slamming keels

[mick]

I have a bilge keel Sadler 26 whose windward keel slams and thumps when sailing to windward in choppy conditions. I am aware that shortening sail stops the slamming, but what if I choose not to reduce sail e.g. if I'm racing. Is the repeated slamming likely to damage the boat?

 

[tony_brighton]

Presumably slamming would start to show as stress around the keel bolts - as long as they are showing no crazing you're probably alright. The keel's not likely to drop off without some sort of warning.

The Sadler has a rep as a really strong boat so wouldn't have thought it would be a problem.

 

[billmacfarlane]

I had the same problem with my Sadler 29. Like you I found that I could alleviate it by shortening sail. I cured the problem by selling the boat - a bit drastic but it worked. It actually sounded worse than it actually was and it certainly didn't do any damage around the keel area.

 

[tonyleigh]

Rest assured. What bilge keeler doesn't and the 26 is better than many - try a Konsort! I certainly know of no problems resulting from this and have experienced none myself in some 7000nms. Intriguingly I have a "squeak" which sounds like movement of the in-fill between the two skins in the starboard bow area which "sounds" when the hull is really having to work through seas. No signs of problem internally or externally and I have learnt to live with it. The buoyant hull makes this a lively (but dry) boat in a sea but also a toughie.

 

[Guest]

Nine days of slamming to windward in a 28 ft twin-keeler in the 1979 AZAB and the same again in the 1983 AZAB convinced me that the keels will still be there long after you have either committed suicide or sold the boat.

Good luck!

 

[Guest]

All Bilge keelers 'SLAM' when hard pressed to windward .... some make noise - some don't.

It is based on the two 'walls' being presented to a body of water moving in a slightly different direction .... of course it has 'force' and makes itself known.

Racing - keep going and hope you win ...
Cruising - ease off and have a 'quiet' time of it....

You will not do damage to your BK by slamming / sailing.

Nigel - committed Bilge Keel sailor !!!!