I'm very interested in a '77 H-27 right now, but it has the shoal keel. Any opinions on the differences in handling? Just over a 3' draft versus just over 4' seems pretty major to me, but I'm a complete newbie so I have no real idea. I do know there's no need for a shallow draft where I'll be keeping it (Lake Huron).
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Too bad Matt
Because if you want it to perform its' best you want the deep FIN keel. (Full keel is another design and not interchangeable) A fin keel is lighter and faster. No getting around it.
Because if you want it to perform its' best you want the deep FIN keel. (Full keel is another design and not interchangeable) A fin keel is lighter and faster. No getting around it.
Deep Fin Keel
equals greater performance as Fred says. Its basic aerosol dynamics whether in air or water. The greater the surface area the more lift you get and diminished lateral motion, thus better performance. On the other hand, around here a shoal keel is prefered because the water is so shallow. Mine has 5'3" keel, so I am tempting fate. A good westerly or Nor'wester (wind tide) and she'll be stuck in the bottom until the wind changes.
equals greater performance as Fred says. Its basic aerosol dynamics whether in air or water. The greater the surface area the more lift you get and diminished lateral motion, thus better performance. On the other hand, around here a shoal keel is prefered because the water is so shallow. Mine has 5'3" keel, so I am tempting fate. A good westerly or Nor'wester (wind tide) and she'll be stuck in the bottom until the wind changes.
Matt
My brother has an Ericson 26 with a wing keel. I have a Hunter 27 with a deep fin keel. His boat heels just so far and stops. I takes an act of congress to get that boat over any more. My boat is very stable also and it also sail to windward better. I do not know about the boat your looking at however.
My brother has an Ericson 26 with a wing keel. I have a Hunter 27 with a deep fin keel. His boat heels just so far and stops. I takes an act of congress to get that boat over any more. My boat is very stable also and it also sail to windward better. I do not know about the boat your looking at however.
Keel
You're sailing in a fresh water ocean. Deeper keel is better for a good ten reasons. Keep looking. Regards, Jim
You're sailing in a fresh water ocean. Deeper keel is better for a good ten reasons. Keep looking. Regards, Jim
Go for the deeper keel
We love our shaol draft '77 h27. The shallow draft can make a difference getting into some harbors on anchorages when Lake Erie is low. But I wish we had the 4' keel. It's still not that deep, and there is a real difference going to windward with the deeper keel. David Lady Lillie
We love our shaol draft '77 h27. The shallow draft can make a difference getting into some harbors on anchorages when Lake Erie is low. But I wish we had the 4' keel. It's still not that deep, and there is a real difference going to windward with the deeper keel. David Lady Lillie
Thanks folks
Thanks for the info everyone. And my mistake. I meant the fin keel vs shoal, not FULL keel. I probably shoulda mentioned my intended use, which is just comfortable cruising, no racing, but it sounds like the fin keel is better regardless. So it's back to the drawing board. It's been tougher than I thought. Being pretty much in the middle of the Great Lakes, I thought there'd be lots to choose from. But when you narrow down your desires you narrow down your choices. No hurry though, it's cold out there.
Thanks for the info everyone. And my mistake. I meant the fin keel vs shoal, not FULL keel. I probably shoulda mentioned my intended use, which is just comfortable cruising, no racing, but it sounds like the fin keel is better regardless. So it's back to the drawing board. It's been tougher than I thought. Being pretty much in the middle of the Great Lakes, I thought there'd be lots to choose from. But when you narrow down your desires you narrow down your choices. No hurry though, it's cold out there.
hey matt still lookin eh?
So the search continues. It sounds like you sail the same way as i do. One question is the 27 your looking at inboard engine or outboard? my last boat was a 24 bristol with an outboard motor. easier to work on but just a dog for proformance. hope the answer is inboard. if you plan to come to muskegon lookin again, get ahold of me. i'll take you around if possible,(work keeps me pretty busy alot of the time.
So the search continues. It sounds like you sail the same way as i do. One question is the 27 your looking at inboard engine or outboard? my last boat was a 24 bristol with an outboard motor. easier to work on but just a dog for proformance. hope the answer is inboard. if you plan to come to muskegon lookin again, get ahold of me. i'll take you around if possible,(work keeps me pretty busy alot of the time.
If the price is right
Maybe the shoal draft is OK, esp. if for crusing not racing. My 3rd hand shoal draft 27 spent 17 years crusing Maine and trip to Nova Scotia before I bought it. The arcives have a lot of info on this subject.
Maybe the shoal draft is OK, esp. if for crusing not racing. My 3rd hand shoal draft 27 spent 17 years crusing Maine and trip to Nova Scotia before I bought it. The arcives have a lot of info on this subject.
