Hey Alan

  • Thread starter Cliff Ruckstuhl
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Cliff Ruckstuhl

Just curious as to why you went with the 35.5 and then changed the keel and did not go with the 35 which has a deep fin keel?? Cliff
 
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Alan

Cliff,

The deep keel that was offered for the 35 was a poor design with an even worse production. I bought my boat originally without regard to the keel. Only later did I realize my mistake. Mother nature stepped in and I wound up with my current keel. One lucky break for me. We designed it for quicker acceleration out of tacks with minimal affect on top speed. Anyway, every time I start drooling over some 'hot' boat I remember my PHRF and just can't make the move.
 
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Cliff Ruckstuhl

Poor Keel Design thanks for the heads up

It is such a tough call on looking at boats to fit a dual role. I drool over the Tripp 33 but weekending on the boat might be tough and if we decide to retire early if we are lucky enough to (I'm 42) Then we would do some real 4 to 6 week cruseing on the Great Lakes. This is where the 34,35,35.5 and 37 would be great boats. With this in mind I think replaceing the keel will just need to be part of the expense of the new boat. I just ordered a new rudder for the 28.5 and we should get a nive trade off in performance vereses the -3 PHRF gave me. Cliff
 
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Alan

Very tough call!!

It's almost as if what works for racing is contrary to cruising and vise versa. Until you get into the big boats. I could see me racing or cruising say a J-120 or Farr 395. But that requires a serious financial commitment. So my mod 35.5 splits the difference and is still cost effective. Seriously Cliff, you might want to consider a 35.5 or 37.5 and put a good keel on her. You would wind up with a very comfortable cruising boat that could kick ass on the race coarse.
 
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Cliff Ruckstuhl

I am giving it some serious thought

I really like the 35.5 and looking at it in the boat yard I never gave it more thought because of the keel. But doing the swap for a deeper fin and coming in at about a 6' draft would work very well. I would need to change marina's but could live with that. I know what you mean about the Farr 395 and I really like the new C & C the 99 and 110 are wonderful boats but $$$ is a huge factor. Getting a 35.5 dropping the keel would give me a great boat and all the room for crusing with the wife. I would just add the keel swap into the price when I buy the boat and just do the loan for the whole thing. Do you have a web site with any pictures of your PHRF Killer? Though I prefer the mast head rig for the light air of Lake Erie and like the idea of getting the 34 for about $10K-$15K cheaper than a 35.5. But I also think the keel on the 34 could be inproved to a better shape and the cost difference of the 35.5 and the 34 makes the 34 with a new keel very very inviting. Cliff
 
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Alan

Forget the C&C 99

One of the guys in our Wed nite racing bought one last year. He hasn't beaten me yet - uncorrected. And his phrf is 96 locally. Long Island Sound has light air during the middle of the summer and the stick on the 99 isn't tall enough to pull in the upper puffs. My mast is 55' of the water which gives me a decided advantage. We even beat the much lighter X-99 although with a little more of a challenge. Our biggest competition on the Wed nite light air days is an Olson 30. But now you are talking ULDB against a production cruiser.
 
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Rod Leonard

Cliff & Alan

Great choice on the 35.5 and adding a deep keel. I had a 31' and wanted to move up to a 35.5'. But couldn't find a good one, that I wanted to change out the Keel. We Have had a couple of them on our wednesday night & week end racing that usually clean up even with wing keel. I think I would be hard press to by the 34' if I could afford the 35.5'. I think it's a better built boat and of course newer. I have raced on both and they can preform very good on there handicap. Huge difference over the 28.5. I think these boats are really under estimated for racing when there are set up right. Oh by the way I found a 45' Legend that was going back to the bank and bought that. What a nice condo that's a killer on the race course. See Ya
 
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Alan

Rod

I have to agree with you about the 'wolf in sheeps clothing'. We have a few stock 35.5's out here that we race. They are no match for us but do very well against other competition. It's amazing that we had 3 35.5's on the same tack beating. The stock boats sailed well against eachother but we out pointed them and with better boat speed. Ultimatly we ran away from them. The 6 seconds difference in the handicap is bargain. It would need to be more than 20 seconds to make it a close race. Best of luck with your new 45.
 
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Cliff Ruckstuhl

Alan

I wonder of any of the guys you race against check out this web site. If they do you might be in trouble when they want your PHRF # changed. I think here they would do more then 6 seconds, I got 3 for changeing out my rudder. I think I would get hosed bad on a keel. Cliff
 
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Cliff

Rod

The 45 is a wonderful boat and on my list. I am sure it is a great cottage on the wekeends and owing abigger boat is by far cheaper than buying any property her on Lake Erie. We looked into it last year and chances are I would get to the cottage on Fri and instead of sailing I would be mowing the yard and fixing the leaking sink rather than sailing. We decided the bigger boat was in our future. Cliff H 28.5 "Red Dog" Cliff
 
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Alan

Cliff, Good point

But my PHRF has been reviewed twice in the last 2 years. Protested by guys who can't catch me. PHRF committee decided that there is no reason to move my rating, but I think I'd rather fly below the radar.
 
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Cliff Ruckstuhl

Good thinking

With my new rudder I did not mention what Joel at IdaSailor thought the difference would be. But I got nailed for -3 by PHRF and we will see how it pans out. Not going to talk about what I think or what we thought the difference could make. Cliff
 
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Rod Leonard

Racing

Dam'n don't you just love it. Can't wait for the new season. If you guy's need any help give a yell. rodsails@comcast.net
 
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Cliff Ruckstuhl

Thank God your not in Ann Arbor!!

Have you done the MAC? I am doing it again this year. We are doing the Port Huron MAC on my buddys Tartan 30. I would love to do it on our 28.5 but need to get more stuff for the boat to quilfy. Cliff
 
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Rod Leonard

Mac

I did the Mac in 2002 the year of the blow. Hoping to do it again this year. What a great race and boat to do it with. We were doing 12-18 knots going down wind eating Prime Rib and drinking Red Wine. Priceless!
 
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Cliff Ruckstuhl

MAC

The Mac is a great race this time will be my 3rd MAC. Last year I did the race up and then did the sail back. Was a long and grueling week. Was only off the boat for about 20 hours at Mackanaw before we needed to head back to Lake Erie. We started the Race on Sat got to Mackanaw late Tuesday afternoon and left for home early Wed afternoon. Got back to the dock on Lake Erie on early Sun morning. Cliff
 
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