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Old 03-01-2006, 20:13   #1
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Sheel Keel

Wondering what information this forum could provide on the advantages/disadvantages of a sheel keel in a 42' offshore sailboat. We are researching a Moody 425 with a sheel keel.

Thanks.
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Old 04-01-2006, 00:33   #2
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A scheel keel is a method for reducing the depth of the keel especially for use in inshore situations! if you are buying for offshore you will have very little of the advantages, and all of the disadvantages that are created by this design.

It works in a similar manner to the low aspect ratio keel on a catamaran, with an hourglass shape on the keel to compensate for heeling over. Thus tracking should be a bit better than on a normal fin keel, whereas leeway will be more akin to that experienced by a boat with bilge keels.

Drying out can be done on the keel and is more stable than a winged keel! but not as stable as a bilge keel.

It is considerably more robust than a bilge keel (especially for a large boat)

It would be a good compromise for cruise in the caribbean.
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Old 04-01-2006, 03:00   #3
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The patented (Henry) ‘Scheel Keel’ design widens the base of the keel via a broadly curved keel bottom (athwartships), with a concave return to the body of the keel above. This creates both a large envelope for the ballast down low, without having to increase draft, and also effectively provides an "end plate" to reduce the induced drag from eddy making at the base of the keel foil. A proper Scheel keel is claimed to work better to windward, while reducing wetted surface drag, and concentrating the ballast down low (as with other “bulb” & “winged” keel designs). It's interesting to note that
many designers use a Scheel keel instead of a wing keel, even though they
have to pay a royalty on it.
I’m not entirely convinced of their efficacy.

Pacific Seacraft, on the Scheel Keel:
http://www.cruisingyachts.com/scheelkeel40.htm

Rough Diagram of a Scheel Keel:
http://cruisersforum.com/photopost//...php?photo=1434
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Old 04-01-2006, 05:40   #4
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In design, I like the scheel keel. It gives the flexibility of shoal draft but should be easier to dislodge if the boat goes aground. Wing keels have alot of surface area and can really hold the bottom.
I would prefer the sheel over keel/centerboard option as well since I eliminate the cable problems as well.
Jeff H. has an amazing post on keel options on this forum. Search it up if you have not already read it.

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Old 04-01-2006, 06:58   #5
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I wrote this to answer a different question regarding Sheel keels but I think that it answers your inquiry:

Scheel keels are a very specialized version of a bulb keel. They are shaped in a very specific manner. The bottom of the Scheel keel is a semi-circle to reduce wetted surface and turbulance. The top of the bulb has tight fillets and a relatively flat top so that the bulb acts as an endplate, reducing tip vortex drag and pressure drop from the high pressure to low pressure side of the keel, tricking the keel into acting as a deeper keel span than it is. As a result a Scheel keel is more effective than a simple shoal keel and also more effective than a simple bulb keel.

As such a properly designed Scheel keel allows a reduction in draft from a deep fin with less of a penalty than would occur with either a simple shoal keel or a simple bulb keel. It should be noted that hydrodynamically nothing is more efficient that a deep keel without a bulb or wings. All bulbs and wings add drag without an offsetting lift. Bulbs and wings came into popularity where a draft reduction is required either due to practical requirements or to take advantage of flukes in a racing handcapping rule.

The result of the loss of efficiency of a Scheel keel vs a properly designed deep fin is that the Scheel keel will not point as well as a deep fin (more leeway, less speed, and a lower ideal angle to the wind) and will also be penalized at the extremes of light air and heavy air, as well as, when pointing dead downwind.

In a US Naval Academy study of groundings, it was found that round bottom bulb keels are the easiest of the keel types to free in a grounding. Deep fin keels were a very close second.

Lastly advertisements will often refer to a keel as a 'Scheel keel' that is not truely a Scheel keel. Scheel keels were invented by the late Henry Scheel and are patented. The true Scheel Keel was developed during very sophisticated tank test studies and require a very precise set of proportions, and profiles to work properly. Small variations can result in a keel that is less efficient than a simple bulb and which do not have the advantages of a properly designed Scheel keel. True Scheel keels can only be produced under licence to Henry Scheel's estate. Many of the so-called Scheel keels that were not built precisely to Scheel's designs offer huge disadvantages in terms of radically increased drag with no increase in lift or even a loss of increase in lift.

In recent years further reserach into inproving shallow keel efficiency has lead to further development in bulb shaping with shapes referred to as 'beaver tail' keels often being more efficient than Scheel keels in cases where draft reduction exceeds the range that is acceptable for a Scheel keel.

