Sharky34
Well-known member
Can boats, such as Contests, sit on them?
Parker 31's, 325's and 335's are designed to
Actually, they were designed for it. Within sensible limits though, and they were stable enough to walk around on without fear.True although they are lifting keels with a wing on the bottom.
Back to the question I would not wish to sit a wing keel boat on the ground even one with twin rudders such as an MG Spring 25. The main reason being they were not designed to do it and therefore the area where the keel is attached may not be substantial enough to take a few "poundings". Also without legs I would not be trusting how stable it would be.
Quite handy for catching pot markers.
I experienced that on a friends Centaur, just got all the crew right up in bow to tilt the keels & reversed off, a variation on heeling over.And if you go aground you have to wait for the tide. No use heeling over to reduce draught, it only serves to increase! Mind you, i suppose bilge keelers have that problem too.
Actually, they were designed for it. Within sensible limits though, and they were stable enough to walk around on without fear.
I can understand your thinking, but bear in mind the shallower draught - probably evens it out.I always thought that if you did fall over then you would be at an even more acute angle because of the wing.
Pretty much all fixed keels should be strong enough to stand the boat on, wing or not. Some wing-keeled boats with twin rudders were definitely designed to dry out upright on them.Once you forget trying to stand up on them, which is not what they were designed for, they're great. Four feet draught, very little drag. 6 knots under genoa alone the other day, close hauled. I would have put the main up but I had three large dogs on board for a spin.
Reminds me of the final scene in the film "The Italian Job".Well, here's one: Aground on Hamble Spit - Yachting Monthly !