Winged keel tall rig with sprit OR Fin keel regular rig no sprit

[cadams]

We are planning to buy a Catalina 30 to sail in a medium sized lake (9 miles long) in Kansas. We get a wide range of wind and like sailing in varied conditions.

We plan to do a bit of friendly racing for fun.

There are several good choices around.

Ideally, I think I would like a fin keel (better pointing) with the tall rig and bow sprit (more power). However, that combination doesn't seem to be available right now around here.

There is a nice Catalina 30 with winged keel and tall rig with sprit.

There is also a nice Catalina with fin keel and regular rig (no sprit).

Which would be a better performer upwind and downwind?

I am also a bit concerned that if we ever grounded the wing in the mud, it would be much tougher than the fin to get off. Thoughts?

Also, a lot of Catalina 30's we've looked at don't have downhauls or rings on the mast for the spinnaker pole. Is this pretty easy to add?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can send my way.

C. Adams

 

[valcour]

Similar boat with wing

I have a Catalina 310 with a wing keel. I was also concerned about grounding in mud (I sail on Chesapeake bay), but after several incidents, I have always been able to get off without having to wait for the tide to come in. Instead of heeling the boat, I use my spin pole to push the bow around and return to deeper water. As far as performance, I believe you will see much better pointing upwind from the fin keel (my old fin keel Catalina 27 could sail circles around the 310 with a wing), but not much difference downwind. If you plan to dabble in racing, or expect light airs, I recommend you look a little further for the TMBS models, as you can always reef if it too much. The spin pole eye (or track) is an easy install.

Dave

 

[Twice Around]

C. Adams. I agree with valcour. If you want a TR, wait for it to be attached to a Fin keel. I have a Short rig & fin keel and it sails OK...I wouldn't let a nice short rig pass me up if it came along just because it is the short (STD) rig.
Around here (also Chesapeake) the TRFK boats rate 177 & the SRFK is 192 (the last time my boat had a rating). That is 15 seconds per mile, which is about a whopping 1.5 boatlengths!! I don't know if you'd get a credit for a Wing Keel, but I know for sure a FK will sail better than a WK.

My $0.02