The Unthinkable

JagsBch · #1 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009

I took the 500lb steel keel off of my 20' mirage. I got tired of it banging back and forth from it bouncing around in the keel trunk in choppy water. Now that I got it off I am entertaining taking it out to do some red fishing in one of the many creeks around here on the intercoastal in Jacksonville.

I might draft 6 inches now that I removed the keel. I was wondering how much of a bad idea this is. I had a few motor boat captains acting sceptical as to weather this was a safe thing to do.

It is a 1979 20' Mirage. She is a pretty fast sailboat. I plan on sanding the keel that is is very rusty and repainting it, and then placing some brass sleeve's on either side of the keel in the trunk to minimise the back and forth banging that occurs in choppy water.

I had planned on using aluminum sleeves on eachside of the keel in the trunk but someone said it would speed up the rust process. Any suggestions?

Valiente · #2 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009

Look up "galvanic corrosion". Dissimilar metals in a keel will make it happen.

scottyt · #3 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009

dont try to sail anything other than dead down wind with out the keel, use a motor to go up the creeks

JagsBch · #4 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009

I was just going to motor boat around until I have it hauled out at a nearby marina so I can reinstall the Keel when it is ready. Not planning on sailing without the keel tried that before with it up...

No foil whatsoever.

Speaking of foil I wonder what would happen if you had an adjustible fin or fins on the bottom of your keel in order to manipulate the foil to increase bite. It is done with the mast by bending it to gain speed, well if you had two fins parallel to the keel that could be angled by turning a shaft running up the keel in order to increase speed by reducing the degree the boat is tilted in.

What do you guys think? Has anything like this been attempted.

sailortjk1 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009

Have fun docking and maneuvering in tight spaces.

JagsBch · #6 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009

Am I going to have a rough time motoring without the keel?

bubb2 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009

You do have the keel stump attached and you removed the centerboard? I hope that is what you are saying!

sailortjk1 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubb2

You do have the keel stump attached and you removed the centerboard? I hope that is what you are saying!

Mike, he says this as part of the post...

Quote:

I might draft 6 inches now that I removed the keel.

bubb2 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009

I hope he has a big bucket! Because he has a stability problem!

smackdaddy · #10 (**permalink**) 07-22-2009

Jags, I just read some pretty whacky stuff that someone posted under your name in the "Lost at Sea" thread. I didn't want to say anything there to keep the thread legit....but...dude!?!

Sheep, operas, and dirty diapers? Spiritual in-tune-ment with surgical precision? Seriously?

Dude! You're pulling your freakin' keel off your boat! What are the sheep saying about that?

In rating those posts I'd have to give them a:

Jeez. Get a Mac!

(P-eth, jutht remember the lethon of the Titanic. No boat ith unthinkable.)