I have an '82 Hunter with a tall rig (mast 48', draft 5'3"). Is it possible to trade the fin keel for a wing keel to get the draft under 5'? I'd rather not get into having to short the entire rig (lower mast, new main, new genoa). What would something like this cost and how would it affect sailing performance? Any info would be great.
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I hear you as 5'3" is a little deep for Florida
and the Bahamas. None of those boats came with a wing keel that you could use. Manufacturing a custom keel would be rather expensive. Your best bet would be to cut the keel and add a ballast bulb at the bottom. You will loose some pointing ability and perhaps some stiffnes but could retain your mast and sails. The tall rigs were so called because they could accomodate high aspect sails which became the trend in the early 80s. High aspect does not necessarily provide a larger sail area, they usually have a longer luff with a shorter foot and no roach. Keels of different drafts were intercheangeble while maintaining the riggin. Obviusly if the boat was refit at a certain point you will need to make adjustments. Your reported mast height of 48' does not appear to be factory standart. Consult with other h30 owners for correct specs.
and the Bahamas. None of those boats came with a wing keel that you could use. Manufacturing a custom keel would be rather expensive. Your best bet would be to cut the keel and add a ballast bulb at the bottom. You will loose some pointing ability and perhaps some stiffnes but could retain your mast and sails. The tall rigs were so called because they could accomodate high aspect sails which became the trend in the early 80s. High aspect does not necessarily provide a larger sail area, they usually have a longer luff with a shorter foot and no roach. Keels of different drafts were intercheangeble while maintaining the riggin. Obviusly if the boat was refit at a certain point you will need to make adjustments. Your reported mast height of 48' does not appear to be factory standart. Consult with other h30 owners for correct specs.
if your not happy with the draft change boats
Changing draft on a boat can be done, its expensive and the results are often not what you will like. If you want a shoal draft boat, sell yours and buy onte and you willsave a lot of headaches. that being said, there are several places that will make a keel for you and could do it.
Changing draft on a boat can be done, its expensive and the results are often not what you will like. If you want a shoal draft boat, sell yours and buy onte and you willsave a lot of headaches. that being said, there are several places that will make a keel for you and could do it.
Mars Metal
Lee: You can cut your keel and have replacment bulbs made for it. Contact Mars Metals in Ontario Canada. The biggest problem is shipping but you are probably looking at a couple hundred dollar for shipping alone. They would need you to make a pattern of the keel profile and they will cast wings/bulbs that can be bolted to your existing keel. I think you may need to estimate $2-3k for something like this. There was an article on this subject a couple of years ago in one of the sailing rags. Maybe someone else will remember which rag it was in. PS: how much to you want to remove? I would not think that 4-5" would be worth the hassle.
Lee: You can cut your keel and have replacment bulbs made for it. Contact Mars Metals in Ontario Canada. The biggest problem is shipping but you are probably looking at a couple hundred dollar for shipping alone. They would need you to make a pattern of the keel profile and they will cast wings/bulbs that can be bolted to your existing keel. I think you may need to estimate $2-3k for something like this. There was an article on this subject a couple of years ago in one of the sailing rags. Maybe someone else will remember which rag it was in. PS: how much to you want to remove? I would not think that 4-5" would be worth the hassle.
more like 6 to 8K depending on whether it's
a steel or lead keel on you boat ! Not to steal your thunder Steve, but in the Spring of 2000 I was looking at a Hunter 34 that had a 5'6 draft. The price was attractive enough but the draft was a deterrent. So I contacted Mars Metal and got a quote of $5,000 + freight to go to Plattsburgh, NY, (about 400 miles from where Mars Metal is). But the keel on the Hunter 34 is steel, which meant I had to get it cut and drilled for the bolts by a professional welder, which added to the cost. So I forgot the idea and kept looking for a 34 with a shoal draft. Eventually I found one and bought it. My thinking is like Ed's,: if you must have shoal draft, then consider selling yours and getting another boat. I believe the article Steve is referring to was in a Cruising Magazine about 7 or 8 years ago. I do remember it was about a Pacific Sailcraft 37 and the owner had dealt with Mars Metal and was very satisfied with the job and the results. Good luck
a steel or lead keel on you boat ! Not to steal your thunder Steve, but in the Spring of 2000 I was looking at a Hunter 34 that had a 5'6 draft. The price was attractive enough but the draft was a deterrent. So I contacted Mars Metal and got a quote of $5,000 + freight to go to Plattsburgh, NY, (about 400 miles from where Mars Metal is). But the keel on the Hunter 34 is steel, which meant I had to get it cut and drilled for the bolts by a professional welder, which added to the cost. So I forgot the idea and kept looking for a 34 with a shoal draft. Eventually I found one and bought it. My thinking is like Ed's,: if you must have shoal draft, then consider selling yours and getting another boat. I believe the article Steve is referring to was in a Cruising Magazine about 7 or 8 years ago. I do remember it was about a Pacific Sailcraft 37 and the owner had dealt with Mars Metal and was very satisfied with the job and the results. Good luck
Don't need to replace the keel Claude.
