I'm seriously considering cutting 8" off the wing keel of my 74' H25. I love this boat but the skippings and groundings are serious in the rocky NARROW LONG channel I must use to get to sea. Feedback please........all welcome...
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
D
Dick Vance
Don't Do IT!
Mike & Mary, The keel is an integral part of your sailboat's overall design for balance and stability. Few, if any, factories put more wight into the keel than is needed. The capsize screen # for your 25 is 1.95, just barely under the 2.0 that is considered good for recovery from a knockdown. Removing the weight would almost certainly move that number up significantly. If you are sailing coastal or in an area where waves and winds are a factor, you would lose the stability you need for a safety margin. It might not make that much difference in sheltered water in light winds, but even on my inland lake, I have encountered gusts to over 35 and was glad for every ounce of metal underneath my boat! The keel is also a major factor as to how well the boat points into the wind. Taking that much surface area off your underwater airfoil would have a definite impact on your ability to sail close to the wind without making too much leeway. I presume you have the 3'11" fin keel so the channel must be pretty shallow!! You might try using crew weight to heel the boat over as far as you can which can give you a few more inches clearance. Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
Mike & Mary, The keel is an integral part of your sailboat's overall design for balance and stability. Few, if any, factories put more wight into the keel than is needed. The capsize screen # for your 25 is 1.95, just barely under the 2.0 that is considered good for recovery from a knockdown. Removing the weight would almost certainly move that number up significantly. If you are sailing coastal or in an area where waves and winds are a factor, you would lose the stability you need for a safety margin. It might not make that much difference in sheltered water in light winds, but even on my inland lake, I have encountered gusts to over 35 and was glad for every ounce of metal underneath my boat! The keel is also a major factor as to how well the boat points into the wind. Taking that much surface area off your underwater airfoil would have a definite impact on your ability to sail close to the wind without making too much leeway. I presume you have the 3'11" fin keel so the channel must be pretty shallow!! You might try using crew weight to heel the boat over as far as you can which can give you a few more inches clearance. Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
M
MIke B
cutting keel
Iisten to Dicks advice, you would be better finding another place to dock/ sail or anoter boaat, I have a h23 and dont know how safe you would be if you did this, Mike B
Iisten to Dicks advice, you would be better finding another place to dock/ sail or anoter boaat, I have a h23 and dont know how safe you would be if you did this, Mike B
M
M
What sort of idiot are you?
Sure, cut off the keel, why start at 8", go all the way. Cut it ALL off. Then you can beach the boat whenever you want and sail in shallow waters. That's the ticket. Your boat can also sail turtled too. That's fun. This seems like a real fake posting. Seems to me like you need to learn how to sail in your waters. How about investing in a chart, some binoculars and a depth sounder. What a yahoo!
Sure, cut off the keel, why start at 8", go all the way. Cut it ALL off. Then you can beach the boat whenever you want and sail in shallow waters. That's the ticket. Your boat can also sail turtled too. That's fun. This seems like a real fake posting. Seems to me like you need to learn how to sail in your waters. How about investing in a chart, some binoculars and a depth sounder. What a yahoo!
J
Jeff Davis
center board
Sounds like you need to trade your boat in for a center board 260. You can pull the board up for clearance.
Sounds like you need to trade your boat in for a center board 260. You can pull the board up for clearance.
G
Guest
Try this
If you are stuck (no pun intended) with your present dock/marina, get a chart of the area to help you locate (and avoid) the shallows. If a chart doesn't exist, spend some time poking around in the channel, learn where the shallow spots are and make some notes. Better yet, you could try making your own chart of the channel. It's not that hard if you have some time, a GPS, a dinghy and a handheld depth sounder or a long stick with foot marks on it. That's how the guys who write cruising guides do it. remember, there are only two types of sailors; those who run aground and those who lie about it. Here's a tip I learned the hard way. Moving weight onto the bow will free a wing-keeled boat faster than heeling it, because the wings can dig in. Of course, moving my 250 lb bulk around on an H23 will do all kinds of marvelous things that the designers never intended. On one of my worst groundings, I simply stepped overboard into thigh deep water (shoes on for safety). The reduced weight was enough to float the boat free. I just walked it to deeper water and clambered back aboard. If all else fails, trade your H25 for a water-ballast boat. Good luck. Peter S/V Raven
If you are stuck (no pun intended) with your present dock/marina, get a chart of the area to help you locate (and avoid) the shallows. If a chart doesn't exist, spend some time poking around in the channel, learn where the shallow spots are and make some notes. Better yet, you could try making your own chart of the channel. It's not that hard if you have some time, a GPS, a dinghy and a handheld depth sounder or a long stick with foot marks on it. That's how the guys who write cruising guides do it. remember, there are only two types of sailors; those who run aground and those who lie about it. Here's a tip I learned the hard way. Moving weight onto the bow will free a wing-keeled boat faster than heeling it, because the wings can dig in. Of course, moving my 250 lb bulk around on an H23 will do all kinds of marvelous things that the designers never intended. On one of my worst groundings, I simply stepped overboard into thigh deep water (shoes on for safety). The reduced weight was enough to float the boat free. I just walked it to deeper water and clambered back aboard. If all else fails, trade your H25 for a water-ballast boat. Good luck. Peter S/V Raven
J
John Allison
Design Nightmare
I never new how much thought, effort and expertise went into the design of a keel until I read Mr. Brewer's article on keel design in one of the past issues of "Good Old Boat" magazine. Wow and double WOW. What did I learn and what am I getting at. Don't do it!!!!
I never new how much thought, effort and expertise went into the design of a keel until I read Mr. Brewer's article on keel design in one of the past issues of "Good Old Boat" magazine. Wow and double WOW. What did I learn and what am I getting at. Don't do it!!!!
J
Jim
H-25 Cutting Keel
Mike I have a H-25 with the 2' 11" keel. You have posed a good question. there is a company that makes after market keel (Mars Keel or Foundry Inc) I believe. They do make shoul draft replacment keels/add-ons and would probably be bet to advise you from an engineering standpoint of view. To do so with out professional guidance would not be advised. The water I sail in is very shallow warer that requires navigational aids plus knowledge of the local markers, i.e. cain poles/sticks ect marking channals. If your draft is 3' 11' you are at disadvantge and probably should look at buying another boat with a centerboard. If your draft is 2' 11" and you are still having problems try navigational aids, as other have recommend. If that dosen't work sell and buy another boat more compatable with your area. Good luck and great sailing! Jim
Mike I have a H-25 with the 2' 11" keel. You have posed a good question. there is a company that makes after market keel (Mars Keel or Foundry Inc) I believe. They do make shoul draft replacment keels/add-ons and would probably be bet to advise you from an engineering standpoint of view. To do so with out professional guidance would not be advised. The water I sail in is very shallow warer that requires navigational aids plus knowledge of the local markers, i.e. cain poles/sticks ect marking channals. If your draft is 3' 11' you are at disadvantge and probably should look at buying another boat with a centerboard. If your draft is 2' 11" and you are still having problems try navigational aids, as other have recommend. If that dosen't work sell and buy another boat more compatable with your area. Good luck and great sailing! Jim
- Status
- Not open for further replies.