Oceanis 31 Lifting Keel version?

zoya

zoya

.
Apr 6, 2012
50
Beneteau Oceanis 41 Annapolis
I am interested in an Oceanis 31 with a lifting keel. Any owner of such a beast who could provide me with feedback? The boat will be used on the Chesapeake and short of going for the shoal version (4'3" draft), I thought the lifting keel version (draft varies from 31" to 7') would allow for deeper exploration of the Chesapeake Bay hundreds of rivers and allow for easy access to shore. I am also curious to know if once fully extended with a draft of 7', the boat would track better than a shoal version.

Best to all.
 
R

reworb

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Apr 22, 2011
234
Beneteau 311 Ft Myers Beach
I have a 2004 311 with the lifting keel. Are you looking at the new 31 or the 311? If a 311 I can fill you in. The new 31 is a different hull (more beam) so I'm not sure if they compare.
 
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zoya

zoya

.
Apr 6, 2012
50
Beneteau Oceanis 41 Annapolis
I suppose the 311 has a similar swing keel system than the 31? More generally, I am interested in your experience with a swing keel and here are a few questions:

- When fully extended, would a swing keel boat track better then one with a shoal keel since the keel extends deeper than a shoal keel?
- Any operation or maintenance issues?
- Planning to sail her mainly on the Chesapeake Bay, am I correct to think that once fully retracted, you have easy access to shorelines and also you may need to wade a bit in shallow waters, there is less need for a dinghy?
- Chesapeake Bay has mostly a soft, muddy bottom and a lots of shallows in its hundreds of creeks. Would a soft grounding (it will happen...) cause problem with mud entering the keel well?

Thanks.
 
R

reworb

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Apr 22, 2011
234
Beneteau 311 Ft Myers Beach
It is the same keel system.

I have never sailed side by side with a shoal draft version, that said with the keel (board) all the way down the performance is very good unless we need to go a particular direction i.e. we are day sailing we don't even put the keel down.

No maintenance issues, when it gets bottom painted make sure it gets checked and the worm gear/screw is greased.

Draft on mine is 2'ft 7" the boat can stand on her keel and rudders unaided (no jack stands), if the (bay) bottom was flat or a gentle slope you could anchor the boat where it would dry out at low tide.

Unless the mud were really packed up in the trunk it would just fall out.
 
T

timeiabottle

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Apr 10, 2013
3
beneteau 311 Jamesport NY
zoya said:
I am interested in an Oceanis 31 with a lifting keel. Any owner of such a beast who could provide me with feedback? The boat will be used on the Chesapeake and short of going for the shoal version (4'3" draft), I thought the lifting keel version (draft varies from 31" to 7') would allow for deeper exploration of the Chesapeake Bay hundreds of rivers and allow for easy access to shore. I am also curious to know if once fully extended with a draft of 7', the boat would track better than a shoal version.

Best to all.
Click to expand
I have a 311 for the past several years and very happy with its performance
you do need to keep the keel and the its space clean from growth and
rust buildup. have sailed against another 311 downwind keel up faster
up wind a little slower .
Bill
 
S

sheetmusic21396

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Dec 23, 2006
23
Beneteau 323 Absecon NJ
I am in Florida on my second trip down the ICW from NJ, toward the Keys and or the Bahamas . I am on a 2007, 323 and it is the ideal boat for these trips.
I also have found that I have only used the lifting keel the first couple of years and for the last few years I have not used the lifting keel at all. This boat is a shoal keel with lifting wings twin rudders, and the swing is just an added attraction.
 
zoya

zoya

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Apr 6, 2012
50
Beneteau Oceanis 41 Annapolis
Thanks Chuck. So, do you now sail with the lifting keel up, down or in-between? On the B31, the lifting keel goes from 31" to 7', I would think 7' is a bit too much for the ICW.
 
C

CCHer

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Jul 7, 2010
230
Beneteau 37 Cranes Creek, VA
My friend up the creek a bit has a 311 swing keel he bought new; he loves it. She sails fast but need to reef early. Keeps her on a lift at his dock so his bottom/keel maintenance issues are nil. The water gets thin up there so a swing keel was the best way to go for him.
 
S

sheetmusic21396

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Dec 23, 2006
23
Beneteau 323 Absecon NJ
Swing Keel position

I sometimes drop the swing keel down the width of the swing keel blade. About 10 turns works great as the depth indicator of last resort!
 
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