I know this is a dead thread, but it’s still useful as I wish I had this info before I bought mine.
PROS:
Keeps the COG lower when tailoring,
needs a less complicated trailer,
easier to put in and take out of water since it requires less depth.
CONS:
Unless you trailer the boat often, most pros are useless
Pin will eventually fail
Keel cable hums loudly
Keel bangs on boat hull and eventually mashes a soggy hole in it
OR
You lock keel in down position and run shallow causing great damage to hull
OR
keep the cable just tight enough it never bangs hull and your wench tears out eventually
cable has too be replaced every so often… very easy on my boat (takes 10 minutes)
hull maintenance is MUCH harder b/c the swing keel has to come off for everything… cleaning, painting, just to look inside (so snugly fit in there, you can’t just raise and lower to get better view/access).
You can’t just raise the keel and save yourself if you start to run shallow (by the time you go below and raise the keel, it’s always too late
