Wondering what everybody's thoughts were on a shoal VS. fin keel setup. I did a search and didnt find anything effectively helping me. I'm looking at a Pearson 33 shoal draft with the centerboard, it seems like a great boat but what are the advantages and disadvantages of having this setup? I have a Tanzer 22 with a fixed fin keel and its great with no issues. thanks mark
Shoal with Centerboard VS. fixed fin keel
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can have problems
Years ago I had two friends with Irwin 25's with centerboards. Both had problems with the lanyard breaking. Maybe other/newer boats have solved this problem. There are a lot of Catalina 22's in our area and I've not heard of problems with their lanyards. Not sure lanyard is the right term, but I am referring to the line that raises the centerboard.
Years ago I had two friends with Irwin 25's with centerboards. Both had problems with the lanyard breaking. Maybe other/newer boats have solved this problem. There are a lot of Catalina 22's in our area and I've not heard of problems with their lanyards. Not sure lanyard is the right term, but I am referring to the line that raises the centerboard.
center board
I have an O'day 32 center cockpit which was made by Pearson. The boat has a fixed keel of 3.5 ft with a centerboard increasing depth to 7 ft. With all the sandbars in the area, the centerboard is great. benifits: I can get into waist deep water. I can change the center of effort on the boat by adjusting the angle of the board. This adjusts weather helm. The boat is .5 kts faster with the keel up. I only need to drop the keel when winds exceed 15 kts so I can point better. Boat is more stable in high waves with keel down. The reel for the raising of the keel is easy to use (Wife can do it) and because it does not have "rods", it will raise if it takes a strike. The biggest advantage was during Hurricane Ivan when the boat washed up in someone's backyard, it stood on the keel (box wide at bottom) and did not flip over when the water went back out. This happened to both O'Day 32's that were at the same marina while others fell on thier side. Keel does slap side to side slightly in swells during off shore sailing. v/r Walt Schumann
I have an O'day 32 center cockpit which was made by Pearson. The boat has a fixed keel of 3.5 ft with a centerboard increasing depth to 7 ft. With all the sandbars in the area, the centerboard is great. benifits: I can get into waist deep water. I can change the center of effort on the boat by adjusting the angle of the board. This adjusts weather helm. The boat is .5 kts faster with the keel up. I only need to drop the keel when winds exceed 15 kts so I can point better. Boat is more stable in high waves with keel down. The reel for the raising of the keel is easy to use (Wife can do it) and because it does not have "rods", it will raise if it takes a strike. The biggest advantage was during Hurricane Ivan when the boat washed up in someone's backyard, it stood on the keel (box wide at bottom) and did not flip over when the water went back out. This happened to both O'Day 32's that were at the same marina while others fell on thier side. Keel does slap side to side slightly in swells during off shore sailing. v/r Walt Schumann
I recently
purchased a Pearson P36-2 with a shoal draft and centerboard-4'2" to 8'. I sailed the boat only once during the sea trial and had the centerboard up the entire time due to shallow waters (south shore of Long Island). However, where I keep my boat on the north shore (deep water) an aquantance has a P39-2 that has the same set-up and he loves it. Performance wise, he says the boat is great and when he drops the centerboard, it points very well. On a reach he keeps the board up as it goes faster with less wetted area in the water. I have heard the same from others I have talked with prior to purchasing my new boat. I previously had a full keel (Cal 34 III) and was worried, however from all that I have talked with, I think I will be happy. Greg 1986 P36-2 #101 Four the Soul
purchased a Pearson P36-2 with a shoal draft and centerboard-4'2" to 8'. I sailed the boat only once during the sea trial and had the centerboard up the entire time due to shallow waters (south shore of Long Island). However, where I keep my boat on the north shore (deep water) an aquantance has a P39-2 that has the same set-up and he loves it. Performance wise, he says the boat is great and when he drops the centerboard, it points very well. On a reach he keeps the board up as it goes faster with less wetted area in the water. I have heard the same from others I have talked with prior to purchasing my new boat. I previously had a full keel (Cal 34 III) and was worried, however from all that I have talked with, I think I will be happy. Greg 1986 P36-2 #101 Four the Soul
Centerboard performance
We sailed for many years with a friend on his centerboard Bristol 40. Once for fun, we 'match raced' against a fixed keel version, even switching boats for a second match race. The centerboard version was probably a little better maintained, had a racing bottom finish and won both contests, though the fixed keel PHRF was faster 'on paper'. It's also a good point, sometimes not recognized, that one of the plus features of a centerboard boat is being able to swing the board up and adjust for weather helm.
We sailed for many years with a friend on his centerboard Bristol 40. Once for fun, we 'match raced' against a fixed keel version, even switching boats for a second match race. The centerboard version was probably a little better maintained, had a racing bottom finish and won both contests, though the fixed keel PHRF was faster 'on paper'. It's also a good point, sometimes not recognized, that one of the plus features of a centerboard boat is being able to swing the board up and adjust for weather helm.
