Old world cruiser or newer ship

[Kelpie]

To help us understand what you mean by this please can you list all the boats that have lost their keels at sea with details of how it happened.

Many thanks.

According to this article https://www.yachtingworld.com/news/keel-failure-shocking-facts-60006
there have been 72 cases of lost keels since 1984, causing 24 deaths.

I suppose it's up to the individual to assess whether this is a problem or not. Clearly the risk of your keel failing is statistically fairly low given the reported number of cases over 33 years. But at the same time, it is entirely possible to choose a boat design/construction that minimises or perhaps even eliminates the possibility of the keel detaching from the hull. I don't see any reason to suggest that someone is wrong for making that choice.

 

[pvb]

According to this article https://www.yachtingworld.com/news/keel-failure-shocking-facts-60006
there have been 72 cases of lost keels since 1984, causing 24 deaths.

I suppose it's up to the individual to assess whether this is a problem or not. Clearly the risk of your keel failing is statistically fairly low given the reported number of cases over 33 years. But at the same time, it is entirely possible to choose a boat design/construction that minimises or perhaps even eliminates the possibility of the keel detaching from the hull. I don't see any reason to suggest that someone is wrong for making that choice.

I'd guess that most keel failures are related to damage caused by impact of some sort. Of course, there are some structural errors (Oyster 825 for example), but these are relatively rare. The vast majority of keels just stay stubbornly attached to the hull unless seriously interfered with.

 

[Daydream believer]

there have been 72 cases of lost keels since 1984, causing 24 deaths. .

1984 that goes back 34 years . So some earlier boats have lost keels as well. Not just those of the current AWB's that are being mentioned......................... Has to be said though , that over 34 years only 72 failures - bearing in mind the reasons have not all been bad construction, but prior damage, grounding etc, that is not a bad % - Unless you were in one of them of course!!!!!............... Take into account that quite a few were high tech racers built to tight design limits then the number of of ordinary cruising types would be far less....................... I suspect that the number of rudder failures might up the numbers a bit

 

[Tranona]

It is worth reading the ISAF list (I have in the past).

Unsurprisingly almost all the losses are from racing boats (particularly the ones at sea leading to loss of life). Almost none were production boats and in many cases the loss was the result of grounding either directly or at some earlier time.

Of course this is only a partial list as not all losses are either known about or reported, but the research was pretty thorough as it was part of the efforts by the ISAF to encourage designers to make keels on racing boats more robust - they are not covered by the RCD.

So, perhaps you can see why I take exception to statements such as the one I queried - there has been one (known) keel loss on a Beneteau which as we know was in unusual circumstances.

The idea that production boats are going around the world losing keels is just nonsense - and as we know keel problems (short of dropping off) are not unique to modern AWBs!

 

[geem]

I'd guess that most keel failures are related to damage caused by impact of some sort. Of course, there are some structural errors (Oyster 825 for example), but these are relatively rare. The vast majority of keels just stay stubbornly attached to the hull unless seriously interfered with.

The article raises concern about dedign as well. It's not just about impact

 

[Kelpie]

1984 that goes back 34 years

Yes, but the article was written in 2017

 

[Chris_F]

Catalina 310 from early-mid 2000s should be a good alternative. Some boats may be found in a good condition. Not sure about Europe, but there is a good choice in the North East US.

 

[Tranona]

Yes, but the article was written in 2017

However the ISAF data is from 2013.

In summary

40 undefined causes
11 welded keel failure
8 grounding
8 hull/internal structure failure
3 keel bolts
2 keel canting systems

72 total

The main concern of the ISAF was the design and construction of keels - particularly for obvious reasons welded keels where construction was often the problem. There are no regulations for design of racing keels, only recommendations that either the ABS or the ISO for Cat A RCD be used.

There was also concern about using courses in shoal waters as grounding, even if it does not result in a loss, causes damage to keels and structure.