Hi all, I am new here in need of some help. I have been asking this question to just about everyone I can think of to see what there response would be. I have been looking at sail boats for a while now and I am trying to decide if I could go with a boat with 7' draft or if I should go with a boat that has between 5-6foot draft. It seems that with a draft of only 5'5" or so I would be able to go many places in the bahamas and caribbean. I am hesitant in purchasing a boat with around 7' draft because of the places that might limit me in going. What I am asking is that those who have lots of sailing experience, does a draft of 6-7feet really limit you that much of where you can go then if you had a 5'5" draft, or are my speculations wrong? What are problems that are encounted because of the bigger draft? Thanks
Draft Issues
- Thread starter creinhard
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Where are you planning to sail is the key
I go a C-36 which only draws 4'-6" because of where I sail. I wanted more boat but that is life. It is all trade offs...
I go a C-36 which only draws 4'-6" because of where I sail. I wanted more boat but that is life. It is all trade offs...
Along the Gulf Coast 7' a problem
My Pearson has a draft of 4.5' and I've ran aground several times. The Bahamas are about the same from looking at the charts. Sure you can go with 7' but you will be limited. The problem usually arises when you are looking for a place to anchor for the night. But coming in and out of Dog River in Mobile Bay 7' will get you into trouble at low tide. In the Florida Keys you are going to have trouble in some anchorages.
My Pearson has a draft of 4.5' and I've ran aground several times. The Bahamas are about the same from looking at the charts. Sure you can go with 7' but you will be limited. The problem usually arises when you are looking for a place to anchor for the night. But coming in and out of Dog River in Mobile Bay 7' will get you into trouble at low tide. In the Florida Keys you are going to have trouble in some anchorages.
Majority
Not that the majority is always correct, but I think (I could be wrong) that you will find that most owners of our types of boats (Hunters, Catalinas, Bene, etc) have shallow drafts. I know walking around my boat year, very seldom do we see a full keel boat. Cruisers typically have the shallow draft and the performamce racers teh full keels. There are always exceptions, but this has been my observation. As for the keys and Bahama's (even the chesapeake ay for tha matter), the shoal keel will definitely let you get into places that the full keel won't.
Not that the majority is always correct, but I think (I could be wrong) that you will find that most owners of our types of boats (Hunters, Catalinas, Bene, etc) have shallow drafts. I know walking around my boat year, very seldom do we see a full keel boat. Cruisers typically have the shallow draft and the performamce racers teh full keels. There are always exceptions, but this has been my observation. As for the keys and Bahama's (even the chesapeake ay for tha matter), the shoal keel will definitely let you get into places that the full keel won't.
The advantage of a deep draft keel
is that you can point better into the wind. This is real important to racers but not so much to cruisers. Today's bulb keels and fin keels will keep your boat almost as upright as a deep draft keel. Ocean cruisers generally prefer a full keel (as opposed to a fin keel) because of the stability in rough seas. Note "full keel" does not refer to draft as insinuated in a previous post, it refers to the length of the keel, from the bow to the stern. The disadvantage to a full keel is manuverability is reduced in tight areas, like in marina fairways. Some boats have centerboards with obvious advantages. The disadvantage to a centerboard is the extreme. If, in a rough sea you roll, the centerboard will fold up into the trunk and you loose some righting moment. Like I said, it's extreme. I recommend a shoal draft of 4.5'-5'. It will let you go a lot of places a 7' keel won't and you really won't be giving up a lot. One other thing to consider, if you run aground with a 7' keel, unless you are an NBA star, you won't be able to get out and push. With a 4.5' draft you can breath when you get out and stand on the bottom LOL! Keep in mind that these are just general observations.....your mileage may vary. Tom s/v Orion's Child
is that you can point better into the wind. This is real important to racers but not so much to cruisers. Today's bulb keels and fin keels will keep your boat almost as upright as a deep draft keel. Ocean cruisers generally prefer a full keel (as opposed to a fin keel) because of the stability in rough seas. Note "full keel" does not refer to draft as insinuated in a previous post, it refers to the length of the keel, from the bow to the stern. The disadvantage to a full keel is manuverability is reduced in tight areas, like in marina fairways. Some boats have centerboards with obvious advantages. The disadvantage to a centerboard is the extreme. If, in a rough sea you roll, the centerboard will fold up into the trunk and you loose some righting moment. Like I said, it's extreme. I recommend a shoal draft of 4.5'-5'. It will let you go a lot of places a 7' keel won't and you really won't be giving up a lot. One other thing to consider, if you run aground with a 7' keel, unless you are an NBA star, you won't be able to get out and push. With a 4.5' draft you can breath when you get out and stand on the bottom LOL! Keep in mind that these are just general observations.....your mileage may vary. Tom s/v Orion's Child
Shoal draft will let you get stuck
closer to the shore. I think that there are few destinations that have less than seven feet MLW. That said there are many square miles of the chesapeake bay that are less than seven feet. And hundreds of those are less than 2 feet.
