Help please, I don't get it...

[blueranger]

I'm confused on the description I read regarding a 1967 Morgan 34 sloop.The description/review reads:

It rides very easy in rough water, feels strong and solid. I love the draft of only 39" (with centerboard up) - I'm able to get close to beaches, etc. with the long protected keel. I also almost always just leave the centerboard up - it sails great.

I looked at a picture of one and it looks like a full keel and claims 5000 lbs of lead ballast. So where would the centerboard be and how would that change the draft with a fixed full-length keel?

I thought the centerboard WAS the keel. Thanks to anyone who cares to explain this to me.

Thanks as always,
Mike

[billangiep]

Mike, The center board drops out of the full keel. There is usually a pivot pin and is lowered with a cable and winch. Some are weighted some are not. Lowering on a close reach will generally help you point a few degree's higher.
Bill,

[chucklesR]

This is a Morgan 34 ft Centerboard sloop. It has a full keel which has a draft of 39 inches, board up.
You can't see the board in this picture, it is retracted into the keel. When the board is down the draft is 7"9'

Does that help?

1966 MORGAN Centerboard Sloop for sale in Lancaster, VA: Cruiser (Sail) - SailboatTraderOnline.com

[Sabreman]

I don't know this boat in particular, but I'll use my boat as a somewhat standard example. The centerboard is relatively light (~120lbs) and used only for lateral stability upwind or on a reach. The bulk if the righting forces (i.e., weight) is in the keel which also acts as a centerboard case. In the instance that you describe, a 5000lb centerboard would be nearly impossible to raise or lower without an electric windlass of great size. Ours is a hand crank reel winch.

I expect that the Morgan has the same arrangement. 39" with the board up, is really shallow. We draw 52" with the board up.

[JohnRPollard]

Blueranger,

I'm not familiar with that specific boat, but some full- and fin-keeled boats also have a centerboard. The centerboard is recessed into a slot in the keel when it is up, then pivots down and increases the draft when in use (usually for sailing upwind).

There are some designs that only have centerboards, but these are usually smaller dinghies and daysailers. As boats get larger, it is rare (but not unheard of) to have only a centerboard. When a centerboard is used on a larger boat, it is usually in conjunction with some kind of a fixed keel.

[sailingdog]

A short keel, like you see in the drawings that only draws 39" is going to have fairly poor windward performance. To improve the windward ability of the boat they have a centerboard that pivots down out of the stub keel. In many cases the board is heavily weighted and is actually a swing keel.

[blueranger]

Sabreman, the 5k is in the keel. I don't know what the board itself weighs.

Seems like you could spend the rest of your life sailing all the different designs out there before you decide what you like. The idea of the shallow draft is appealing but dang, my little 22 footer draws 4 ft empty.

Any comments on the pros and cons of this kind of keel/centerboard design? I've only sailed on fin keel boats. All I can think of is there's one more hole in the boat water can get through. Kind of makes me shy away from centerboard boats. Then again all I need are my 2 keel bolts to rust out...

Thank you all for taking the time to help me out with these questions. You guys are a huge help and it's greatly appreciated!

Mike

[sailaway21]

Mike,
There are quite a few boats designed thus and of proven reliability. The Tartan owners here are notorious for they're loyalty to their version of the design. Stick around, one of 'em will probably be along shortly. And, welcome to you!

[Sabreman]

We've had zero problems with the centerboard. There is a through hull for the cable that has a SS pipe & hose arrangement on it to guide the cable aft and up to the cockpit. I check the hose & fittings regularly, just like any other through hull. I've replaced the thimble and eye at the end of the cable once when I saw a few broken strands in the SS cable.

To be honest, at 110 lbs dry weight, the board applies very little stress on the cable. The only problem that I ever saw was with my Father's Catalina 22 back in the 70's. The fitting attaching the cable to the iron keel rusted through and the board came down with a crash. I though that the bottom of the boat would fall out, but there was no ill effect other than our stained shorts. http://www.sailnet.com/forums/images...es/biggrin.gif

I crewed on a Sabre 34 with the same arrangement, and there were no problems there either. If well designed, it's a reliable system. Just keep gunk out of the case - see the "What is This Thing" thread.