Keel/centerboard
I am awaiting delivery of a new Beneteau 323 with a lifting keel (technically not a centerboard because in addition to the lateral resistance it has a lot of weight to it that gives additional righting moment). I went for this setup because i need to clear a shallow sandbar to get to my dock and have plenty of water once past the bar. As with any additional mechanism, the centerboard does mean one more thing to go wrong, but if you sail in waters that make the shallow draft an advantage or a necessity, there is a lot to be said for it. Some of the greatest boats ever made were centerboard, like Hinckley's Bermuda 40. In a used boat just be very careful to inspect everything and make sure it freely operates.
I am awaiting delivery of a new Beneteau 323 with a lifting keel (technically not a centerboard because in addition to the lateral resistance it has a lot of weight to it that gives additional righting moment). I went for this setup because i need to clear a shallow sandbar to get to my dock and have plenty of water once past the bar. As with any additional mechanism, the centerboard does mean one more thing to go wrong, but if you sail in waters that make the shallow draft an advantage or a necessity, there is a lot to be said for it. Some of the greatest boats ever made were centerboard, like Hinckley's Bermuda 40. In a used boat just be very careful to inspect everything and make sure it freely operates.
CB/Swing keel vs. fixed keel
I haved owned fixed keel boats (Pearson Ariel), swing keel boats (Chrysler 22), and shoal draft/CB boats (O'Day 23, Montgomery 17, and O'Day 25). The Alberg designed Ariel was the best sailor of the lot -- greatest security in open water heavy weather, and greatest general sailing performance. In a perfect world I would own another Ariel. Since the world is not perfect and is filled with reefs and shallow water, the next best compromise is the shallow draft centerboard option. The ballast in internal and, as with a swing keel, not swinging from a vulnerable stainless pin. The light centerboard is externally hinged and provides lateral resistance when needed in open, deeper water. The O'Day shallow draft keel/CB compromise offers a safe, economical, trailerable configuration.
I haved owned fixed keel boats (Pearson Ariel), swing keel boats (Chrysler 22), and shoal draft/CB boats (O'Day 23, Montgomery 17, and O'Day 25). The Alberg designed Ariel was the best sailor of the lot -- greatest security in open water heavy weather, and greatest general sailing performance. In a perfect world I would own another Ariel. Since the world is not perfect and is filled with reefs and shallow water, the next best compromise is the shallow draft centerboard option. The ballast in internal and, as with a swing keel, not swinging from a vulnerable stainless pin. The light centerboard is externally hinged and provides lateral resistance when needed in open, deeper water. The O'Day shallow draft keel/CB compromise offers a safe, economical, trailerable configuration.
heard bad things about center boards
center boards have moving parts should inspect the pins/ wire every time you haul boat. I have heard of boards swinging down and cracking fiberglass trunks when something breaks. Also hear of the boards banging around when your trying to sleep.
center boards have moving parts should inspect the pins/ wire every time you haul boat. I have heard of boards swinging down and cracking fiberglass trunks when something breaks. Also hear of the boards banging around when your trying to sleep.
Really like mine
The boat I have came in both centerboard and fixed keel versions, and I was looking for the FK, but found a nice CB version first and bought it with some misgivings. Now I really like it, though it was necessary to do some repairs to the board the first year. I pull the boat every year and check the cable and pin closely - in fact, the first year I made a replacement pin that has worked well. There is lead ballast in the shoal keel, so if you don't know the boat real well, you can't tell if the board is up or down. The only time I can really tell much difference is pointing, and even then the difference isn't too great. The benefits of being able to sail into shoaling water or to take her in waist deep for a bottom cleaning make it well worth the added complexity, and it's fun to have an extra tweak for trimming helm balance. But the biggie for me is being able to pull her relatively easily and bring her home - sure is nice to have her 100 ft from the back door.
The boat I have came in both centerboard and fixed keel versions, and I was looking for the FK, but found a nice CB version first and bought it with some misgivings. Now I really like it, though it was necessary to do some repairs to the board the first year. I pull the boat every year and check the cable and pin closely - in fact, the first year I made a replacement pin that has worked well. There is lead ballast in the shoal keel, so if you don't know the boat real well, you can't tell if the board is up or down. The only time I can really tell much difference is pointing, and even then the difference isn't too great. The benefits of being able to sail into shoaling water or to take her in waist deep for a bottom cleaning make it well worth the added complexity, and it's fun to have an extra tweak for trimming helm balance. But the biggie for me is being able to pull her relatively easily and bring her home - sure is nice to have her 100 ft from the back door.
C/B fan
centerboards are better than shoal draught keels. You can modify the lateral plane to balance the boat, board down draught can be very deep and if the board is properly shaped (like a spitfire's wing) upwind performance can be very good. the helm can be balanced easily by adjusting the board. when you need shallow you have it - along with most of the disadvantages of shallow draught but when you can be deep you have almost as good performance as with a deep fin. generally... some C/B boats are real dogs - but if done right you get the best of both worlds - oh BTW you do have to pay attention to them and service them occasionaly.
centerboards are better than shoal draught keels. You can modify the lateral plane to balance the boat, board down draught can be very deep and if the board is properly shaped (like a spitfire's wing) upwind performance can be very good. the helm can be balanced easily by adjusting the board. when you need shallow you have it - along with most of the disadvantages of shallow draught but when you can be deep you have almost as good performance as with a deep fin. generally... some C/B boats are real dogs - but if done right you get the best of both worlds - oh BTW you do have to pay attention to them and service them occasionaly.
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