Is it practical to swap keels on a H280. The boat I'm considering has a 5'6" draft. I would prefer the 3'6" version. Any thoughts would be apprecitated. Jeff
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I think it can be done!
Jeff: I think that this can be done. It just depends on how much you think that it is worth. There is an article in the current Cruising World. A fellow with a C'30 did this. Cut a foot off his keel and added a bulb to it. You realize that you are going to have a different boat once this is done. It may or may not sail up to your expectations. Have you thought about buying another boat with a shoal keel. You may be money ahead.
Jeff: I think that this can be done. It just depends on how much you think that it is worth. There is an article in the current Cruising World. A fellow with a C'30 did this. Cut a foot off his keel and added a bulb to it. You realize that you are going to have a different boat once this is done. It may or may not sail up to your expectations. Have you thought about buying another boat with a shoal keel. You may be money ahead.
Probably not.
You could do as Steve suggests, cut yours off and(with a lot of professional help and $$$) add a bulb. As Steve points out this is described in the new issue of CW. But the shoal draft boat and the fin keel boat(of the same model) do not have the same hull stub. The shoal draft stub is longer because the keel has to be longer. Usually it is also wider(thicker). This is necessary to get the weight(righting moment) that is required. Maybe with enough glass work you could match a shoal keel to your boat but I doubt it.
You could do as Steve suggests, cut yours off and(with a lot of professional help and $$$) add a bulb. As Steve points out this is described in the new issue of CW. But the shoal draft boat and the fin keel boat(of the same model) do not have the same hull stub. The shoal draft stub is longer because the keel has to be longer. Usually it is also wider(thicker). This is necessary to get the weight(righting moment) that is required. Maybe with enough glass work you could match a shoal keel to your boat but I doubt it.
Proceed with Caution
If you do as was shown in CW. You may compensate for the weight (by adding a bulb) and restore the righting moment. But, you may adversely affect the boats center of lateral resistance. This could severely affect your ability to point. Check with hunter or a naval architect for advice before you proceed. Also, I believe the guy in CW spent at least 24 hours over several days and over $2000 for the do it at home modification.
If you do as was shown in CW. You may compensate for the weight (by adding a bulb) and restore the righting moment. But, you may adversely affect the boats center of lateral resistance. This could severely affect your ability to point. Check with hunter or a naval architect for advice before you proceed. Also, I believe the guy in CW spent at least 24 hours over several days and over $2000 for the do it at home modification.
Oh, Ed!
Ed: I think that Hunter actually built the hulls the same on these boats (not sure about this) according to some previous posts. So a keel swap may be just that easy. My personal feelings would be to get another boat before I would cut anything off. I would not have any problem with adding additional ballast to and existing keel (with guidance from an expert). I would be concerned about how well this boat would perform with 2 feet of keel missing (regardless of the ballast). 3'6" is a very shoal keel in my opinion.
Ed: I think that Hunter actually built the hulls the same on these boats (not sure about this) according to some previous posts. So a keel swap may be just that easy. My personal feelings would be to get another boat before I would cut anything off. I would not have any problem with adding additional ballast to and existing keel (with guidance from an expert). I would be concerned about how well this boat would perform with 2 feet of keel missing (regardless of the ballast). 3'6" is a very shoal keel in my opinion.
Not 5'6"
Jeff: The 280 is listed at 5' not 5'6". I did not fully read your post. You are CONSIDERING this boat. If you want a 3'6" keel, then you should purchase one with that configuration or find a boat that fits your criteria better.
Jeff: The 280 is listed at 5' not 5'6". I did not fully read your post. You are CONSIDERING this boat. If you want a 3'6" keel, then you should purchase one with that configuration or find a boat that fits your criteria better.
Not worth it
Jeff, I do not think the effort involved is worth it. You can probably find the boat you want and have it shipped to St. Louis for less money than is involved in swaping keels. Certainly less hassel and less time. Check out the boats for sail on this site and the following link.
