Considering going to a longer keel

[Patrick17430]

I have a B321 with a shoal draft lead bulb keel that was good in Texas . Now that I'm in SF, Im not real thrilled with the way she handles in high wind and heavy chop on the bay I received about a 40 knot gust that almost knocked us over the other day and was thinking a longer keel would help stabilise the boat and help her to point better up wind. What are your thoughts ? and any ideas on where to begin a search to locate a used keel. Or even a trade ?

 

[sailaway78]

Longer Keel

Think there is more to this than you think. First, I think that the ability to be more stable in bigger seas, and high wind gusts is dependent on a lot more than a longer keel. Second, from my experience, which I will admit is somewhat limited, full keel boats do not point as well as fin keels or modified fins. As I stated, my experience along these lines is somewhat limited, but from what I have experienced, the full keel boats do not point as high.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Reef

reef
reef

pk, once summer gets here, you'll get the gist of sailing around here by seeing what the guys who aren't sailing on their ear are doing, and doing correctly.

Your boat is so perfect for this sailing venue, you really don't need to do anything to it. You'll appreciate the keel you have once you travel up to the Delta, where the summer temps will make you fondly remember Texas.

Don't you still have that huge genoa?

 

[Benny]

Usually the shallow draft keel carries more ballast that the deep draft to provide comparable stability. With the shallow draft you are giving up some pointing ability but unless you race I would not consider it significant. Almost any boat will lay down when hit with an unexpected 40 knot gust. Like Stu says learn the new sailing area and pretty soon you will be anticipating and reacting to these wind gusts and sea conditions. In some sailing areas you got to maintain more concentration and work harder than in others and it seems you may have moved in between extremes. Never sailed the Delta but understand it is a mighty interesting place; perhaps one of these days.

 

[Ross]

Are considering a longer keel or a deeper keel? There is a world of difference betwixt them.

 

[Ted]

Considering a keel change

The most cost effective keel modification would be to swap your shoal draft keel for a deep draft keel providing that your particular model was offered with one. Contact the manufacturer and find out if the keel bolt pattern and the sump or stub of the two models are the same. If they aren't, you're going to have to do some modifications to make the new keel fit your boat. If you're lucky you might find someone with the same boat that is willing to swap keels with you. I would think that the sailing characteristics of either model would be fairly similar to each other. With a deeper keel now in place you can add a bulb if the boat is still too tender. The most expensive option would be to have a new keel designed. Mars Metals in Canada would be a good place to start exploring some keel modifications and options. A friend of mine had the designer of his boat do an analysis of keel modifications. The boat was a C&C 29 with 2700 pounds of ballast and 5'-3" draft. Adding a 300 pound bulb to his keel didn't really make much of a difference on paper. It wasn't until the bulb weight increased to 500 pounds that it became a viable modification. The analysis added bulb weights up to 1000 pounds. The structure of the boat was not an issue but it may be with your boat and is worth checking prior to going this route. As others have suggested, reef deep and purchase some smaller headsails. I'm sure that headsails with a LP less than 100% will be more cost effective than a keel change and will provide similar results. As far as 40 knots gusts go, learn to read the wind on the water and anticipate the gusts. You should be able to see that type of gust with one eye.

 

[higgs]

Reef

 

[Patrick17430]

To clear things up, I am thinking about a deeper keel. Not a full keel. That would be stupid. I will consider trading mine strait up for a deep one. The one I have now would be perfect for the Bahama's or the Florida Key's, Cay's whichever you prefer. Maybe I could have mine lengthened. I think I may be suffering from keel envy.

 

[bffatcat]

Deeper keel

I agree with Stu Jackson Reef

Changing the keel or design on a boat might not work out to your satisfaction.
Lets not talk about the expense. If your not happy with a tenderer shallow draft boat in
San francisco`s prevailing stiff breezes my opinion is get another boat

 

[Alan]

Speaking from my own personal experience with my boat, changing from a bulb wing to a custom fin keel made a HUGE difference in all sailing characteristics of the boat. Draft went from 4'6" to 6'. The ballast weight was exactly the same but the CG of the new keel was over a foot lower.
She is definitely stiffer, points much higher, has MUCH less leeway and weather helm.
If it's in the budget I wouldn't think twice about it. The difference is like night and day.
I had my new keel made by Mars Metal and they were great to work with.

 

[COOL]

There is no substitute for draft when it comes to
sailing performance. If the project is economically
feasible for you, then you should make the change.
You will have a much better sailboat with a deep keel.