Quote:
Originally Posted by SailorMitch
For real gunkholing, I agree with the 5 feet max figure. Over that and you really cut down the places you can go. Of course, I am a brave soul with a wing keel (draws 4'2") and Dawg will chime in that the next time I go aground I shall surely die!!!! (Have gone aground multiple times down through the years and have never needed assistance to get off the bottom. Wings are great for the bay.)
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I have to say my short experience confirms your long term observations regarding winged keels on the bay.
Our O'day 322 with it's "patented" "Hydrokeel" also draws 4'2" and even though our inexpert navigating has let us find the bottom a few times, we've always been able to back off fairly easily. I really feel that the wide flat bottom of the wing keeps you from digging in and getting stuck. I suppose if you sailed onto a shoal where the wingtip might dig in it might be more of a problem than a fin, but where I sail, the water is plenty deep once you get out of the creeks into the River/Bay, so we are generally motoring when there is a chance of grounding.
Looking at the pictures, I would love to buy Sailingfools CS36, but its the deep draft version and I think I'd have to have a tug to get me from my slip to the bay. Ah well, back to Yachtworld looking at boats with a draft of 5' or less.