Shoal versus deep keel

[Frank Arndorfer]

I looking for some general advice on a shoal draft versus deep keel on a cruising boat used primarily for extended cruising on the Great Lakes. The boat in question will be a new Hunter 426 Deck Saloon (dunno why they use the word 'saloon'....salon sounds better). Shoal draft is 5', deep would be 6'6". Weight difference is about 150lb.Would there be appreciable differences in performance/handling between the two. I plan on equipping the boat with an in-boom furling mainsail with full roach and full battens. And to the advice of Great Lakes sailors...am I going to encounter problems around the lakes with a 6'6" draft.??? I sail out of Milwaukee and we're hopefully now starting to experience an anticipated INCREASE in water levels compared to the past 4 years.Present boat is a H340 with shoal draft, drawing 4'6". No pun intended, but how much difference is 24" going to make.?????Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Capt Joe]

It's your call

I sail the NC coastal waters which are notorious for being shallow with new shoals popping up overnight. I agonized over the same decision and chose a full keel anyway. I wanted it for offshore sailing. I have encountered a couple of places along the coast that I have bypassed because of my draft, but am very confident when the wind gets up and the waves get big. I have Had my boat heading out the Beaufort, NC inlet into 8ft seas and 25 knot winds and and my H30 with full keel did fine.

 

[Alan Orr]

"Fin" keel

Unless I totally misunderstand , I think you mean "fin" keel not "full" keel. I had a "bulb wing" keel and changed to a custom fin keel, WHAT a difference! You are right , the boat is much better mannered when the wind and seas pick up, not to mention that it points higher and has less leeway and is much faster on all points of sail.