Bilge Keel vs Fin Keel - Moody 346

[Graham376]

Seems you have listened to too many doomsayers .....

Moody Bilge Keels are not as liable to splay as Westerly ... in fact I am trying to recall any Moody that I have known with splayed keels .. and I cannot recall any. Years ago - long before Premier take over of Moody's - I knew Moody's well ... my then Wife was friend of the sons.

Of course there is always the possibility ... but thats true for any boat literally.

Moody 346 bilge keels have a very wide top section which extends either side of the keel, totally different to Westerly. I think from memory they are slightly splayed, they mount under the water tanks which are under settees so will be on hull curvature.

 

[Pete7]

We have the smaller Moody 31 with bilge keels, but have chartered a fin Moody 31. Couldn't actually tell the difference out on the water. Other than the Fin had a Bruntons feathering prop which did show how much drag a standard 2 blade has.

Do we sail to windward? yes in 2021 faced with a week of Easterlies we sailed from Dartmouth back to the Solent without problem, stopping overnight in Portland to make best use of the tides and walk the dog.

I would suggest that the condition and age of the sails plus the skills of the owner to trim sails will have a bigger effect than the keel types. Oh and not carrying too much junk on board, but that applies to all yachts.

Keyhaven Quay, escaping the Solent crowds on a Bank holiday