SOAL DRAFT SAILING QUALITIES?

[CLIFF]

cAN ANYONE TELL ME IF THE SHOAL DRAFT HUNTER 34 SAILS AS GOOD AS THE REGULAR ONE? IS IT A GOOD ROUGH WATER BOAT? WILL IT TAKE A KNOCK DOWN?

 

[Terry]

Hi Cliff, it seems I read an article awhile back..

about a skipper sailing his H34 (or about that size) solo across the Atlantic. I would say your shoal draft will handle the ocean just fine. The archives I'm sure have several articles for you to read on this subject.Whether a shoal draft will sail better or worse than a traditional keel is a topic of considerable debate. Some say a shoal draft will not point quite as high, or it tends to drift more, etc. I guess it depends on what you expect from the boat. If I wanted to win some race accross the Atlantic I would probably pick a racer as opposed to a cruiser. As far as a knock down goes the boat should right itself after the event that caused it passes. It also depends on how severe the event. If the companionway boards were left out at the time, allowing sea water to pour into the boat, this could aggravate the boat's ability to recover. Terry

 

[Dave Ullman]

Knock Down

Certainly not precise, but to offer a bit of information: A simple Capsize Screening Formula---1. Take the gross weight in pounds. Convert it into the volume of displaced sea water by dividing by 64.2. Divide the cube root of this number into the maximum beam in feet.If the result is 2 or less, the boat passes the screen. (survives a knock down)Details and much more info in "Desirable and Undesirable Characteristics of Offshore Yachts", The Technical Committee of the Cruising Club of America, 1987.Dave Ullman

 

[David Foster]

Shoal draft no effect on seaworthiness

It's true they won't point as well as the deep draft keel, which is a better wing. But they are usually heavier to make up for the reduction of the ballast lever arm. As a result, the capsize screen and angle of vanishing stability should remain about the same.Actually, the shoal draft boat, which will make more leeway in a gust is a little less likely to be knocked down. At a 45 degree heel, our keel is pretty well hidden behind the hull!On recovery from a knockdown, again, both will perform the same. DavidLady Lillie

 

[Clyde Lichtenwalner]

Answers

1. No. More leeway than deep keel, but still overall faster than most other cruising boats. In my opinion, astoundingly good performance for a boat with only 4'-3" draft.2. I have no idea what your definition of a "good rough water boat" is. It is no worse than the average.3. That depends on too many things to provide an answer. It is no worse than the average boat in this price range.