Centerboards vs fin keel

[Bob J.]

Some of the used Sabre boats I've been looking at have centerboards in lieu of a fin keel.
I like the fact that they don't draw much water for anchorages, etc. but what is the downside to a centerboard boat? At this point in my life I can only buy a boat one more time & don't want to make a mistake. I do not have a ton of sailing experience so I'd appreciate some perspective on this issue from folks that do.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[sailingdog]

Major point is slightly more maintenance, but gives you much more flexibility in areas you can go and where you can anchor.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Where are you located? I don't know much about sailing a boat but I have some experience with the bottom of the intra coastal waterway and the bottom of Corpus Christi bay.
If I could change one thing about my boat it would be to make it a shoal draft. Because of where I am at it is more of an issue.

 

[Joseph Shirley]

Fin Keels go to weather better (a little less leeway and are stiffer) but the CB is generally faster downwind if you play the board. If you can keep the draft under 6 feet, I would prefer the fixed keel, but that is only my preference. If you operate in water shallower than 6 feet you almost have to find a centerboard.

Have Fun

Joe S

 

[sailingdog]

I'd disagree on the fin keels being better at going to weather. It depends on the design. A shoal draft fin keel will lose ground to a shoal draft keel centerboard boat as a general rule, and even a deep draft fin keel may not do as well as a keel/centerboard boat, since some have some pretty deep centerboards.

Fin Keels go to weather better (a little less leeway and are stiffer) but the CB is generally faster downwind if you play the board. If you can keep the draft under 6 feet, I would prefer the fixed keel, but that is only my preference. If you operate in water shallower than 6 feet you almost have to find a centerboard.

Have Fun

Joe S

 

[s sauer]

Deep Keel, Shoal Draft & Centerboard boats all generally have PHRF ratings that can be a decent measure of their relative overall performance between similar or possibly the same models. Typically a deep fin keel points higher, the centerboard boat may be in second place (with the board down), and the shoal draft would likely point least well.
That said, where you sail will affect your choices of keel depth as well.The preparation of the boat and condition of the sails can be a significant offsetting influence.
We once 'match raced' two Bristol 40' against each other. One being a fixed deep keel and the other being the centerboarder. We switched crew and raced again.
The centerboarder out performed the deep keel both times, but it had better sails and a racing smooth bottom finish, so it was generally faster. For that particular model boat I wouldn't hesitate to pick the centerboarder with more shallow cruising areas available.

 

[Tracy23758]

I sail an old 1965 O'Day Mariner centerboard model and it keeps up with most of the fin keel boats her size. I think the fin keels probably have a better righting moment and over a long haul would probably make better time upwind. But the difference for most of us is probably not worth worrying about. There are some very distinct advantages to being able to tuck up your keel. One of them being able to slide up onto a nice soft sand beach or a mud flat if you get caught in a blow. I've had my Mariner up some small rivers and large creeks. Can't do that in a keel boat! Finding an anchorage is easier too.

 

[sailingdog]

Codfather is talking about a pure centerboard boat IIRC... but most larger cruising boats are not pure centerboard boats, with the exception of the Ovnis, most are keel/centerboard boats, and are not beachable per se.

 

[Bob J.]

Thank you all for the information you've provided. It doesn't sound like having a boat w/ a centerboard is a bad thing. This gives me something to wrap my head around.

Bob

 

[Ross]

My friends have had both long fixed keel O'Day and center board MacGregor. They sold the O'Day. Said if they ground the cb they crank the board up, if it was up they hop out and push off and climb back in. They have sailed both to Florida.

 

[druid]

The big difference between a centerboard and a fixed keel is righting moment. A fixed keel has the weight further down, so it's more effective. This means less healing, which in turn means you can carry more sail upwind.

And of course it means a fixed-keel boat has a much better chance of righting herself after a knockdown.

druid

 

[mitiempo]

The big difference between a centerboard and a fixed keel is righting moment. A fixed keel has the weight further down, so it's more effective. This means less healing, which in turn means you can carry more sail upwind.

And of course it means a fixed-keel boat has a much better chance of righting herself after a knockdown.

druid

On the other hand a centerboard boat will not trip on her keel in extreme conditions while a deep keel is more likely to do this. As far as wind induced knockdown goes each is equally likely. While heeling is less desirable, healing is always desirable.
Brian

 

[JerryA]

Centerboard

I have a Precision 23, shoal draft-centerboard. I don't know if it's any faster or better than a fin keel, but it will hold it's own against other boats it's size and some that are larger. It points pretty well too. The big attraction for me was being able to get into shallow water with the board up. I can get pretty close to a beach with the board up. Downwind I can gain some speed by pulling up the board(line in the cockpit). Last year some J24's were racing in the bay. I ran alongside on the same tack upwind and was surprised at how well my boat did in comparison. Someone mentioned more maintenance; that's a downside. I wouldn't put off by a centerboard if I were looking to purchase something bigger than I have today, at least for how I use it.

JerryA