G
Guest
Guest
I'm thinking of buying a shoal keel moody 42 for solent based cruising - anybody have any experience of how they sail? Is the reduction in draft from 1.85M to 1.5M significant? Any help/advice much appreciated.
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PeteMcK
New member
I've no direct experience of the 42 - mine's a Mk 2 33 which has a 1.4 metre draught "long fin" as standard. In general terms, the advantage compared to a deep high aspect ratio fin, over and above the obvious, is that the boat is directionally very stable downwind. (In races, I've been able to observe the differences at close quarters in marginal conditions and there's no doubt that the boat is much less likely to get into dangerous yawing or "death roll" oscillations than deep finned neighbours.)
The downside is that, for a given surface area, the shallow keel is less efficient as a foil. The foil has to provide the sideways force to balance, exactly, the side force from the sails. To compensate for this, you have to angle the keel slightly higher in to the flow, i.e., you make more leeway - probably only a degree or so. In itself, that seems insignificant, but in doing so, you add to the induced drag of the keel, and that means you go slower (which also increases the leeway angle and so on.... ).
I'd guess you'll point as high as the deep finned version, since pointing is mainly about rig and sail design. You just won't climb as high. The difference in leeway will be imperceptible unless you measure it very carefully, or race head-to-head close-hauled against a deep draught 42, when you'll also notice you're very slightly slower. As the wind goes aft, the heeling force reduces and the need for an underwater foil diminishes. With the wind behind the beam, especially on a run, the shallow version is probably slightly faster.
Oh, and one other point. Working under shoal draught boats on the hard is, literally, a pain in the neck!
The downside is that, for a given surface area, the shallow keel is less efficient as a foil. The foil has to provide the sideways force to balance, exactly, the side force from the sails. To compensate for this, you have to angle the keel slightly higher in to the flow, i.e., you make more leeway - probably only a degree or so. In itself, that seems insignificant, but in doing so, you add to the induced drag of the keel, and that means you go slower (which also increases the leeway angle and so on.... ).
I'd guess you'll point as high as the deep finned version, since pointing is mainly about rig and sail design. You just won't climb as high. The difference in leeway will be imperceptible unless you measure it very carefully, or race head-to-head close-hauled against a deep draught 42, when you'll also notice you're very slightly slower. As the wind goes aft, the heeling force reduces and the need for an underwater foil diminishes. With the wind behind the beam, especially on a run, the shallow version is probably slightly faster.
Oh, and one other point. Working under shoal draught boats on the hard is, literally, a pain in the neck!
S
Skyva_2
Guest
Good boats for shallower waters around the Solent, but from experience on a 44 pointing angle will be 35 - 40 degrees (apparent) rather than 30-35 degrees. But sail plan and sheeting angles will also be a significant factor. (see recent posts on my boat won't point)
Is it a Scheel keel?
Regards,
Keith
Is it a Scheel keel?
Regards,
Keith
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