closer to the shore. I think that there are few destinations that have less than seven feet MLW. That said there are many square miles of the chesapeake bay that are less than seven feet. And hundreds of those are less than 2 feet.
Cruising Pointing is Less of an Issue
In a cruising boat pointing ability isn't as important as in racing. If you look at cruisers they often have dinghys hanging off the stern ans stuff piled on deck. All of this windage takes away pointing ability. And while it is fun to beat into the wind on an afternoon sail trying to beat into the wind for 100 miles or so just isn't much fun. In the open ocean wave action will further reduce your ability to point. So when you give up a few degrees of pointing ability on a cruising boat you aren't losing something that you will be using anyway. A deep fin keel is best for racing. A longer full keel is stronger but most people have something in betweeen. I believe that a deep fin keel may be damaged more in a grounding due to leverage and a narrower base absorbing the energy. A friend's deep fin keel started leaking around his keel bolts after a grounding as he was entering his marina's channel. He could only enter at near high tide and it had dropped a little too much. He drew a little over 6'.
In a cruising boat pointing ability isn't as important as in racing. If you look at cruisers they often have dinghys hanging off the stern ans stuff piled on deck. All of this windage takes away pointing ability. And while it is fun to beat into the wind on an afternoon sail trying to beat into the wind for 100 miles or so just isn't much fun. In the open ocean wave action will further reduce your ability to point. So when you give up a few degrees of pointing ability on a cruising boat you aren't losing something that you will be using anyway. A deep fin keel is best for racing. A longer full keel is stronger but most people have something in betweeen. I believe that a deep fin keel may be damaged more in a grounding due to leverage and a narrower base absorbing the energy. A friend's deep fin keel started leaking around his keel bolts after a grounding as he was entering his marina's channel. He could only enter at near high tide and it had dropped a little too much. He drew a little over 6'.
Where you sail
The answer is that you need to determine how much draft you can stand, by where you sail, and how much trade off you are willing to make. I sail mostly the gulf coast, and a 7' draft will get you aground a lot in this area. Everything is a trade off, but those who said that most cruising boats don't point well were right on the money. Let the area you intend on sailing be your guide. There are lots and lots of places you will not be able to go with a 7' draft. This includeds anchorages, where a draft of 4 1/2 will let you tuck up nice and close to the shoreline for protection from winds and/or seas, where a 7' draft will keep you out and exposed.
The answer is that you need to determine how much draft you can stand, by where you sail, and how much trade off you are willing to make. I sail mostly the gulf coast, and a 7' draft will get you aground a lot in this area. Everything is a trade off, but those who said that most cruising boats don't point well were right on the money. Let the area you intend on sailing be your guide. There are lots and lots of places you will not be able to go with a 7' draft. This includeds anchorages, where a draft of 4 1/2 will let you tuck up nice and close to the shoreline for protection from winds and/or seas, where a 7' draft will keep you out and exposed.
