Cutting the keel???

jwreck · #1 (**permalink**) 03-31-2010

Is this really done? Is it even remotely cost effective? How bad does it mess with a boat's performance?

mitiempo · #2 (**permalink**) 03-31-2010

Why on earth would you ever want to cut a keel? If much weight is taken off the boat will not be able to stand up to its sail area as designed. If a boat was to be so modified it should be after a redesign by a respected naval architect.
Cost effective? How?

deniseO30 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-31-2010

yet many older center board/drop keel cruisers have the slot filled in because the owners don't/won't/can't/don't know how to deal with it. Which to me translates as the same thing.

PeterSailer · #4 (**permalink**) 03-31-2010

Yes it has been done.
check out there links...
MarsKeel Technology Keel Draft Reductions

http://www.marskeel.com/fckeditor/us...ng%20World.pdf

TQA · #5 (**permalink**) 03-31-2010

CSY 44s were designed to be able to slice off the bottom foot of the keel.

The idea was after they were finished chartering they could have their draft reduced for Florida / Bahamas sailing.

mitiempo · #6 (**permalink**) 03-31-2010

Peter
Shortening a keel and bolting on torpeedo shaped lead to it is a lot different than just cutting 500 or 1000 lbs off. As well with shallower draft there would have to be more ballast than there was originally in a deeper keel to maintain the same stability.

Denise
Eliminating an unballasted centerboard will affect pointing ability but not stability. If it is a heavily ballasted centerboard that is removed it will change stability. If the ballasted board is just kept in the slot it is no different than forgetting to lower it. While not as low the weight is still there.

TQA
The key word is "designed".

jwreck
Exactly what are you planning to do?

PeterSailer · #7 (**permalink**) 03-31-2010

Quote:

Peter
Shortening a keel and bolting on torpeedo shaped lead to it is a lot different than just cutting 500 or 1000 lbs off. As well with shallower draft there would have to be more ballast than there was originally in a deeper keel to maintain the same stability.

It says the exact same thing in the second link I posted.

For obvious reason you can't cut off 500-1000lbs of lead off your keel without adding a bulb... But it's possible to reduce draft.

mitiempo · #8 (**permalink**) 03-31-2010

Which leaves us wondering exactly what jwreck has in mind. His question was pretty vague.

scottyt · #9 (**permalink**) 03-31-2010

my 83 hunter 27 is a shoal keel the keel weighs 3300 lbs and my draft is 3'3" the true fin keel is a foot deeper and 200 lbs lighter

just for comparison

less depth more weight to offset the leverage the keel has lost with length

mitiempo · #10 (**permalink**) 03-31-2010

Exactly right, scotty. The same with my CS27 deep vs shoal and any other design I know of.