Claude: I also contacted them about this process. You can cut the cast iron with a chain saw and then drill holes through the remainder of the keel to attach the new bulbs. This exact procedure was outlined in one of the magazines. I think that they did it on a Catalina 30. The Hunter 30 has a lead keel so it should be easier.
Claude: I also contacted them about this process. You can cut the cast iron with a chain saw and then drill holes through the remainder of the keel to attach the new bulbs. This exact procedure was outlined in one of the magazines. I think that they did it on a Catalina 30. The Hunter 30 has a lead keel so it should be easier.
Cast iron keel?
Lee, If you have a cast iron keel, believe me, you aren't going to cut it with a chain saw. If it's lead, though, cutting it and adding a wing or bulb will be a lot easier. The Mars people are great to work with and have weight and balance calculations for some of the Hunter models (like the 34), so you will get a product that is right for your boat. But Claude is right. It ain't gonna be cheap.
Lee, If you have a cast iron keel, believe me, you aren't going to cut it with a chain saw. If it's lead, though, cutting it and adding a wing or bulb will be a lot easier. The Mars people are great to work with and have weight and balance calculations for some of the Hunter models (like the 34), so you will get a product that is right for your boat. But Claude is right. It ain't gonna be cheap.
Cutting cast iron with a chain saw ?
Steve, I used to be GM of a cast iron foundry ! You must be talking about a highly specialized saw, not the kind used by the usual DIYer !. You are right that a lead keel can be cut with a chain saw. And in the article I do recall now that it was a Crealock 37. Written back about 10 years ago. I reread my post and did not mentioned changing the keel. And FYI, Mars Metal themselves say that about 90% of their jobs come from boats that have external lead keels. Obviously, cast iron keels can be cut, but it is a much harder and costly job.
Steve, I used to be GM of a cast iron foundry ! You must be talking about a highly specialized saw, not the kind used by the usual DIYer !. You are right that a lead keel can be cut with a chain saw. And in the article I do recall now that it was a Crealock 37. Written back about 10 years ago. I reread my post and did not mentioned changing the keel. And FYI, Mars Metal themselves say that about 90% of their jobs come from boats that have external lead keels. Obviously, cast iron keels can be cut, but it is a much harder and costly job.
Thanks Steve, it is the article I had in mind
And that Crealock 37 did have a lead keel. As did the H30 of that era. My only point is that it can be done, but the cost factor makes it prohibitive on a boat like Lee's, or yours and mine for that matter! Even on a boat with a lead keel easier to cut off it is still too expensive to make it really worthwhile. Unless there is a lot of sentimental value for the boat and one plans on keeping it many many more years, there is no way to recuperate that expense since there are a bunch of shoal draft boats on the market. Have a nice season.
And that Crealock 37 did have a lead keel. As did the H30 of that era. My only point is that it can be done, but the cost factor makes it prohibitive on a boat like Lee's, or yours and mine for that matter! Even on a boat with a lead keel easier to cut off it is still too expensive to make it really worthwhile. Unless there is a lot of sentimental value for the boat and one plans on keeping it many many more years, there is no way to recuperate that expense since there are a bunch of shoal draft boats on the market. Have a nice season.
I was going to do it to my H31.
Claude: I was going to do it to my H31. It was a few years ago and the price for two half bulbs were going to be about $1800 + frt. I wanted a little more stability and was NOT going to shorted the keel.
Claude: I was going to do it to my H31. It was a few years ago and the price for two half bulbs were going to be about $1800 + frt. I wanted a little more stability and was NOT going to shorted the keel.
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