"Gentleman--" In the past, I have owned both a C22 and C25 swing keels. I'm a single handed sailor looking to get back on the water and have not had the chance to sail on a wing keel model. As a single handed sailor I would think the swing keel to be the safer of the two in case of grounding. What if any and all opinions good, bad or otherwise can you provide me prior to buying a used '87/'88. Thanks--See You On The Water.
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C22 swing or wing keel
Bob, I sure prefer the swing keel myself. I've usually been on inland reservoirs where the depths can change during the season and it's really a good feeling when you ground, that just a few cranks on the winch and you're on your way. I did a bareboat in the Keys a number of years ago on a 30' keel boat and went aground once and we had to wait on the tide to come in so we could be on our way. I decided then that I'd always have a swing keel on a smaller boat, no doubt!
Bob, I sure prefer the swing keel myself. I've usually been on inland reservoirs where the depths can change during the season and it's really a good feeling when you ground, that just a few cranks on the winch and you're on your way. I did a bareboat in the Keys a number of years ago on a 30' keel boat and went aground once and we had to wait on the tide to come in so we could be on our way. I decided then that I'd always have a swing keel on a smaller boat, no doubt!
Pointing
Bob W, Not an expert but des the swing keel version point better into the wind? If so, it's another advantage. On the other hand, the swing keel can catch weeds, especially if the boat backs through a weed bed. The other issue, (Having an '87 22') is that it's a good age boat for doing some maintenance checking on the workings of the swing keel to insure that the thing doesen't fall off. ~Bilbo
Bob W, Not an expert but des the swing keel version point better into the wind? If so, it's another advantage. On the other hand, the swing keel can catch weeds, especially if the boat backs through a weed bed. The other issue, (Having an '87 22') is that it's a good age boat for doing some maintenance checking on the workings of the swing keel to insure that the thing doesen't fall off. ~Bilbo
"Too Keel or Not To Keel."
Jon, I tend to go along with you when it comes to grounding. Been there and done that years ago with friends aboard while in Pensacola Bay and was a relief to crank and go. Strange how things work but, the wing keel C22 for sale that looks really good is a stone's throw from you in Kokomo. Thanks.
Jon, I tend to go along with you when it comes to grounding. Been there and done that years ago with friends aboard while in Pensacola Bay and was a relief to crank and go. Strange how things work but, the wing keel C22 for sale that looks really good is a stone's throw from you in Kokomo. Thanks.
"Too Swing or Not Swing."
Bilbo-Your absolutely right about the pointing effect as well as the keel maintenance factor. Here in Florida there are a lot of wing keels because number one they are in the water year round and don't need trailering. Number two the swing keels get eaten away naturally by the salt water. I'm retired and want to trailer the southeast but, with a wing keel I'm certain every other launch will require getting in the water to off/on the boat. Thanks to you two for the quick replies.
Bilbo-Your absolutely right about the pointing effect as well as the keel maintenance factor. Here in Florida there are a lot of wing keels because number one they are in the water year round and don't need trailering. Number two the swing keels get eaten away naturally by the salt water. I'm retired and want to trailer the southeast but, with a wing keel I'm certain every other launch will require getting in the water to off/on the boat. Thanks to you two for the quick replies.
