lift keel boats - what are they like drying out regularly and any problems

[TSB240]

To get back to the OP and his original post.......

He is looking at in excess of 26 feet of boat.......Which will exclude the majority of lightweight falling over boats!

The majority available will be of a stub keel design with or without a pivoting steel centre board with or without stabalizing rudders or legs. Possibly mini wing keeled.

The only notable exception to this would be some of the Polish lakes designs, Southerlies and Parkers and some others like Dehlers Dufours and Feelings which have a flush bottom and grounding plate or sit on a wing keel.
Actual Owners of these boats have reported on this forum there are no significant problems if regularly drying out

Some of the pivoting steel centreboards and the vertical lifting keelers with no bulb have reported that leaving the keel slightly lowered alleviates the problem of keeping the keel free from small stones or hard mud as the little bit of movement on each tide keeps it free.

To the Op do not be put off by the rubbish about drying out on harder surfaces being problematic!

I do this most weekends as do an awfull lot of others who can without falling over!

To quote the owner of one such
"The Lift keel Dufour 32 and is a wonderful family cruising boat suited perfectly for getting within wading distance of beaches, exploring creaks and the inner reaches of shallow harbours. Perfect for Poole harbour where she is based. And equally at home crossing the channel.Superb for small kids who love nothing more than going to the beach. Beaches like Studland shelve gradually and in your average crusing boat of this size you will find yourself anchored a good mile off to ensure safe water over night, making it less sheltered and further to go in the dinghy. Especially when it is busy and the deeper anchorages nearer the beach are full. Instead, wind up the keel, go right past everyone until you're touching the sand and drop the hook. The kids can then step in and wade or swim ashore. Who needs a dinghy?With her twin rudders and large grounding plate she can sit safely on the sand

Says it all Really....

 

[mrming]

A mate has a Bene 217 on Windermere in a not very exposed mooring. The 217 keel swings up under the boat and sticks out 18" or so, theoretically you could sail it with the keel up if it's not too severe conditions. Anyway, a couple of times last winter he came to the boat to find it had been knocked down, crockery and sticky coffee granules scattered about. Now he leaves it with the keel down always.

Are you saying it had been knocked down, and was lying on it's side afloat? Or had it subsequently self-righted?

Edit - also, why was he leaving the keel up? Has he since moved to a deeper mooring?

 

[Seajet]

TSB 240,

re drying on hard sand I am speaking from experience as you may work out sometime; obviously some people care about their boats more than others; I see you're not now recommending it for a full time mooring.

Incidentally I was going to mention after reading some of the nasty experiences related here, Bob Salmon sailed ' Anderson Affair ' most of the way across the Atlantic with the keel up.

I have already mentioned some 26-28' lift keelers which might appeal to the OP but mention of lift keelers falling over on moorings is not something to ignore, I'd have thought you'd be interested too...

 

[Simondjuk]

If you can live with just under 26 feet, it's well known that an Evolution 26 is the way to go if standing up below decks doesn't appeal, and a 25 the choice if it does.

 

[northwind]

If you can live with just under 26 feet, it's well known that an Evolution 26 is the way to go if standing up below decks doesn't appeal, and a 25 the choice if it does.

Or a super seal 26, provided you have a hirsute wife.....

 

[northwind]

Surely you only lift the keel if you are expecting it to dry out?

.

Or if you want to be like a big dinghy downwind.

 

[TSB240]

TSB 240,

re drying on hard sand I am speaking from experience

Go on tell me about your one experience once again!

 

[mrming]

Or if you want to be like a big dinghy downwind.

Doesn't work so well with a swing keel - moves all the weight aft. Might help with the kite up when it's really honking but I personally wouldn't have the brass ones to do it then as I'd rather have the keel down in the event of a broach.

 

[TSB240]

TSB 240,

I see you're not now recommending it for a full time mooring.

What? Please quote me if I have either in this post or any other?

