wing vs fin keel

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joss

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We are thinking of buying as Starlight 35, which has either a wing or fin keel. The wing apparently helps the motion in a seaway and improves downwind tracking. Does anybody have any personal experience of this, particularly on a Sadler or Starlight? We're not particularly concerned withn having a shallower draft, just the best sailing performance.

cheers,
Jo
 
I can't comment on the specific boats, but generally speaking I would say that for the same draft the wing will perform better because you have more weight low down and deeper draft when heeled. If the wing keel is of significantly shallower draft then I believe performance will suffer compared to a deep fin.
My main objection to a wing keel would be the difficulty of getting afloat in the event of a grounding - heeling the boat will increase, not reduce, the draft. All IMHO, of course!
 
Have sailed a number of boats with both. Nothing substitutes for draft when it comes to upwind bite. The wing option normally has less draft and is a compromise if shoal draft is important to you. Never found much difference downwind.
Regarding the healing to get the boat off, possibly true, but in any case we always found the boat came off easily enough by putting all crew and anything heavy and portable (dinghy, liferaft etc) on the bow and reversing out.
 
sailed a sigma 362 with a wing and by comparison with similar boat without, it was better to windward! shallower draft made getting into beaulieu at low tide more feasible.
 
Can't comment on Starlight, but have Dehler 35 with wing keel. Draft is 1.5 m, as opposed to 1.95m for the fin keel.

I feared that she would be tender (D35 has a high-aspect 7/8 rig), but was very pleasantly surprised.

Comparing it to 2x previous Dehlers (both fin keel 34s), pitching is definitely dampened, but haven't noticed any improvement to downhill tracking. Windward performance seems good, but I haven't raced this one, so have no direct comparison. However, I'm prettty certain that the fin would be faster on all points of sailing, mainly because of the wing's larger wetted surface area.

The reduced draft is a real plus around here, and we've found that the wings allow her to be 'surfed' off a muddy bottom with ease, as the keel doesn't dig into the mud. Also she'll stand upright alongside posts etc.

Downside is extra work in antifouling (underside of keel is about the size of large coffee table!), so when hauling out, she must be on blocks high enough to give access to underside of the keel. The rudder can either be a) more vulnerable because it draws almost the same as the shallow keel, or b) it may stall out when heeled because the builders cut the tip off to shorten it. Mine is the former, but I allow for it.

If it's reduced draft you're after, then go for the wing, but you intend to race (and any Stephen Jones design is going to be quick) go for the fin.

All IMHO of course.
 
Thanks for all responses. That you are preparaed to give time and effort is much appreciated.
 
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