Shallow water motoring

[bamabaxter]

Question for the seasoned veterans using the swing keel. Does anybody motor with the keel 1/4 down or 1/2? I noticed when in shallow water with both the keel and the rudder up, that the 240 tends to "skid" sideways and requires a lot of finesse when steering using the outboard. The first launch resulted in me doing what looked like a pretty awesome double donut just off the launch. I completely understand that the keel needs to be full down to hoist sails, I am just asking specifically when under outboard power with rudder up.

 

[thinwater]

When I had my Stiletto 27 I kept the board 50% down for that reason. Steering is more precise. That is common practice.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Should you motor with the rudder partially down, I suggest motoring slowly, not fast as you will not have the effect of full steerage when not fully down.. Plus two on the above suggestion for the centerboard. However, the big question is why you even want to launch into shallow water to begin with?

 

[Kermit]

I tried steering with just the motor on my H260. The motor and rudder are linked but I had the rudder all the way up. I'll never do that again. The motor must be in gear with power to get any steerage at all. Not fun.

 

[bamabaxter]

I appreciate the feedback gents. As you have probably noticed, I am a noob so thanks for dealing with what probably seems like trivial questions. I don't really have a choice of where to launch. If I launch in one area, I have to be under power since it is the Intercoastal Waterway. If I launch in my normal area, my normal weekend spot, then it is in the bay which is just that shallow until I get near the channel. The entire bay in high tide is only about 7ft deep. I learned to sail in the same bay with a shoal keel boat and I never really paid attention to depth.....at all. I see another shoal keel in my future....maybe a Hunter 25.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

If trailering a lot then the choice of the Hunter 25 older style would not be a good one. If the newer Hunter 25, yes it is a shoal keel if I recall but you will have the same issue with the rudder.

Understand one thing young man, there is no dumb question on this site. I hate to say this but I beat you to the punch if there are any dumb questions. So I suggest never saying you are a "noob" as this is a great forum with many sharing a lot of ideas. Even then, sometimes I can be wrong and will admit that. With all the pet names I have been blessed with over the years, I will stick to Crazy Dave

 

[bamabaxter]

Ha! Appreciate it very much. The newer 25ft is what I was talking about. I dunno about beating me to the punch. I can come up with some crazy stuff myself.

 

[KrustyKrab]

Welcome bamabaxter!

I have the older sister to the 240, the 23.5. Living on the Upper Chesapeake I know all about shallow water, believe me. They say here that if you ever lose power you can just get out and walk in most places!

I don't know about the 240, but on the 23.5 the centerboard still protrudes about 6" lengthwise when fully retracted, giving you adequate steerage. It's not fun steering with the outboard, but it works. But I have heard that the outboard is much easier to reach on the 23.5 than it is on the newer 240 .

 

[bamabaxter]

The centerboard does stick out slightly when full up, but still is not enough to provide any noticeable help to manage keeping a steady course under outboard power with no rudder.

 

[KrustyKrab]

Just saying my experience is different. I have motored from ramp to my mooring, about 2 miles, with just the motor - no centerboard, no rudder.

It is not fun. Required a lot of small adjustments with the outboard, but I never felt out of control and didn't do any cool donuts!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

The rudder of course is in the center which is the best place for steerage and best when fully down. Motor is off to the side not in the best place for steerage with only a little in a sense in the water which is why when motoring without the rudder fully deployed, you need to go slow.

 

[jcrumpley]

On a new H25, if you are in deep enough water for the shoal keel, the rudder can be down as well, as they are pretty much at the same depth. I go into lot of shallow water with mine. The rudder will kick up if you do hit anything with it.

 

[Parsons]

I've got the smaller sister to your boat, and have no issue motoring with just a full rudder and no swing-keel showing. That said, the keel does protect the rudder, which I found out in a nasty collision with something hard motoring as described. Perhaps too much power applied quickly, i.e. not building speed smoothly? Personally, I suggest building some experience with how your particular boat handles. As has been suggested for a variety of new skills (docking, motoring, MOB, etc.), go out away from everything and try various combinations and speeds. It's the best way to figure it out, and you don't have an "audience" at the boat ramp laughing at you.

 

[bamabaxter]

I never said I had an issue with using the rudder. Please read first post.