]

You have enough in those linked discussions to start thinking about it. I'd like to re-assure you that you cannot make a wrong decision, only that it may limit what you do or where you go. Boats of all keel types (and rigs, and capacities, etc.) have successfully crossed oceans and taken on horrible weather. More depends on the crew than the shape of the bottom. Deeper draft (over 5 foot) will limit some of your cruising options, for example, making certain harbors or nice anchorages. Florida and the western Caribbean is notorious for skinny water and a six-foot draft boat limits me to certain inlets. At the same time, offshore in 300+ feet of water, it certainly is nice that I point so well, which makes up for some inconveniences. Every boat is a compromise between performance, cost, capacities, comfort, endurance, reliability, and a dozen other factors.

Thinking of something we all know, a road vehicle, and decide which is "better" for driving on the highway or camping cross-country .... depends on how comfortable, fast, safe, economical, etc. you want to be.

 

[PaulK]

People seem to have preferences and end up going with what they get. As the Practical Sailor article points out, builders ten years ago seemed to be building fewer full or modified-full keel designs. There may still be some now.

 

[Prairie Virgin Sailor]

People seem to have preferences and end up going with what they get. As the Practical Sailor article points out, builders ten years ago seemed to be building fewer full or modified-full keel designs. There may still be some now.

Thanks for the comment. The more I talked to people and ask around, it becomes more and more apparent that, as you have said, whatever keel they have, seems to be the one that works just fine. I am getting the feeling its a bit like comparing a Impala (car) and a Malibu. They are indeed different, but if you want to go from point A to point B, drive according to what you own and you will make out just fine.

 

[rgranger]

... but if you want to go from point A to point B, drive according to what you own and you will make out just fine.

Sounds like you need to go test sail some boats....

 

[jssailem]

The keel is important, but not as much as the hull design.

Regarding keels on a cruising boat, I rate the importance more in line of the depth of waters I want to enjoy. While most of the water in the Salish Sea of BC/Washington have plenty of depth, there are some skinny entrances and shallow bars that can put a pucker factor on your gunkhole exploration. To maximize your cruising experience in anchorages you want to have a keel under 6 ft. And preferably between 4-5 ft.

This leads you towards boat with full keels or 3/4 keels rather than the long skinny dagger that sit as a fin beneath some boats.

As important as the keel is the rudder. As hung spade rudders add to the maneuverability of your boat, they sit exposed under the boat to the various flotsam hazards that float in the water. A skeg hung rudder helps to keep the rudder hanging and is a preference among distance cruisers.

The Hull design is what keeps the boat moving in all types of weather. If it is a semi displacement hull it will be fast and help you outrun the storms. On the other hand it can be a real nightmare in a disturbed sea and contribute to broaching in a following sea.

The traditional hull and long keel will have the boat tracking as if on rails, with little input to the rudder when properly trimmed. In a real blow the boat will ride the waves like a cork. They are excellent boats to put "Hove-to" and ride out the storm wrapped in the warm cabin.

There are so many choices and options. Look for the whole package.

 

[RoyS]

I watched a youtube video one day on how to back up a full keel sailboat in a marina. That is a skill I doubt I could learn in the years remaining for me. If you plan on occasionally using a marina for an overnight stay, I would vote fin keel for the maneuverability under power. Regarding keels, watch out also for designs where the rudder is lower than the keel. Grounding in mud or sand in shallow water can and does happen. With a well designed keel you will survive a grounding with likely no damage. However, if the rudder is lower than the keel you may have significant damage. I have run aground deliberately. I was in a marina on a river that had a firm checkout time that happened to be at low tide that day. They wanted me to pay more to wait for a higher tide to progress down river and out to the ocean. I left at checkout time and sure enough ran aground in mud further down river. I just waited while the tide filled in and then proceeded the rest of the way without any damage and a fatter wallet.

 

[Prairie Virgin Sailor]

The keel is important, but not as much as the hull design.

Regarding keels on a cruising boat, I rate the importance more in line of the depth of waters I want to enjoy. While most of the water in the Salish Sea of BC/Washington have plenty of depth, there are some skinny entrances and shallow bars that can put a pucker factor on your gunkhole exploration. To maximize your cruising experience in anchorages you want to have a keel under 6 ft. And preferably between 4-5 ft.

This leads you towards boat with full keels or 3/4 keels rather than the long skinny dagger that sit as a fin beneath some boats.

As important as the keel is the rudder. As hung spade rudders add to the maneuverability of your boat, they sit exposed under the boat to the various flotsam hazards that float in the water. A skeg hung rudder helps to keep the rudder hanging and is a preference among distance cruisers.

The Hull design is what keeps the boat moving in all types of weather. If it is a semi displacement hull it will be fast and help you outrun the storms. On the other hand it can be a real nightmare in a disturbed sea and contribute to broaching in a following sea.

The traditional hull and long keel will have the boat tracking as if on rails, with little input to the rudder when properly trimmed. In a real blow the boat will ride the waves like a cork. They are excellent boats to put "Hove-to" and ride out the storm wrapped in the warm cabin.

There are so many choices and options. Look for the whole package.

Thanks. Really appreciate the input.