We purchased an 1995 H26 in th fall and have enjoyed reading this forum for a couple months before. In fact, the owners reviews helped us decide to go ahead and get the boat. We have been keelboat sailors in the past. Reading the posts has answered questions we didn't even know we had!!! Now that the boat is in the water we'll have questions of our own...here's the first one...We leave the boat in the water at a dock during the season. When we are not sailing is it best to leave the centerboard up or should we leave it down? Thank you!
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Alan
dealer said leave it up
I am not sure if he told me that because of bottom clearance though. I have a slip where I bought it and low tide is just about 6 feet. At low tide I can scrape the rudder (sand is forgiving) in the narrow channel that has to be navigated to get to the bay.
I am not sure if he told me that because of bottom clearance though. I have a slip where I bought it and low tide is just about 6 feet. At low tide I can scrape the rudder (sand is forgiving) in the narrow channel that has to be navigated to get to the bay.
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Ken Shubert
The UPS and DOWNS of it
We've always left the CB down the whole 8 months it was in the slip each year without a problem. The new slip we have is a "power boat slip" and has a cable about 4' deep at the mouth. If we forget to pull the board up, we're trying to pull the whole dock out with that little Tohatsu. Now it's up all the time. The problem is remembering to put it back down when we unfurl the sails. Sometimes I wonder why we go sideways before remembering the CB. Ken S/V Wouff Hong
We've always left the CB down the whole 8 months it was in the slip each year without a problem. The new slip we have is a "power boat slip" and has a cable about 4' deep at the mouth. If we forget to pull the board up, we're trying to pull the whole dock out with that little Tohatsu. Now it's up all the time. The problem is remembering to put it back down when we unfurl the sails. Sometimes I wonder why we go sideways before remembering the CB. Ken S/V Wouff Hong
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Rusty Fitzgerald
It's A Drag
When motoring with the sails down, unless the Queen of Vertigo is aboard, we always retract the keel to minimize the drag of the water against the extended length of the keel. Try it - motor with the keel extended a few minutes and note your speed. Then retract it without changing anything else. I think you'll be surprized. It does cost you a little in terms of roll stability, though, both from the effect on the CG (lowering the CG) and by the keel's resistance to sideward movement. Also, the keel is better protected when retracted. This can make a big difference in shoal slips with large tidal variations and impolite wake disturbances.
When motoring with the sails down, unless the Queen of Vertigo is aboard, we always retract the keel to minimize the drag of the water against the extended length of the keel. Try it - motor with the keel extended a few minutes and note your speed. Then retract it without changing anything else. I think you'll be surprized. It does cost you a little in terms of roll stability, though, both from the effect on the CG (lowering the CG) and by the keel's resistance to sideward movement. Also, the keel is better protected when retracted. This can make a big difference in shoal slips with large tidal variations and impolite wake disturbances.
Digital centerboards?
How about partially raising the board instead? I used to do that on my dinghy to help lower the drag and increase downwind speed, but still keep some of the roll resistance. Sometimes I wish I could do that with the H23. Partially raising the keel when going to weather in heavy wind will also help to reduce heel. The boat will sideslip to leeward more than usual, but you won't have to climb out on the rail to keep the boat balanced. Peter S/V Raven
How about partially raising the board instead? I used to do that on my dinghy to help lower the drag and increase downwind speed, but still keep some of the roll resistance. Sometimes I wish I could do that with the H23. Partially raising the keel when going to weather in heavy wind will also help to reduce heel. The boat will sideslip to leeward more than usual, but you won't have to climb out on the rail to keep the boat balanced. Peter S/V Raven
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Steve Sims
Down & Dirty
I leave mine down, one more thing that i don't have to think about. As long as the lake is up , no problems. I have always thought about is it better to move it up and down to make sure when I take the boat out it will go back up.
I leave mine down, one more thing that i don't have to think about. As long as the lake is up , no problems. I have always thought about is it better to move it up and down to make sure when I take the boat out it will go back up.
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Dave Condon
call me
Gerard; Next time you have a question, call ole Crazy as the boat came from here. Will steer you in the right direction but not in a crazy direction Ole crazy dave going home to the barn to pester the better half.
Gerard; Next time you have a question, call ole Crazy as the boat came from here. Will steer you in the right direction but not in a crazy direction Ole crazy dave going home to the barn to pester the better half.
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Edward Smith
LEAVE THE CB DOWN
If your are not concerned with the effects of roll during wind storms that come up during your absence then by all means leave the board up, but I hope I'm not docked beside you. Center Boarders are a special breed and I find it nice that I can roll the boat far over and keep the micro-organisms at bay, but that ability to roll so far can be hazardous to those around you just like having the board down when you get assistance to roll the boat up after flipping the boat in the lake and you are yelling to the operator to stop! So much time and so little to do! HA. Good luck on deciphering the help.
If your are not concerned with the effects of roll during wind storms that come up during your absence then by all means leave the board up, but I hope I'm not docked beside you. Center Boarders are a special breed and I find it nice that I can roll the boat far over and keep the micro-organisms at bay, but that ability to roll so far can be hazardous to those around you just like having the board down when you get assistance to roll the boat up after flipping the boat in the lake and you are yelling to the operator to stop! So much time and so little to do! HA. Good luck on deciphering the help.
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Tom
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