Reef Keel

[Larry14133]

After 15 years on the dark side ( powerboating ) I am getting back into sailing and I would like to claim I am a little rusty but the truth is I was that I never realy had enough time to be great. I purchased a Oday 22 with a reef keel because the water by my house is shallow and I love sailing my boat. I just seams that it does not point as high as it should. The rigging is is tight, the mast is straight port/ starboard and is set for zero rake. The main sail is in good shape and the genoa is new with the cdi furrler. IS this normal with a reef keel or is their somthing I can do to make things better?ThanksLarry

 

[Kevin Walsh]

Shoal Keel

Hi, I have heard that the oday shoal keel will point a little better with a bit of forward rake in the mast. I can't say if this is true.THis typ of keel should not point as well as a fin and the best should be a swing because it is reallly deep and narrow.

 

[Steve Morris, 1978 0'Day 25, "Second Wind"]

Is Your Centerboard Down?

The boat should point better with the centerboard down. If all of your sailing is being done in water too shallow to lower the centerboard then you'll probably have to live with the fact that she won't point too well. At least, you can still sail there. With a fin keel, or even a swing keel you'd be limited to deeper water.