How much of a hindrance would a 2.2m ( 7.2 feet ) draft be when cruising around the western English Channel and Brittany?
<hr width=100% size=1>
<hr width=100% size=1>
2m or 2.2m new yacht keel option
- Thread starter jonjo
- Start date
brianhumber
New member
Interesting one. I would say as long as you can sail out of season it would be ok for 80% of the places I get into and all the main ones will be accessible.
You will be restricted to the deeper areas of quite a lot of tidal and sill marinas, outside of July and August this should not be a problem.
Most of Brittany is deep water then rock!! so 2.2m is the same as my 1.2m with the keel up when on passage! Where the restriction affects you is getting onto the bouy in the Erchou Islands, some shallower overtide anchorages in Morbihan, Etal, going up rivers to Totnes etc, anchoring close inshore in Scilly Islands etc etc
<hr width=100% size=1>
You will be restricted to the deeper areas of quite a lot of tidal and sill marinas, outside of July and August this should not be a problem.
Most of Brittany is deep water then rock!! so 2.2m is the same as my 1.2m with the keel up when on passage! Where the restriction affects you is getting onto the bouy in the Erchou Islands, some shallower overtide anchorages in Morbihan, Etal, going up rivers to Totnes etc, anchoring close inshore in Scilly Islands etc etc
<hr width=100% size=1>
Sybarite
Well-known member
You need to decide whether performance sailing or coastal cruising is primordial for you - if you have the choice. 2m2 is a bit of a hindrance but not that much. I know that in some of the places I go I have some anxious moments with 1m70 ; I simply would exclude those places with a deeper draft.
John
<hr width=100% size=1>
John
<hr width=100% size=1>
Peppermint
New member
Re:What are you attaching it to?
Westcountry & Brittany work benefits from deep keels IMHO.
If your looking at an AWB they are usually better for deeper keels.
Your windward performance should benefit. Particularly if deeper keel means deeper rudder. Big tides and changable weather mean that a bit more passage speed is always useful. You'll have to hang about outside a few marina sills for an extra 15mins or so but unless you go very shallow it's not much of a difference.
When a yacht builder offers a choice it's to increase the marketplace, to those who need the shallow draft, not to improve the marque.
When designers are asked to design a yacht the deeper keel would be nearer to optimum for the hull shape.
Some shallow draft yachts are complete dogs by comparison to their deep keel brothers, I'm thinking of one in particular from the USA, usually the difference is not so marked but it is often quite clear.
I used to cruise the channel with 14ft (4m) of draught. Now that is a bit limiting.
<hr width=100% size=1>
Westcountry & Brittany work benefits from deep keels IMHO.
If your looking at an AWB they are usually better for deeper keels.
Your windward performance should benefit. Particularly if deeper keel means deeper rudder. Big tides and changable weather mean that a bit more passage speed is always useful. You'll have to hang about outside a few marina sills for an extra 15mins or so but unless you go very shallow it's not much of a difference.
When a yacht builder offers a choice it's to increase the marketplace, to those who need the shallow draft, not to improve the marque.
When designers are asked to design a yacht the deeper keel would be nearer to optimum for the hull shape.
Some shallow draft yachts are complete dogs by comparison to their deep keel brothers, I'm thinking of one in particular from the USA, usually the difference is not so marked but it is often quite clear.
I used to cruise the channel with 14ft (4m) of draught. Now that is a bit limiting.
<hr width=100% size=1>
Re:What are you attaching it to?
> If your looking at an AWB they are usually better for deeper keels.
It is a sporty AWB design.
> Particularly if deeper keel means deeper rudder.
I think the rudder is the same for either keel, but it is large - a teenager might describe the rudder as wicked.
> You'll have to hang about outside a few marina sills for an extra 15mins
I like this logic, I suppose I am looking for reasons to buy the 2.2m version. 15 minutes is not much of a penalty for the satisfaction of sharp sailing characteristics.
<hr width=100% size=1>
> If your looking at an AWB they are usually better for deeper keels.
It is a sporty AWB design.
> Particularly if deeper keel means deeper rudder.
I think the rudder is the same for either keel, but it is large - a teenager might describe the rudder as wicked.
> You'll have to hang about outside a few marina sills for an extra 15mins
I like this logic, I suppose I am looking for reasons to buy the 2.2m version. 15 minutes is not much of a penalty for the satisfaction of sharp sailing characteristics.
<hr width=100% size=1>
Re: Pontrieux?
> You need to decide whether performance sailing or
> coastal cruising is primordial for you
Good question. After much debate I think I want a yacht that:
1 - I can single-hand at a push, hence my decision not to go larger than 35ft and 5.5 tons. (Standby for some questions on fully battened mains).
2 - Is entertaining to sail around the Solent in a force 2 to 3.
3 - Is not so skittish as to rule out a 3 week summer cruise.
4 - Is worthwhile entering into some double-handed offshore passage races.
> I know that in some of the places I go I have some anxious
> moments with 1m70
I want to navigate up to Pontrieux one day, would this be possible with a 2.2m draft (my Brittany pilot book is on loan at present)?
