Bilge keels vs Lifting keel

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alandav123

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Hi all, after a long layoff from boaty things and having recovered from my rather nasty dealings with an old 17ft Dory nightmare, I am ready to try again to get afloat successfully.

Living in Arbroath the tidal range is high and drying out is the order of the day.
I was leaning towards bilge keels to allow drying out and to allow beaching for exploring with the kids, picnics etc etc and as cheap insurance in case of running aground too.

I am going to see a Hunter 19 lifting keel tomorrow with a view to buy it and wondered if the lifting keel would allow the same type of activity as the bilge keels, and if so is there any downside to lifting keels other than mechanical failure?
I am thinking in the actual usage of a boat.

Clearly bilge keels would make antifouling easier as the keel is off the ground, a lifting keel would not allow that..any other pros and cons between the two systems?

I am thinking the lifting keel would be great for exploring shallow river systems and such like.

Your thoughts gentlemen and ladies..

regards Alan
 
Recent issues of PBO has thoughts on the subject.

Basically, for taking the ground, depends on the type of keel and whether there is anything left outside the hull when the keel is withdrawn.

If towing regularly different criteria may apply as the object may be to get the draft as small as possible.

The Hunter IIRC has a pivoting keel whereas others have daggerboards. Pros and cons of both. Most designs lose some cabin space and all have to have some form of lifting mechanism which needs checking and maintenance.

Bilge keels on boats this size generally have poorer sailing performance. Many of the lift keelers such as the Hunter are derived from sporty boats where sailing is more important than accommodation.

Pays your money......
 
If you are always drying out on sand or mud, with no rough stony bits, lift keel will give (usually) better performance. If any of the harbours you want to go into have rough stony bottoms, and especially if there may be a swell or surge as you dry, iron bilge keels are the only real choice, to keep the GRP off the rough grindy stuff.
 
Many lift keel boats have a keel stub that extends below the hull. Usually this will not be a problem but can on very hard ground allow the boat to "fall-over" as tide goes out.
Very few boats have flush bottoms when keels lifted. If they do then you need to ensure that the hull bottom is suitably strengthened or protected.
Bilge keels really are the way to go if you intend to do a lot of beaching, drying out. Triple keels as well. The old stuff about poor sailing performance gets rattled out again and again and can mislead seriously. There are many twin keel boats out there now that sailing performance is not compromised against it's fin cousin. (Twin keels are not actually same as Bilge keels. Twins are more longer and finer generally to produce a fin like performance but with added advantage of less draft and dry-out capability. Bilge keels are generally mopre stubby and fatter to reduce draft more but still carry ballast etc.).

There will be posts that will argue with above no doubt. But that has been our experience and why we've stuck with bilge keels. You also do not have that keel trunking in the cabin or lifting gear to worry about.

Friends Parker Lift Keel, a very nice boat in fact, suffered a stone lodged in the casing. Meant a lift out to cure.
 
hi haveing had both i would definitely go for bilge , my hunter was always getting jamed , and cable broke few times , my j pugh bilge keeler was great sailed good and took the ground great . be sure to carry a ladder or you might no t get off mine was 33ft so long ways up when dryed out happy huntting dave
 
You might like to consider something like a Wharram Tiki 21. Very fast off the wind, loads of deck space, no complex keel mechanism, lots of 'character', and quckily dismantled for trailing.

Not to everone's tastes, but, personally, I think they are very beautiful in their simplicity and capability.
 
I went to see the boat today and I can confirm the keel lifts right out leaving nothing underneath to tip her over,
Its a bit tight inside but a clean example.
Its a gem micro model if that means anything.
Nice trailer too, due to time constraints and berthing issues I am going to buy her tomorrow.
Its a great starter boat for a beginner sailer, takes the ground for picnics etc, sleeps 4 adults and is reasonably priced.

Regards and thanks
Alan
 
The standard Gem Micro only sleeps 3 - and even then it's very cosy. Some are non standard and it sounds like this is one. They do sail well though, but the Hunter 19 is a lot more seaworthy.
Just a thought, but if she is called 'Geminine' send me a pm.
 
Lifting keel boats can usually draw less than bilge keelers, e.g our Feeling 32 0.6 metres with keel raised, whereas bilge keelers generally draw more than a metre. Feelings have a cast iron grounding plate on the bottom of the hull providing much ballast, and allowing safe grounding on stony bits - Southerly yachts have this too, whereas things like McGregors don't. Some bilge keelers can have structural problems due to forces imposed by splayed keels. Lift keelers with keel down usually go to windward better than bilge keelers owing to deeper draft in that mode. As you may have guessed, I'm a lift keel enthusiast, but I've never owned a bilge keeler.
 
check out the boats in the harbour where you plan to put your boat. That will be your answer. I live in North Berwick - similar conditions. Nearly every boat has bilge keels. I've got a westerly pageant bilge keeler. So far as windward ability and speed go its all nonsense at this end the market. Sailing takes place at just above a walking pace, the difference between a walk and a stride isn't worth bothering with. I sail with a 4 year old who likes the space below as well as in teh cockpit.
 
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