Encapsulated keels

Yes - got off and had a good look around at low water. The rock runs in a series of ledges and we were sat on one of them. Fading memory now but once we hit we were well on and couldn't reverse off. We were facing east and then as the water dropped away we spun slowly round. Once the tide turned and the flood began we slowly came upright and then we slid down off our ledge onto the one below and then off that and afloat. Thats when we started the engine and got going - turning hard to port to get through to Melfort - only just making it against the flood. For a time we were only making half a knot and I thought for quite a while that I was going to have to reverse past the Cleit as there wouldn't have been the room to be able to turn. Very relieved to watch the GPS SOG increase to 1 knot.
All a long time ago now but we are still watchful going through!
 
A keel ought to be able to take this kind of punishment but I wonder how a typical modern AWB would have coped after an eight knot collision and fall and rise of tide.
 
There was a minor encounter with the seabed off Barra last Summer . . . a scratch was the only result . . .

Generally though we prefer to use the echo sounder.

- Nick
 
there's a Vega in our club which was sailed into a rock fairly slowly and ended up having to have hull cracks repaired at the root of the keel. Not obvious until the boards were lifted.

plus there is a problem with rusting of encapsulated keels causing expansion (iron oxide occupies more space than the original iron) and which has in the past caused hull splitting along the joint between the 2 halves.

But one reason for not having an encapsulated keel is that it is hydrodynamically much less efficient in the shapes that can practically be manufactured. Lots of drag, less lift.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Not obvious until the boards were lifted

[/ QUOTE ] - which I assume they did immediately after the grounding to check for water ingress? Do you know exactly where on the hull the cracking was apparent? Presumably these cracks were also visible from the outside when the boat was lifted from the water.

Maintenance-wise no keel bolts means one less thing to worry about, and I think you will find that most surveyors agree that encapsulated keels provide a more substantial structure in the event of an accidental grounding.

Substantial encapsulated keels also mean the ability to comfortably dry out when required, while long short thin-sectioned keels with spade rudders may prove more problematical. Overall I think encapsulated keels have quite a lot going for them.

As to efficiency - our Vega can usually show a clean pair of heels to other small cruisers of a similar length.

- Nick
 
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