Pitching
Bob: What I noticed when our Swing Keel C-22 was beside our friends Winged Keel C-22 and a motor boat put a wake in front of us that both of us had to go through was that the winged keel pitched when it went through the wave much more than our boat. By pitching I mean that the bow went up and down much more than ours did. I remember this vividly because my son was at the tiller of the winged keel boat and I remember him looking at me thinking what in the world is this all about? I believe that this is caused by not having the ballast deep enough into the water, sort of like having a short pendulum that oscillates faster than a long pendulum. I wrote about this on the C-25 forum, (we are currently looking for "just the right" C-25), but those guys disagreed with me, and several of them have had both swing and winged keel C-25s. They did mention that they sail on lakes, so they might not get long tacks. Our C-22 does outpoint our friends C-22, so much so that racing across the Chesapeake, around 11 miles, we can almost loose her, and she used to race. On the issue of salt water "eating away" the keel pivoting parts, I have written about attaching zincs to the keel several times on this forum. I have 2 sets of zincs on my keel and I replace one set every year. The last time I took the pin out of my keel it looked perfect, and the hole on the keel wasn't enlarged either. My boat sits in slightly brackish water every summer. Aldo
Bob: What I noticed when our Swing Keel C-22 was beside our friends Winged Keel C-22 and a motor boat put a wake in front of us that both of us had to go through was that the winged keel pitched when it went through the wave much more than our boat. By pitching I mean that the bow went up and down much more than ours did. I remember this vividly because my son was at the tiller of the winged keel boat and I remember him looking at me thinking what in the world is this all about? I believe that this is caused by not having the ballast deep enough into the water, sort of like having a short pendulum that oscillates faster than a long pendulum. I wrote about this on the C-25 forum, (we are currently looking for "just the right" C-25), but those guys disagreed with me, and several of them have had both swing and winged keel C-25s. They did mention that they sail on lakes, so they might not get long tacks. Our C-22 does outpoint our friends C-22, so much so that racing across the Chesapeake, around 11 miles, we can almost loose her, and she used to race. On the issue of salt water "eating away" the keel pivoting parts, I have written about attaching zincs to the keel several times on this forum. I have 2 sets of zincs on my keel and I replace one set every year. The last time I took the pin out of my keel it looked perfect, and the hole on the keel wasn't enlarged either. My boat sits in slightly brackish water every summer. Aldo
Tell Me About Zincs..
"Aldo.." Tell me about zincs. I've seen that mentioned before here including the use of spacers. The '76 C22 that I owned way back when was built like a tank and problem free. I think that alot of pivot/hanger problems could be eliminated if the lock down was used more often. Your right about the rocking. I'm convinced it will be swing keel that goe's in the barn yard. Thanks.
"Aldo.." Tell me about zincs. I've seen that mentioned before here including the use of spacers. The '76 C22 that I owned way back when was built like a tank and problem free. I think that alot of pivot/hanger problems could be eliminated if the lock down was used more often. Your right about the rocking. I'm convinced it will be swing keel that goe's in the barn yard. Thanks.
Rocking
A recent issue of the Mainbrace had a C22 that lost it's swing keel. From what I've seen, the act of rocking can wear through the keel faster. This rocking can happen at the dock or mooring where the boat will probably sit most of the time. From the direction of the wear in the photo, this keel appeared to have been usually in the down position which has been suggested because it may reduce the rocking. I'm not so sure that it would reduce the wear to have the keel down BUT the amount of metal for the keel to wear through is greatly increased in the down position. At any rate, there are devices calle drocker stoppers or some such name that can seriously reduce the amount of rocking while the boopat is at rest. West Marine sells them. ~Bilbo
A recent issue of the Mainbrace had a C22 that lost it's swing keel. From what I've seen, the act of rocking can wear through the keel faster. This rocking can happen at the dock or mooring where the boat will probably sit most of the time. From the direction of the wear in the photo, this keel appeared to have been usually in the down position which has been suggested because it may reduce the rocking. I'm not so sure that it would reduce the wear to have the keel down BUT the amount of metal for the keel to wear through is greatly increased in the down position. At any rate, there are devices calle drocker stoppers or some such name that can seriously reduce the amount of rocking while the boopat is at rest. West Marine sells them. ~Bilbo
Zincs from the Archives
Bob: If you go to the Archives and type Zincs into the search you will get many Topics and Replies. The Archives have changed, but I have one at number 77 when I searched in this manner. I still think that it is galvanic corrosion that is eating away the metal, and not mechanical wear. Aldo
Bob: If you go to the Archives and type Zincs into the search you will get many Topics and Replies. The Archives have changed, but I have one at number 77 when I searched in this manner. I still think that it is galvanic corrosion that is eating away the metal, and not mechanical wear. Aldo
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