Lugeman
Hey lugeman, Thanks for the offer. I was thinking about making another drive to Muskegon Saturday but there's a couple 27's in Bay City I wanna look at first. They're a little higher $$ than I was planning on, but I won't have the issue of either trucking it or mooring far away for the summer so I can get the experience to sail it to the new home. But if I decide to go to Muskegon the following weekend I'll throw a post out here. And yes, the H-27 south of Detroit does have an inboard, Yanmar SB8, that's supposed to run very well. It looks good but I can't hear it run on the hard. Not a lot of oomph but enough for me I'm sure. A little mast step depression but the post and the sole look fine. Probably a little punky core under the mast.
Hey lugeman, Thanks for the offer. I was thinking about making another drive to Muskegon Saturday but there's a couple 27's in Bay City I wanna look at first. They're a little higher $$ than I was planning on, but I won't have the issue of either trucking it or mooring far away for the summer so I can get the experience to sail it to the new home. But if I decide to go to Muskegon the following weekend I'll throw a post out here. And yes, the H-27 south of Detroit does have an inboard, Yanmar SB8, that's supposed to run very well. It looks good but I can't hear it run on the hard. Not a lot of oomph but enough for me I'm sure. A little mast step depression but the post and the sole look fine. Probably a little punky core under the mast.
It all depends on the depth
I have the 1978 shoad keel, a dog upwind but great to get into my shallow harbor. I go across the sand bar when my friends spend an extra 3 miles going around. Perforamce is OK but my harbor is very!! shallow. At low tide I often sit with the keel 3 or 4 inches in the mud. No tilt of the deck just stuck. The SB 8 is a work horse but maybe a little underpowered. You can run it on the hard. You just need an extra hose and a bucket of water. Undo the hose from the seacock to the water pump, but the extra hose onto the waterpump fitting and put it in a bucket of water. With 5 gallons you can run for at least 3 or 4 minutes. (REMEMBER TO PUT IT BACK AND CLAMP IT)To rewinterize, you just stick the hose in a gallon or2 or 3 of nontoxic antifreeze. And run until the last antifrees bottle is empty That is if the batteries are still onboard and the intakes haven't been plugged and the housing sprayed with that winterizer gunk. I've been doing this for more tha 10 years and it works out fine.
I have the 1978 shoad keel, a dog upwind but great to get into my shallow harbor. I go across the sand bar when my friends spend an extra 3 miles going around. Perforamce is OK but my harbor is very!! shallow. At low tide I often sit with the keel 3 or 4 inches in the mud. No tilt of the deck just stuck. The SB 8 is a work horse but maybe a little underpowered. You can run it on the hard. You just need an extra hose and a bucket of water. Undo the hose from the seacock to the water pump, but the extra hose onto the waterpump fitting and put it in a bucket of water. With 5 gallons you can run for at least 3 or 4 minutes. (REMEMBER TO PUT IT BACK AND CLAMP IT)To rewinterize, you just stick the hose in a gallon or2 or 3 of nontoxic antifreeze. And run until the last antifrees bottle is empty That is if the batteries are still onboard and the intakes haven't been plugged and the housing sprayed with that winterizer gunk. I've been doing this for more tha 10 years and it works out fine.
howards right matt
the way howard describes is exactly how to test the engine. My hose on the 30 hunter is long enough when i unclamp the hose from the freshwater inlet( under the sink) i can pull it through the bulkhead. I winterize exactly how he desribes. Run the engine with the hose stuck in a bucket with 3 gallons of pink stuff until i see nothing but pink coming out of the exaust.however mine doesn't run that long on a single five gallon bucket.i get about 1-2 minutes. maybe my engine is a different model. Happy hunting. Lugeman.
the way howard describes is exactly how to test the engine. My hose on the 30 hunter is long enough when i unclamp the hose from the freshwater inlet( under the sink) i can pull it through the bulkhead. I winterize exactly how he desribes. Run the engine with the hose stuck in a bucket with 3 gallons of pink stuff until i see nothing but pink coming out of the exaust.however mine doesn't run that long on a single five gallon bucket.i get about 1-2 minutes. maybe my engine is a different model. Happy hunting. Lugeman.
Thanks again
Thanks again for the help folks. I hadn't really thought that running the engine was an option this time of year as the marina had turned their water off. I figured a hose was needed. Good idea on the bucket. Looking at a couple with fin keels but they're newer. How bout wheel steering? I know there's more feedback with tillers, and that seems like a good thing for rookies, but is it that helpful? I'm only gonna keep it for maybe four years so I need to think resale value too.
Thanks again for the help folks. I hadn't really thought that running the engine was an option this time of year as the marina had turned their water off. I figured a hose was needed. Good idea on the bucket. Looking at a couple with fin keels but they're newer. How bout wheel steering? I know there's more feedback with tillers, and that seems like a good thing for rookies, but is it that helpful? I'm only gonna keep it for maybe four years so I need to think resale value too.
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