triple keels&mud

[blue_anchor]

thinking of buying a 23 ft sloop,centre ballast keel,with 1.5 ton encapsulated ballast..it has two steel bilge keels,-not full length,for drying out ..but not flush with the main flat bottommed keel.(by about 4inch).i have a drying harbour mooring,pretty firm but still muddy,am thinking of extending the bilges by welding mild steel strips to bring them flush and help her settle..anyone done this,or thoughts appreciated!!

 

[oldharry]

extening the keels will not stop them sinking in to even a airly firm bottom particualrly if they are steel plates.

Weld a 'foot' along the bottom edge of the keel, around 6inches wide over the full length. Shape the ends so that ropes etc are less likely to snag. This will prevent her sinking in and falling over, but always be sure that the bottom you are drying out on is reasonably level. triple fins configurations cannot take as much uneveness as a bilge keeler without getting into difficulties.

 

[stretch33]

My boat sits in the mud pretty well, similar set up to yours, long centre keel with steel bilge plates about six inches shorter. Mine also dries out for a couple of hours either side of low water, the centre keel tends to sink into the muck with the two plates just going in a few inches. Now and again she'll lean over with certain wind against tide situ's. As the advice already given try and find a relatively flat spot and you'll be fine. My old bilge keeler used to lean right over on its mooring sometimes, made the diamond tweak now and again, but she always popped up!

 

[oldharry]

Mine has the same configuration, and dries pretty well up[right in the stream bed, but if she is blown over to the side of the channel where it is softer, she leans over every time. Bilge plate 'feet' coming up this winter!

 

[PaulAG]

Agree with Old Harry. Had Al bilge plates on a Mirror Offshore that sank into mud in Chichester Hrbr - some very uncomfortable nights. Then in aftermath of 'winged keels' in America's Cup, bolted on shaped Al plates. Result, no leaning over in soft mud and decrease in leeway (boat was shallow draft). Go for it!

PaulAG

 

[blue_anchor]

thanks all,now academic,see new posting!!