Changing keel on Hunter 28.5

[bjmileham]

I'm moving my Hunter 28.5 from TX to FL. Apparently my 6' keel is going to be a problem, so I was thinking of pulling it off and replacing with a 4.5' shoal keel. Has anyone out there done this? Expensive? What other risks should I take into consideration before going down this road?

 

[Brian M H23]

I think it's fairly common to have the 18" sawn off and melted down into two half-bulbs which can be bolted onto the bottom. If you can find the proper shoal keep, it should be a routine (though not small) project

 

[Sailor_Jeff]

I think there are several scrap 285s in the gulf coast area at various salvage yards you can purchase a keel from, especially if you want to trade your old one in.

Don't know, but I suspect less drag if you find have the bulbs.

 

[Warren Milberg]

I wouldn't do it. I believe the H28.5 was produced with a 5'2" deep keel or 4' shoal keel. And the keels in both models are cast iron, so melting it down might take a blast furnace. If the water is so thin in the new area you will be sailing in, and given the vagaries associated with tides, gaining 14 inches of clearance is still going to make you nervous whenever you head out. Take a look at the boats in your new area and see how much they draw.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

bjmileham;

I believe Mars Metals made both keels for your boat located in Canada. You may want to give them a call to see what a new shoal keel would be.. I believe they keep the molds.

You need to figure on the cost of a new keel, shipping, removal and installation weighing the pros and cons of that cost.

 

[Benny17441]

A 5' draft is a little restrictive but still doable depending on where in Florida are you relocating to. You may have to play with the tides to get in and out of certain places but it goes with the territory. Understand that boats with a draft of 5+ ft are not popular in the area and there will be a corresponding loss of value when put up for sale here. Consider the option of selling your boat there and then purchasing one here. You would be saving transportation costs and whatever modifications you may have in mind. Also consider the use you would be giving the boat; a 5' keel would be sweet to cross to the Bahamas but on the other hand may not accommodate your schedule for day sails.