Jeff, I do not think the effort involved is worth it. You can probably find the boat you want and have it shipped to St. Louis for less money than is involved in swaping keels. Certainly less hassel and less time. Check out the boats for sail on this site and the following link.
5'0" vs 5'6"
I appreciate your quick responses. The boat I looked at was on the hard and I actually measured the height from the base level of the keel to the scum line. It checked 5'6". Not sure how loaded down the boat was when it sailed last. What also made this boat so appealing was the TILLER. Thanks, Jeff
I appreciate your quick responses. The boat I looked at was on the hard and I actually measured the height from the base level of the keel to the scum line. It checked 5'6". Not sure how loaded down the boat was when it sailed last. What also made this boat so appealing was the TILLER. Thanks, Jeff
Draft
Jeff, you point out a good topic with your draft measurement. This winter I inspected a number of boats on the Gulf coast of Florida. Shoal draft is very important in that area. Not one of these boats had a draft as the manufacturers specs stated. One 35' boat measured 4'11' FOR THE 4' 6" keel. Another stated 4' but measured 4'10". The manufacturers specs are probably for a boat with no equipment and no fluids. Some of the older boats had inaccurate molds. Also, the fiberglass can absorb as much as 3%. Where draft is critical it appears important to measure on the hard.
Jeff, you point out a good topic with your draft measurement. This winter I inspected a number of boats on the Gulf coast of Florida. Shoal draft is very important in that area. Not one of these boats had a draft as the manufacturers specs stated. One 35' boat measured 4'11' FOR THE 4' 6" keel. Another stated 4' but measured 4'10". The manufacturers specs are probably for a boat with no equipment and no fluids. Some of the older boats had inaccurate molds. Also, the fiberglass can absorb as much as 3%. Where draft is critical it appears important to measure on the hard.
May be the case with all of them!
Jeff: This actually may be the case with all of the boats. I know that my H'31 is suppose to be 5'3" and I think that it is closer to 6' than 5. I have to agree with David. I think the the mfg's must measure the theoretical water line to determine the draught. I still would look for another boat before I modified one. Finding an owner that wants to swap may not be easy. Modifying is not cheap and will probably diminsh the value. As for tiller steering, weeeeelllll. In my opinion it makes sailing with guests a pain in the ass. If you are going to sail with one or two people most of the time it is not bad. There has been a lot of discussion on this site about that exact issue. Check out the archives.
Jeff: This actually may be the case with all of the boats. I know that my H'31 is suppose to be 5'3" and I think that it is closer to 6' than 5. I have to agree with David. I think the the mfg's must measure the theoretical water line to determine the draught. I still would look for another boat before I modified one. Finding an owner that wants to swap may not be easy. Modifying is not cheap and will probably diminsh the value. As for tiller steering, weeeeelllll. In my opinion it makes sailing with guests a pain in the ass. If you are going to sail with one or two people most of the time it is not bad. There has been a lot of discussion on this site about that exact issue. Check out the archives.
Don't do it !!!
Our H280 has the shoal keel fitted and it likes to lay over very quickly and is nearly as bad as a Cat. with it's sideways drift on the reach/tack !!! No good for racing !!! We need the shoal keel for access to jetties and our mooring (2.0 metres/6 foot) here on Lake Macquarie otherwise we would swap you. Also, no one has mentioned that you would have to shorten the rudder. Buy a shoal keel fitted H280 if you must have the shoal keel. Regards, Robb
Our H280 has the shoal keel fitted and it likes to lay over very quickly and is nearly as bad as a Cat. with it's sideways drift on the reach/tack !!! No good for racing !!! We need the shoal keel for access to jetties and our mooring (2.0 metres/6 foot) here on Lake Macquarie otherwise we would swap you. Also, no one has mentioned that you would have to shorten the rudder. Buy a shoal keel fitted H280 if you must have the shoal keel. Regards, Robb
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