keel replacement

[rxstr8]

I am considering a 98' Jeanneau 36 and have gone thru all the surveys to find the actual draft is 4'9'' although the listing is for a 6'3" daft. I consider this a significant difference toward performance? Is there really a difference and if so is relacing the existing keel with a new one an realistic option? Any experienced advice is warmly received, thanx in advance.

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[Talbot]

does she have a winged keel - cause sounds similar to the difference in spec between a sigma 362 with normal keel and with winged keel

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[rxstr8]

She has a pseudo-wing that looks like a hybrid between a wing and a bulb. I think these are fairly common on the production Jeanneau. After visiting the Jeanneau America site I found the 2004 37 is offered in a shallow 4'9" and the standard 6"3" draft, both with the pseudo(?) wing. I am presuming the same variations were offered in 98'. Lots of presumptions here, your experience is appreciated. Also, just left a sep. BB and am dissapointed with the Jeanneau quality and handling discussion?

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[boatless]

Hope this isn't too late for you...

If you are racing, it almost certainly will make a difference. Assuming that the weight of the two keels is the same (and that is a dangerous assuption), then the centre of gravity can only be matched (or attempted to match) by putting max weight in the bulb and having a horribly thin foil. So CofG will almost certainly be worse on shallow.

Area can, likewise, be matched by increasing chord on shallow version. Low aspect ratio is not what you want in a keel. Aside from reduced windward performance, you will find that the shallow keel will stall at a higher speed when mooring in strong cross winds, and in light airs it will be harder to get the boat moving without bearing away further to get speed up and flow re-attached.

A keel swap is really quite simple. You might buy a replacement from Jeanneau, but I'd suggest talking to Henry Irons of Wadebridge, Cornwall too. They cast for virtually all UK yachtbuilders. They'll make a pattern from drawings, you need to dimension the bolts.

Arrange for the boat to be lifted and left hanging in slings last job of the day (6" off the ground). Undo the bolts and go home. Next morning, the keel will probably still be hanging from the boat, so it's wooden wedges time...

Rest is easy. Forgotten the brand for the mastic, but as you'll note, it's good stuff.

Experience comes from arranging it for a customer, and my own experience racing a wing keel boat, and studying Naval Architecture.

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