Nauticat 33

[Lantau]

Can anyone with actual experience comment on the sailing ability of the Nauticat 33 with the long (shallow) keel?

The Nauticat 33 hull comes in several versions, notably the long traditional motorsailer keel, a longish fin keel with skeg-hung rudder, and the new "331" with a modern hull and fin keel. Naturally the latter two sail better, especially with taller rigs, but I want to know about the long keel version (which I believe always has a shortish rig). I realize this boat will be a rather poor sailer overall (more "motor" than "sailer"), will need quite a bit of wind to get going, and probably won't sail upwind at all -- but can anyone speak from actual experience?

And what role does the mizzen play on this boat when sailing? By some accounts, it's superfluous most of the time (as with some other ketches).

Many thanks.

[Steadman Uhlich]

I don't have the answers for you, but wish I did. I like the Nauticat line.

I will assume you have already found the answers you seek, but because others on this forum or visitors to this forum may be looking at the same boat in the future, I hope you will post your results from your research.

Also, there is an active Nauticat forum (users group) found at Yahoo groups.

I hope this helps someone here, now or future.