Taking the plunge-getting another sailboat!

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

I would truly think the swing keel though...in design a great idea...they seem to accumulate problems when you need them the most jmo [/img]

How so? Do you mean getting jammed, or the winch/cable failing? Most swing keel problems I've heard of could've been prevented with proper maintenance, but I have heard of a cable snapping in rough weather, and the keel bashing its way through the hull. I guess that could be a downer!

My Chrysler 22 has a swing keel, and I love it. I can float it in 20" of water, but with the 800# keel down it has a 4.5' draft and is nice and steady.

Originally Posted by Snapper33

I have an O'Day 26, with shoal keel and we trailer it. We've sailed L. Michigan and all over Puget Sound. We love it. Lake Fly-Er in this photo.

Nice boat. CDI furler? What's the draft on an oday 26?

[Hard-Deck]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

Nice boat. CDI furler? What's the draft on an oday 26?

Thank you. Yes CDI on the Oday. The O'Day has a 2'6" with the board up, 6' with it down.

Here's a photo of our former Chrysler 22, taken before Christmas, hence tree on deck. We loved that boat.

[notfarnow]

wow, the contrasting grey non-slip looks great. So does that bimini... was made for a chrysler 22 or did you adapt it?

I put a CDI on my Crysler this summer and wow, what a great addition. I love it. Did you spring for the ball bearing kit?

I have to admit I really love the Chryslers now, especially compared to other 22 footers. Lots of room and quite heavy & solid. I REALLY like the Chrysler 26. I'd love to find a swingkeel one, but they always seem to be in florida or texas

[Hard-Deck]

I've seen some Chrysler 26's for sale in Michigan. I know why you love your 22. I have NEVER seen a 22 with as much interior room as a Chrysler. It's the biggest little boat available and built like a tank.

I didn't put the CDI on my O'Day, the PO did, and no ball bearing kit. It doesn't make much of a difference to me on this size boat.

On the Chrysler: The bimini is from Cabelas.com, I think I paid $350 for it and it was actually a very nicely made piece of gear. The gray nonskid is OEM.

[afterburn 549]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549
I would truly think the swing keel though...in design a great idea...they seem to accumulate problems when you need them the most jmo [/img]
Notfarnow,
That has been my experience.yours may be different
Like anything a moving part requires maintenance....They are just not a service friendly part ?
I have known a couple to have fallen off
The marinas always seem to have a few boats pulled out with work going on in that area
I move boats..so maybe I just run into problem sellers or buyers dono
Just my opinion

[Sunroof]

I had a 22' Hershoff Eagle sloop back in 1978 (Jekyll Island, GA) with a swing keel. The negative aspects of the swing keel was the high pitched humming noise I used to hear in varying degrees of heeling. The other problems were the occasional slap of the keel in the truck, the crank rusting, that massive crank handle biting you in the leg once in awhile and that rusting pin that held the cable to the keel.

On the positive side, when we ran the intracoastal from Georgia to Florida we encountered tidal changes running 6-8 feet. If you did not stay absolutely on the mark in the channel you were doomed to a long stay in the mud waiting for the tide to roll in. Often we adjusted the swing keel to accomodate for shoaling and kept on going. Life was good then with a swing keel in tidal situations.

If the intent is to try and beach a sailboat with a swing keel the difference of the keel trunk being internal or external will make all the difference. I recall that the Catalina 25 had an external trunk for the keel.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

Notfarnow,
That has been my experience.yours may be different
Like anything a moving part requires maintenance....They are just not a service friendly part ?
I have known a couple to have fallen off
The marinas always seem to have a few boats pulled out with work going on in that area
I move boats..so maybe I just run into problem sellers or buyers dono
Just my opinion

Oh I'd agree 100% with ALL of that. I replaced the keel pin & brackets on my Chrysler last year and it was a HUGE undertaking. Dropping an 800# keel is not something that can be done casually, and lining it back up to 1/16" with the brackets and pin is a real challenge. However, mine are all stainless now and *should* last as long as I own the boat



But yeah, a boat with a swing keel needs to be checked out REALLY carefully. They are very versatile boats, but if the keel drops out, it could ruin your whole afternoon

[JeremyD]

I think for a trailer sailor - a swing keel makes a heck of a lot of sense. If you are keeping the boat in the water, especially saltwater - I would opt for a fixed feel - but not too deep. The winged keel variety can make alot of sense in the 24-27 range.

The mast I had on the San Juan was 30ft - I can tell you that is about the maximum you want to put up and down.

[efhughes3]

I had a winged keel on a couple of boats-in San Francisco on one, it was fine. In San Diego, it was kind of a ***** with the kelp. They've now stopped harvesting kelp in our area, and its worse 10 years later. We really don't need them on the West Coast, but I can see that they'd be ideal in the East.

[Sunroof]

The older Catalina 30's are notorious for the "smile" that forms when the keel bolts rust and the rust leeches through the fairing material between the hull and keel, thus the rust looking "smile" line. Catalina went to stainless in the 80's to solve the issue.

I cannot imagine what a pain it would be to drop a ton and a half of keel and repair with new bolts.

Speaking of winged keels, my Catalina 30 came with one that I feel does better for stability and tracking then a fin keel. However, if you run aground the wing could be a problem if you wanted to "kedge" off your anchor line amidships. The only reason we wanted a winged keel is that it provided more places to anchor or gunkhole with a only a draft of 3'10".

Bob

[afterburn 549]

I think the idea is great (swing keel) But not enough thought is put into them.
For instance I herd of one episode where there boat was knocked dwn..and to make maters worse, No provision for a locking it and ..you can guess what happened ! Yup, the keel swung up !.
Like I said I think they are great !! You can sneak into shoal areas - no need for a dingy,
I would put one on my T. Bird of possible.
But I would reengineer the mechanics

[futuresoptions]

I mainly plan on doing overnight stints in local bays, but with the blue water so close, I sorta dream of doing some caribbean trips... I have navigated into Cuba, Virgin Islands etc..., but that was in a 450ft vessel. I do not plan on doing an Atlantic crossing anytime soon, but know it has been done in smaller than 25ft sailboats. I guess I really want a boat that is made tough enough to withstand rough seas and keep on going... I will probably be looking at an older boat, as I understand they are built better.... I consider my nautical skills top notch, but a novice as a sailor. I really want to learn to use the sails... any book recommendations?? Both technical and experience wise... I like reading books about peoples crossings.... red right returning lol.....

[JeremyD]

Steve Colgate's book is good.



I'd also go to your local yacht club - put your name and telephone number down as someone who is willing to crew. It's a great way to hands on learn on someone else's nickle

[afterburn 549]

As I understand it the area you want to go would be purrfect for a shoal draft boat..All I am saying is inspect the thingymajigy once in awhile LOL

[JeremyD]

http://www.sailingtexas.com/cboats.html

[efhughes3]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

Steve Colgate's book is good.



I'd also go to your local yacht club - put your name and telephone number down as someone who is willing to crew. It's a great way to hands on learn on someone else's nickle

There's also a book published by Sail Magazine called "The New Book of Sail Trim" that is good too.

[Jim Richards]

agreed.

[efhughes3]

Well, I entered into an agreement on the boat today....subject to a sea trial next weekend, then a haulout for further inspection. I'm pretty pumped and so is my wife. This may take some focus off the car for a while, but what a way to diversify. It will feel good to be back on the water again.

[911Rob]

Congrats!

This thread has inspired me.

[efhughes3]

The deal was consummated today.....a spectacular sailing day in San Diego was icing on the cake!