Is 6' draught too deep for East Coast Sailing

[NickC]

Yes, but when you touch you know you are gestucken, whereas with a fin you can either spin round, back off or even heel the boat to get off.

Valid point I hadn't thought about.

 

[NickC]

... but after laying an anchor out at low tide, the boat rose to the tide without a problem. You hear all these horror stories about cockpits filling as the tide comes in, but I think unless your mast is facing downhill most boats seem to float before they fill with water in my limited experience.

Thats good to know John, thanks for sharing your experiences. Maybe I am worrying too much about draught as has been pointed out by others here.

 

[Sniper]

A few years ago a fellow Twister owner had the misfortune to have his boat break away from her mooring. She ended up on her side just below Pin Mill, lying on sloppy rather than soft mud. He was, understandably, concerned about how she would fare when the tide returned as she was lying over at quite an angle. He took a series of photos as the water returned and was able to illustrate that this relatively deep draught, narrow beam boat lifted before the water was no less than 9" below the rubbing strake. There was absolutely no danger of the cockpit flooding (might have been slightly more awkward, of course, if one of the North Sea ferries had come past at the time!)

 

[NickC]

Anyone ever thought about a system of longitudinal air bags for keeping a dried out fin keel vessel upright? Would have to be tied to the keel to keep them in place but might just work.

 

[NickC]

A few years ago a fellow Twister owner had the misfortune to have his boat break away from her mooring. She ended up on her side just below Pin Mill, lying on sloppy rather than soft mud. He was, understandably, concerned about how she would fare when the tide returned as she was lying over at quite an angle. He took a series of photos as the water returned and was able to illustrate that this relatively deep draught, narrow beam boat lifted before the water was no less than 9" below the rubbing strake. There was absolutely no danger of the cockpit flooding (might have been slightly more awkward, of course, if one of the North Sea ferries had come past at the time!)

Good to know, maybe my concerns are unjustified then.

 

[Koeketiene]

Anyone ever thought about a system of longitudinal air bags for keeping a dried out fin keel vessel upright? Would have to be tied to the keel to keep them in place but might just work.

 

[johnalison]

I would judge that boat to be very close to upright, but not quite there.

 

[sailorman]

I would judge that boat to be very close to upright, but not quite there.

Normal sailing heeling angle for come

(photo care of Guapa)

 

[NickC]

It has become a bit of a moot point anyway. The day we put our offer together for this boat someone else got in first and placed a deposit.

 

[Daydream believer]

Yes finding a suitable deep water mooring on the East Coast is challenging, lots of much cheaper drying moorings about but obviously no use with a 6' fin.

Obviously best would be a mooring that we can get on and off at all states of the tide but what about a semi-drying mooring. For the point of conversation lets consider say a just about drying mooring (low tide depth = 0) would a fin keel like this sink into the east-coast mud and keep her upright or would it sink only part way and tip over?

Try "stlawrencerairwaycommittee.com" we have lots of moorings available. All deep water. All cheap. For boats up to 30ft but due to shortage of customers may consider up to 33ft. You would have to lay up somewhere in the winter as stone sc does not have facilities for fin keels without trailers & mast drop is difficult