Lack Of New Bilge Keelers Keeps Used Prices High...Maybe?

[Seajet]

Although we're not marketing it explicitly, the GT35 can be specified with bilge keels.

Conrad.

Conrad,

I wish you well with your venture, I'd like to make it clear to everyone I have no connection with Conrads' GT35 but I for one would like to know more; always great to hear of new boats these days.

As for ' good boats around the 30' mark ', I wonder if the original Sadler 29 twin keel moulds might be going cheap somewhere ?

True she doesn't have a wave slapping sugar scoop or knee - trembling cockpit perched on 3 double aft cabins, but a jolly good boat.



Andy

 

[CC@GTY]

... but I for one would like to know more; always great to hear of new boats these days.

I'll take that as a general forum invitation to post some info. See sail plan with general data. If anybody wants to know more please PM me. Apoogies for the quality of the image, downsized for web.

Conrad.

 

[DownWest]

Interesting that Dudley Dix as modified his plans for the Cape Henry 21 to allow for twin keels, nicely foiled ones too. Draft is not a lot deeper than the c/board version and frees up quite a lot of cabin space. Could be a good trade off.

 

[RichardTaylor]

As to why few builders offer twin keels now, the answer is simple. No demand. Hunter/Legend tried it recently and failed.

Really - last time I looked they were still available on boats up to 40ft as an option.

 

[Tranona]

Really - last time I looked they were still available on boats up to 40ft as an option.

They are still offered, but as I understand it very few were sold. Part of their strategy was to expand sales by offering bilge keels, but they have since retrenched and no longer build boats in the UK.

The reality is that most new boat sales are marina based and twin/bilge keels no longer offer advantages to new boat buyers.

 

[JimC]

Well, that depends on the relative shelter doesn't it? I use a lot of drying harbours round N Wales (10+m tides) and the best ones are as smooth as glass when the boat settles & rises, usually due to sandbanks across the entrance. I quite often sleep thro overnight groundings & lifts & even in daytime I have to try rocking her to see if she has settled or not.

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