Choose a draft adequate for your home
sailing grounds. The biggest problem with a deep draft vessel is that you will be at the mercy of the tides to go coastal sailing. You will be constantly consulting a tide chart when making decisions about when to go out. You will learn to sail not when you want to, but when the tides will allow it. You'll get used to sitting in the boat prior to departure or at anchor prior to arrival. You will get used to agonizing over your depth meters reading of inches below your keel. Our h320 draws 4'6" with its wing keel and there are approximately 2-3 days out of the year that we cannot leave our home dock at all. If our draft were 7' I would estimate there would be in excess of 60 days a year that we could not go out. The other bif factor is resale value in parts of the country. Some people here in FL includying myself will not look at a boat with a draft exceeding 5'6". A vessel with a draft of 7' would be seriously impaired in FL waters and I would supect in NC too.
sailing grounds. The biggest problem with a deep draft vessel is that you will be at the mercy of the tides to go coastal sailing. You will be constantly consulting a tide chart when making decisions about when to go out. You will learn to sail not when you want to, but when the tides will allow it. You'll get used to sitting in the boat prior to departure or at anchor prior to arrival. You will get used to agonizing over your depth meters reading of inches below your keel. Our h320 draws 4'6" with its wing keel and there are approximately 2-3 days out of the year that we cannot leave our home dock at all. If our draft were 7' I would estimate there would be in excess of 60 days a year that we could not go out. The other bif factor is resale value in parts of the country. Some people here in FL includying myself will not look at a boat with a draft exceeding 5'6". A vessel with a draft of 7' would be seriously impaired in FL waters and I would supect in NC too.
My observations/experience
7 feet is a lot of draft and unless you feel you need that don't go there. I am going to assume you are looking at boats less than 40 feet. If that assumption is wrong ignore my post. If you are cruising: Don't even consider anything more than 5'. Even offshore, a well designed boat with 5' (or less) is just fine and will give reasonable performance. Draft is not the only performance factor. Good stuff in previous posts re racing/cruising. Full keel/fin is not relevant when considering draft. Both keels can be designed with various drafts. I think the this debate boils down to other issues. Deeper draft will give better upwind performance and a bit more stability, but even 5 feet will limit where you go. Stability is also a function of beam, cog, sail inventory, sailing strategy, and other factors. Tender boats, properly sailed, can be very safe. Case in point is Sir Chichester's Gypsy Moth that was so tender she put her rail down when stored on the mooring, yet made it around the world anyways. Look at where you anticipate going and then choose a boat to fit.
7 feet is a lot of draft and unless you feel you need that don't go there. I am going to assume you are looking at boats less than 40 feet. If that assumption is wrong ignore my post. If you are cruising: Don't even consider anything more than 5'. Even offshore, a well designed boat with 5' (or less) is just fine and will give reasonable performance. Draft is not the only performance factor. Good stuff in previous posts re racing/cruising. Full keel/fin is not relevant when considering draft. Both keels can be designed with various drafts. I think the this debate boils down to other issues. Deeper draft will give better upwind performance and a bit more stability, but even 5 feet will limit where you go. Stability is also a function of beam, cog, sail inventory, sailing strategy, and other factors. Tender boats, properly sailed, can be very safe. Case in point is Sir Chichester's Gypsy Moth that was so tender she put her rail down when stored on the mooring, yet made it around the world anyways. Look at where you anticipate going and then choose a boat to fit.
All is true unless you are in the pacific coast...
we do not have issues with shallow waters out here. So, shoal keels are the exception rather than the rule. Sure, someone in the bay area may want to sail to Sacramento...but again most have deep keels. abe
we do not have issues with shallow waters out here. So, shoal keels are the exception rather than the rule. Sure, someone in the bay area may want to sail to Sacramento...but again most have deep keels. abe
Some specifics
Lots of good advice in these reply's. To make it a little bit more specific, lets say you wanted to run up to Norfolk, via the Great Disman Swamp. Lots of water in there around 6', and some a little less than that. Going south you will find yourself in the same situation, lots of shallow water. The ditch is suffering from lack of maint. and is shoaling up in many places. Don't plan on using it much with 7' of draft.
