new boat

[tyce]

hi im in the lucky position of changing my boat this year, i have a load of questions so im going to add them one by one over a period of time my first question is-
i currently have a fin keel yacht that sails like a dream and points really well, but the main aim for my new bigger boat is to do more cruising and my cruising area and mooring area is morecambe bay and isle of man, therefore i really need to be looking at a bilge keeler but i am concerned about the loss of sailing ability a bilge keeler would cause, so how much different would they be, im also thinking about lift keels but not sure which ones are designed to take the ground, also wondering about wing keels can they safely take uneven ground.
my budget is 15 to 20k
ive been looking at hunter horizons, sadlers, leisure 27 etc but dont know if my heart is in a bilge keeler as i love to sail, hope someone can help

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[AndCur]

I have raced against bilge keel sadler 25s and 26 they both are good to windward and can point very well. I would sudjest trying to sail as many boats as possible
so you can get a feel for the differant designs.

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[GrahamSC]

Hi
Have you considered a Southerly 28. has all the advantages of sitting upright (small bilge keels with a lifting keel) and a cast iron plate in way of where it sits on the bottom when dried out, good headroom and practical interior and they sail well to.
Another is a Moody 27, also good sailer and accomodation, and if you can find one a Tomahawk 25 bilge keel, or a Seamaster 815 Bilge keel, all good sea boats.
Regards
Graham


<hr width=100% size=1>Never recovered from loss of Tot, 1974

 

[matt_york]

There are many misconceptions about twin keeled boats which are mainly worng and normally from people who have not sailed on one!

There are good ones and bad ones just like any fin keeled boat and the bad bilge keelers tend to get all bilge keelers a bad name. Certainly the Tomahawk is a very good and so too are Hunters.

It all depends on the angle that the keels are arranged. They should be narrower at the front and wider apart at the back, they should also not be mounted vertically but splayed out. Avoid boats with large flat keels that are vertical (such as snapdragon) as these will be slow.

I would say that a well sailed twin keel boat will sail as fast as an average sailed fin keel boat of the same size. Good ones don't make much leeway and are just as stable (maybe more so due to added weight). In terms of close windedness then any failing here can be compensated for by a good, properly set up headsail - see Hunter's small self tacking headsail as a good example. I find they tend to roll less going downwind too.

Of course best of all, you can go to all the small, drying, uncrowded harbours that fin keelers can't get too.

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