Mcgregger 25. I would like to know the pros and cons of sailing with the swing keel up , down and locked down.
Thanks
Thanks
keel up or down?
- Thread starter farmerceg
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Well you certainly wouldn't wanna sail with it up in any direction other than directly down wind, and honestly even then I dont enjoy the additional rocking from waves or other boats wakes.
I generally put it down and lock it in place unless I'm goin downwind and really trying to gain a little speed. Even then I dont bring it up more than halfway or so.
I generally put it down and lock it in place unless I'm goin downwind and really trying to gain a little speed. Even then I dont bring it up more than halfway or so.
Keel up= side slipping in the water unless you are going downwind.
Keel up= ballast is not far enough under the boat, and a very tippy boat.
Keel down and unlocked may be OK in moderate conditions as far as sailing goes BUT, if your keel hits an obstruction and swings up as the boat passes over it, it can fall back down and break the fiberglass hull.
Also, if the boat ever gets blown down the keel can swing up by itself and the boat would be more likely to turn turtle.
Keel down and locked is the safest most trouble free way.
The keel can be a useful trimming tool. Through trial and error, I have determined that the starting point for my keel is about 28 cranks down (from full up position ). If I need to point higher, and it's not too windy, it goes down more. If its really windy (like 20+), and I want to ease the weather helm abit, it comes up some. Going down wind, it's only about 5 cranks down. It makes a big difference in speed. Don't let the fear of turtling scare ya! If you do a 180 in one of these boats, you'll have a lot more to worry about than the keel. I have never locked my keel in place. Just make sure you plug the lock down holes up, or water will get in (and lots of it).
I like to sail with the keel unlocked. However, if you sit on anchor and waves hit you the keel will point down while the boat swings. The keel swings freely and will hit the bolt. I did this and found the bolt bent and a half inch tear in the fiberglass. This can bend the lock down bolt if it is not locked. If you are sailing the side pressure holds the keel still.
I like to sail with the keel unlocked because I can quickly crank it up to beach it or if I need to get out of a shallow area.
I like to sail with the keel unlocked because I can quickly crank it up to beach it or if I need to get out of a shallow area.
Beware
Water blasted boats do not change the AMOUNT and POSITION of the ballast, they can move the keel where ever they wish.
On our boats the only reason for not having the keel down and locked is to get the boat on and off the trailer.
Without our keels in the proper place we just have a big sailing dingy.
Water blasted boats do not change the AMOUNT and POSITION of the ballast, they can move the keel where ever they wish.
On our boats the only reason for not having the keel down and locked is to get the boat on and off the trailer.
Without our keels in the proper place we just have a big sailing dingy.
Absolutely agreed. In addition, with short chop exceeding 1-2 feet in height, the unlocked keel will swing back as your boat climbs the waves and then slam forward as your bow comes down. It will not be long before you start seeing cracked fiberglass...
Amen to that, I just scrapped a boat with a weighted keel that for all intents and purposes beat itself to death and leaked like a sieve. More repair than it was worth (plus I got a free Mac that only needed a mast and motor, the two things that were still good on the old one)
Im new to sailing and we bought a 1990 Mac 26 S or C. It has a swing keel that I pull up with a line than tie it off in the cabin when done. We always sail with it down in swells and chop. Do I need to worry about breaking something? (Cracked fiberglass)
I dont think this discussion really applies to you flyalot. The later water ballasted boats like yours use a fairly light weight keel setup. The older boats we are talking about use a ~700lb chunk of iron hanging off the bottom.
What he said. If you pull it up by hand, it's likely just a fiberglass centerboard. no worries there.
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