<hr width=100% size=1>
> You need to decide whether performance sailing or
> coastal cruising is primordial for you
Good question. After much debate I think I want a yacht that:
1 - I can single-hand at a push, hence my decision not to go larger than 35ft and 5.5 tons. (Standby for some questions on fully battened mains).
2 - Is entertaining to sail around the Solent in a force 2 to 3.
3 - Is not so skittish as to rule out a 3 week summer cruise.
4 - Is worthwhile entering into some double-handed offshore passage races.
> I know that in some of the places I go I have some anxious
> moments with 1m70
I want to navigate up to Pontrieux one day, would this be possible with a 2.2m draft (my Brittany pilot book is on loan at present)?
<hr width=100% size=1>
Talbot
Active member
How are your secondary port calculations, and allowance for pressure differences - this draught will certainly enable you to hone those skills. Personnally I think Mirabelle had the right idea for the deeper keel - if you want it deeper, press a button and the hydraulic rams push it down!
<hr width=100% size=1>
<hr width=100% size=1>
Sybarite
Well-known member
Re: sill marinas
"Dredged to 2m" will become an irritation I guess.
I think it is time to flip through some yachty magazines for harbour plans and see where the 2m contour lies.
<hr width=100% size=1>
"Dredged to 2m" will become an irritation I guess.
I think it is time to flip through some yachty magazines for harbour plans and see where the 2m contour lies.
<hr width=100% size=1>
Re: More info
I visited Dieppe yesterday to view a yacht, one of the first of this new design to be fully commissioned in channel waters. (More on the model later next week once I have agreed a price and got my production slot booked).
The agent showed me around the yacht that had been handed over to its owner last weekend. After the agent left the French owner took me out for a 2 hour sail, which was an unexpected bonus.
We got 6 knots of boat speed in a light 9 knot (true) wind. This trial sail was the final push I needed so now it is down to the purchase options. I was warned off the 1.8m keel as the first one of these delivered elsewhere in Europe has been a tippy disappointment.
The yacht I sailed yesterday was the 2.2m version and I was impressed by how little she heeled with 3 bodies on the side deck approaching the pontoon. Logic says that because I will be using this racer/cruiser design as more of a cruiser/racer, the 2m option is right for me.
For those familiar with the vital statistics of AWB's, the numbers are:
Displacement = 5.6 tons
Ballast ratio = 33%
Length = 35 feet
Beam = 10.7 feet
<hr width=100% size=1>
I visited Dieppe yesterday to view a yacht, one of the first of this new design to be fully commissioned in channel waters. (More on the model later next week once I have agreed a price and got my production slot booked).
The agent showed me around the yacht that had been handed over to its owner last weekend. After the agent left the French owner took me out for a 2 hour sail, which was an unexpected bonus.
We got 6 knots of boat speed in a light 9 knot (true) wind. This trial sail was the final push I needed so now it is down to the purchase options. I was warned off the 1.8m keel as the first one of these delivered elsewhere in Europe has been a tippy disappointment.
The yacht I sailed yesterday was the 2.2m version and I was impressed by how little she heeled with 3 bodies on the side deck approaching the pontoon. Logic says that because I will be using this racer/cruiser design as more of a cruiser/racer, the 2m option is right for me.
For those familiar with the vital statistics of AWB's, the numbers are:
Displacement = 5.6 tons
Ballast ratio = 33%
Length = 35 feet
Beam = 10.7 feet
<hr width=100% size=1>
qsiv
New member
Re: Pontrieux?
Current boat has 2.2 - we're based in exactly they area you talk about (CI). I havent ever failed to get where I wanted to go because of lack of water.
I'm sure Pontrieux is achievable (I havent been there with the current boat as the rig is far too tall) - but the dredgers must draw about the same when laden.
The deeper keel will always be a better option when you are outside a harbour - and that is what a boat is for!
<hr width=100% size=1>
Current boat has 2.2 - we're based in exactly they area you talk about (CI). I havent ever failed to get where I wanted to go because of lack of water.
I'm sure Pontrieux is achievable (I havent been there with the current boat as the rig is far too tall) - but the dredgers must draw about the same when laden.
The deeper keel will always be a better option when you are outside a harbour - and that is what a boat is for!
<hr width=100% size=1>
AlexL
Member
Come on spill the beans - what boat is it? sounds quite reasonable - or are you keeping everyone in suspense intentionally?
<hr width=100% size=1>
<hr width=100% size=1>
Redmond
New member
We draw 2.2 and it hasnt cramped our sailing - we do look at the harbour charts quite carefully, in particular not rushing in as soon as the lock opens. the only real problem we had was on entereing st Vaast where there is a rock just inside the entrance which has about 2.1 when the gates open but if you adopt a cautious approach its ok
<hr width=100% size=1>
<hr width=100% size=1>
> or are you keeping everyone in suspense intentionally
Negotiations are at a delicate stage and a few weeks ago I found that my YBW postings could be located using some google.com key words.
<hr width=100% size=1>
Negotiations are at a delicate stage and a few weeks ago I found that my YBW postings could be located using some google.com key words.
<hr width=100% size=1>