 

[Simondjuk]

Or if you want to be like a big dinghy downwind.

For that very reason, the Evolution 25 and 26 we're designed so that they could be sailed downwind with the keel half raised.

 

[TSB240]

mention of lift keelers falling over on moorings is not something to ignore

I can as I cant see any in the size range that the OP is looking at that might!

 

[Seajet]

Go on tell me about your one experience once again!

Once is enough in any waves; sure one can nose into somewhere like Studland for the day / night, as Studland to be of any use to anyone requires a wind roughly NW - SW, at the beach it will be a mill pond.

The only reason I wouldn't do it there ( and she would be pretty upright parallel to the beach ) would be vulnerability to yobs; years ago I had an inflatable stolen then set adrift there.

I seem to recall you suggesting a hard sand mooring is OK; glad to see you've revised that, as it would be cruel on any boat - could be said to be even worse for a twin keeler, consider the poor keel bolts on splayed keels !

Here's a tip; just because you don't agree with someone it doesn't mean what they are saying is rubbish...

Simonjuk,

Evolutions are not the only boats in that size range, the Anderson 26 sails like a witch, has full headroom and was designed on the lessons learned in the 1979 Fastnet Enquiry; only 16 or so were built when Andersons lost their MOD launch contract and went bust - there is one for sale on the website below, no personal connection to me.

 

[boaterbaz]

Having had two lifting keelers, both kept on a drying mooring. A hunter delta happily took the ground on hard sand and shale bottom (Looe). I had anticipated gel coat problems but even the hard antifouling was ok where she took the ground. Current money pit is an evolution 26, sits in same harbour on a cradle as I am concerned about damage to the P bracket as she takes the ground. Regarding stability, both boats could support two adults on the side decks with keel up and not be too twitchy/rolley. I would have no qualms about leaving either on a swinging mooring with the keel up. I am a great fan of lifting keels having a perhaps unjustified dislike of the sailing qualities of twin keels.

 

[aquaplane]

Many of the jetties don't have much water and those that do have lots at the end soon fill up, it's sometimes good to wind the keel up and moor in the shallows where other boats can't get.

The 217 righted it's self but inside was a mess. He still has the same mooring but leaves the keel down.

 

[FullCircle]

the Anderson 26 sails like a witch, has full headroom

You sure? PY is 1140. Your Anderson 22 is 1132!! Evolution 25 (not racing version) is 1030. So a witch with saggy bits then.
As I know Dave Ayres boat Tadpole (and having had an Evo 25 for 7 years myself), I know of which I speak.

 

[Simondjuk]

Simonjuk,

Evolutions are not the only boats in that size range, the Anderson 26 sails like a witch, has full headroom and was designed on the lessons learned in the 1979 Fastnet Enquiry; only 16 or so were built when Andersons lost their MOD launch contract and went bust - there is one for sale on the website below, no personal connection to me.

The smiley meant that I was joking. I'm fully aware that there are other very similar boats which deserve merit and sail well, such as the Seals/Parkers.

 

[Seajet]

Simon,

sorry I missed the smiley.

FullCircle,

I test sailed the first A26 and crewed another a few years ago; I suspect both PY's are rubbish, A22's don't race much now in fact I only know of one offhand which races regularly and have no idea if the results are handed in.

The A26 is a deceptively fast boat, but I'd be surprised if any had ever entered the sort of race where results go to the RYA, this is the problem with RYA handicaps and I expect will carry on with the new system.

 

[mrming]

I think we're going to have to put lifting keels on the list with anchors and colregs

 

[Seajet]

That reminds me, what happens when an Anderson 22 carrying a Bruce anchor beating on port tack meets an Evolution 25 carrying a rocna running on port, and an Anderson 26 with a CQR on starboard, all aiming for the same buoy ?

 

[Simondjuk]

It'd be fine, they'd all arrive at the buoy on different dates.