Quote:
Originally Posted by lsbrodsky
I have been offshore in my 31, shoal keel, and it is not too light. It is very sea-kindly, excellent design. Of course, the bigger the better for offshore comfort. The biggest I have ever sailed is 60 feet and that was really nice. You can get to all of the destinations you list with 6 ft draft, but why? I am convinced that the performance of the shoal draft PSC's is very close to the full draft. I have sailed both and couldn't really tell the difference. The Scheel keel on mine is a great design that really helps upwind. I can think of many instances, particularly on the ICW, where I would not have wanted any more draft. If you can get the same boat , basically, with a shoal draft, it opens up more possibilities for gunkholing. If you lived in Hawaii it wouldn't matter, but here(and the Bahamas) it does. Let me be clear, you can sail with either draft, it is just gunkholing moving around under power that have some draft limitaions around here.
Larry
ASYLUM
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Larry,
Thanks again. I tried to send you an email directly, but I've not reached my 10 posting minimum yet.
I'm so torn. I know what you mean about the ICW, not to mention other cool places like The Dismal Swamp Canal. Those are places I'd really miss not being able to show my fiance. I also remember trying to take my dad's Morgan 32 with a 4' something keel out in some mixed up seas and thinking at the time how much better it would be to have a deep draft boat.
It's such a trade off. I know they say don't become fixated on the keel, but it's hard not to after sailing Pamlico. It's interesting to hear you included The Bahamas in your comment. My other issue is that the particular boat is discounted since it was at the Annapolis Trade Show. I realize that Larry Pardey says NOT to buy a show boat, but this one's in pretty good shape.
My personal email is alannc44(at)ix.netcom.com if you have more to say and I would certainly enjoy hearing anyone else's advice and comments about my quandry.
Alan