Collins Tandem Wing keel

[bobgosling]

Does anyone have any practical experience regarding a Collins Tandem Wing keel ? From the look of it I think it may be possible to dry upright or at least be more stable than a fin when using legs or drying out alongside.

I am interested because I have found a potential "first boat" which has one of these ( It's a Westerley Berwick ).

Google threw up some interesting chat in a boat design forum but no real comment based on experience.

A picture of this keel can be found at web page /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[martinb]

I used to sail on an E Boat that had been converted from lift keel to Collins Tandom Wing keel. The owner, who built the boat then changed the keel, claimed it performed better and we were reasonably competetive when racing. I have just checked the results of the current Hamble wednesday series and the same boat won R2 and came 3rd in R3, so it is still performing well!
As I recall, we only tested its ability to dry by accident and it seemed faily stable.

Regards,

Martin

 

[billmacfarlane]

I don't know about the Collins Tandem Keel bit there's a Sadler Starlight in Guernsey that dries on its wing keel without any support. I was really surprised when I saw it but it looked stable.

 

[snowleopard]

The bottom plate is fairly narrow compared to a pair of bige keels. Imagine the consequences of settling on a soft patch and toppling over. I'd be inclined to use legs as well.

 

[MacW]

It must look like a duck or a swan, asleep on one leg. But they`ve got another leg to put down if they begin to topple!

 

[fireball]

Just don't roll over in the night?! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I suppose it depends if your drying out against anything or intending to just free stand ..
Also - what your standing on will make a huge difference, being able to sink into soft mud would mean that even if you did fall you wouldn't fall so far, where as sand is less likely to give much to start with, but may give a firmer base....

 

[yachtbits]

got something very similar on the Freedom 21 I sail.

That can not dry at all due to Cat rigged mastbeing forward of the keel. She falls over forwards if it dries out!

kev