[TomL]

I just started sorting through this thread and found it very interesting. I sail a Craig Walters designed 47' centerboarder...Draft is 2'6" board up 8'3" with the keel down...The centerboard a very nice elliptical shape, very fine foil and when fully lowered a cassette completely seals off the trunk very clean.
Construction is composite. Sailing downwind in heavy air retracting the board all the way is the way to go, she just slides on waves and acts like a dart...(Don't want to do this in close quaters racing because she only turns straight!) never has come close to broaching as there is nothing down below to trip over. The two main draw backs I have is the interior volume lost to the trunk
AND, I feel bad when other boaters assume there is deep water around me when I'm on the hook in 3' or cutting a corner...happens everytime.