Keel Change

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Randy Burns

Randy Burns

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Jun 5, 2004
160
Hunter 27_73-83 Harrington, Maine
I mentioned the idea about switching out my shoal draft keel on my 76 27 to a deep keel a while back and the general consensus was Im nuts. Probably, but I just found one off an 81 27. Anyone have any info on the keel flanges and if they would be the same? Randy
 
C

Cliff

I don't think your nut's, a deep keel boat is the best to have where water depth is not an issue and the difference between your deep and shoal keel is not allot. There should not be any difference in the keel stub you should be able to un bolt the shoal and install the deep keel. You will need to have the yard to this and it will not be real easy to get the old keel off. The bolt patter should be the same other wise Hutner would have needed to build 2 hull mold's one for shoal and one for a Deep keel. I am pretty sure they would not have done that. IF you have access to the deep keel then I would do it in a heart beat. Cliff
 
Alan

Alan

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Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
ABSOLUTELY do it!!

Any time you can do something to improve sailing performance you should do it. As long as you don't have 'skinny water' then there is no downside to the deeper keel. Your boat will be faster, more stable, point higher and have much less leeway. All good things. I changed my 'wing thing' keel to a deep draft fin and the sailing characteristics of the boat totally changed for the better.
 
Alan

Alan

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Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
By the way....

...if you do make the move and change your keel, it would be good to hear your thoughts after you've sailed her with the fin.
 
Alan

Alan

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Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
I'll tell you 'why'

Many skippers are happy with their boats with shoal drafts or wings and are not aware of just how much improvement a fin keel will give. It would be of benefit to hear from someone who has actually done the change over and felt the improvement. Unless you've sailed the boat both ways, you cannot have an objective point of view.
 
C

Cliff

Alan Know's 1st hand

Being a friend of Alan's and also he did it would put him on top of the list of the "Been ther done that list". This could only be a win win deal as long as you have the water but ther is not a huge difference between the keels. Looking forward to hearing about the result's. Cliff
 
Alan

Alan

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Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
Just found a way...

....to post pics of my keel. Hope this works
 
Randy Burns

Randy Burns

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Jun 5, 2004
160
Hunter 27_73-83 Harrington, Maine
Nice pics

Well, I may not have the keel anyway, unless two others with options on it opt out. I haven't sailed this boat yet, is a fixer-upper in great shape except I for a crack thru the hull from the keel aft about 3-4 inches. Since I will have to drop the keel, I thought what the heck. I do have a fin keel H25 that I actually won a race with this year and only did because of how close I could sail, i think I may miss that with the shoal draft. My brother is worried I may slide over ledge and take my rudder out - wants me to shorten it 3" or so? I do have a lot of rock up here.
 
Alan

Alan

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Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
A Good Laugh

We've all heard the creative definitions of 'sailing', you know...a hole in the water into which you pour money....or, the fine art of getting wet and getting ill while slowly going nowhere at great expense. Well I heard another good one today: Sailing is like taking an ice cold shower while tearing up $100 bills.
 
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