Lots of good advice in these reply's. To make it a little bit more specific, lets say you wanted to run up to Norfolk, via the Great Disman Swamp. Lots of water in there around 6', and some a little less than that. Going south you will find yourself in the same situation, lots of shallow water. The ditch is suffering from lack of maint. and is shoaling up in many places. Don't plan on using it much with 7' of draft.
shallow draft
the others have all made there case and I agree with shallow draft based on where and what kind of sailing you will be doing. Just wanted to add that resale could be a problem with a deeper draft in a shallow draft boating area. A little like selling a convertible style car in northern Alaska !
the others have all made there case and I agree with shallow draft based on where and what kind of sailing you will be doing. Just wanted to add that resale could be a problem with a deeper draft in a shallow draft boating area. A little like selling a convertible style car in northern Alaska !
In North Carolina 4 feet is ideal
In North Carolina all the way to the Bahamas 4 feet is the ideal draft. I would limit yourself to 4 1/2 feet and you will be fine. You will spend lots of time aground in our area at 5 feet but there are lots of boats at this draft. Most of these are in the larger 35-45 feet range.
In North Carolina all the way to the Bahamas 4 feet is the ideal draft. I would limit yourself to 4 1/2 feet and you will be fine. You will spend lots of time aground in our area at 5 feet but there are lots of boats at this draft. Most of these are in the larger 35-45 feet range.
Draft issue in NC and Bahama's
You may want to consider a shoal draft or a center board with a 3' to 7' range if you plan to sail in the Atlantic Beach area and the Bogue sound you will be running aground alot with a 5.5' or 7' draft same applies in many area's of the Bahama's. I Sail in Oriental the Neuse and Pamlico and have enought trouble with 4'5" draft. From Beaufort to Adams creek and Morehead to Wrightsville even in the ICW you can have some real tight area's with 7' draft.
You may want to consider a shoal draft or a center board with a 3' to 7' range if you plan to sail in the Atlantic Beach area and the Bogue sound you will be running aground alot with a 5.5' or 7' draft same applies in many area's of the Bahama's. I Sail in Oriental the Neuse and Pamlico and have enought trouble with 4'5" draft. From Beaufort to Adams creek and Morehead to Wrightsville even in the ICW you can have some real tight area's with 7' draft.
Shallow AND stable........
One of the primary reasons I have a cat. Dave S/V Pas de Deux Catana 471-44
One of the primary reasons I have a cat. Dave S/V Pas de Deux Catana 471-44
7"
I've sailed the southeast and bahamas for years with a 7'draft... been stuck once due to being in a hurry. I never felt limited, after all my dinghy will go anywhere my boat won't! Plus I can outsail most boats on any given day which is an added benefit to the extra stability. If I didn't want a keel I'd get a trawler.TowBoat US is pretty cheap insurance too if you're that worried.
I've sailed the southeast and bahamas for years with a 7'draft... been stuck once due to being in a hurry. I never felt limited, after all my dinghy will go anywhere my boat won't! Plus I can outsail most boats on any given day which is an added benefit to the extra stability. If I didn't want a keel I'd get a trawler.TowBoat US is pretty cheap insurance too if you're that worried.
Too Right...
I agree with all the posts for the most part.The only place I can digress is if you got yourself jammed up and were trying to sail away from a Lee Shore..you'd wish for that longer keel and the ability to point higher.But,that would be an extreme situation.Best compramise will be a Shol Draft boat with a Center Board of some sort.Just be sure to have a GOOD Surveyer look it over as these type boats have more moving parts below the water line to go wrong and can only be serviced while hauled out. Good Luck>>> David
I agree with all the posts for the most part.The only place I can digress is if you got yourself jammed up and were trying to sail away from a Lee Shore..you'd wish for that longer keel and the ability to point higher.But,that would be an extreme situation.Best compramise will be a Shol Draft boat with a Center Board of some sort.Just be sure to have a GOOD Surveyer look it over as these type boats have more moving parts below the water line to go wrong and can only be serviced while hauled out. Good Luck>>> David
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