Jeff
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Old 14-09-2014, 11:36   #6
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Re: Sheel Keel

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff H View Post
I wrote this to answer a different question regarding Sheel keels but I think that it answers your inquiry:

Scheel keels are a very specialized version of a bulb keel. They are shaped in a very specific manner. The bottom of the Scheel keel is a semi-circle to reduce wetted surface and turbulance. The top of the bulb has tight fillets and a relatively flat top so that the bulb acts as an endplate, reducing tip vortex drag and pressure drop from the high pressure to low pressure side of the keel, tricking the keel into acting as a deeper keel span than it is. As a result a Scheel keel is more effective than a simple shoal keel and also more effective than a simple bulb keel.

As such a properly designed Scheel keel allows a reduction in draft from a deep fin with less of a penalty than would occur with either a simple shoal keel or a simple bulb keel. It should be noted that hydrodynamically nothing is more efficient that a deep keel without a bulb or wings. All bulbs and wings add drag without an offsetting lift. Bulbs and wings came into popularity where a draft reduction is required either due to practical requirements or to take advantage of flukes in a racing handcapping rule.

The result of the loss of efficiency of a Scheel keel vs a properly designed deep fin is that the Scheel keel will not point as well as a deep fin (more leeway, less speed, and a lower ideal angle to the wind) and will also be penalized at the extremes of light air and heavy air, as well as, when pointing dead downwind.

In a US Naval Academy study of groundings, it was found that round bottom bulb keels are the easiest of the keel types to free in a grounding. Deep fin keels were a very close second.

Lastly advertisements will often refer to a keel as a 'Scheel keel' that is not truely a Scheel keel. Scheel keels were invented by the late Henry Scheel and are patented. The true Scheel Keel was developed during very sophisticated tank test studies and require a very precise set of proportions, and profiles to work properly. Small variations can result in a keel that is less efficient than a simple bulb and which do not have the advantages of a properly designed Scheel keel. True Scheel keels can only be produced under licence to Henry Scheel's estate. Many of the so-called Scheel keels that were not built precisely to Scheel's designs offer huge disadvantages in terms of radically increased drag with no increase in lift or even a loss of increase in lift.

In recent years further reserach into inproving shallow keel efficiency has lead to further development in bulb shaping with shapes referred to as 'beaver tail' keels often being more efficient than Scheel keels in cases where draft reduction exceeds the range that is acceptable for a Scheel keel.

Jeff
Does Pacific Seacraft and Swan use real Scheel keels or facsimiles?
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Old 14-09-2014, 12:10   #7
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Re: Sheel Keel

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Originally Posted by deluxe68 View Post
Does Pacific Seacraft and Swan use real Scheel keels or facsimiles?
If I remember correctly,Henry Scheel passed away during a time when PSC was developing some boats. I think early 34's used Scheel, and the 40 was something drawn by Bill Crealock. Again, I think there was a patent ownership problem with the estate.
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Old 14-09-2014, 12:42   #8
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Re: Sheel Keel

We have a Moody 425 with a Scheel keel and as far as I know Moody used the proper licenced Scheel keel. The info that Jeff put out is correct. As good as the Scheel keel is for reducing draft it does not perform as well as a deep fin. That being said the Moody 425 is a cruising boat and it does an excellent job. The PHRF race rating is around 109 which is very decent. The boat sails very well and tracks extremely well in all conditions. The autopilot has an easy job steering the boat and hand steering is a 2 finger job, very light on the helm. Its a robust design and most owners love them. Check out the Moody Owners Assoc. if you want more info. Drop me a note if you like and I'll send you some pic's of the keel as I have some good ones.
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Old 14-09-2014, 12:59   #9
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Re: Scheel Keel

here you go

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Old 14-09-2014, 13:21   #10
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Re: Sheel Keel

If you feel you need less draft on an "offshore" boat, then the Scheel keel is a great option. Our Tartan 33 performs quite well with this keel, and here on the west coast of Florida, it provides the combination of shoal draft (4.5') with reasonable performance. As for a winged keel, I'd never contemplate one... watched a friend with one on a Catalina 34 get himself well and truly stuck, with a simple grounding turning into hours of frustration. The Scheel keel lets you wiggle off pretty nicely.
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Old 14-09-2014, 14:29   #11
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Re: Sheel Keel

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff H View Post
It should be noted that hydrodynamically nothing is more efficient that a deep keel without a bulb or wings. All bulbs and wings add drag without an offsetting lift. Bulbs and wings came into popularity where a draft reduction is required either due to practical requirements or to take advantage of flukes in a racing handcapping rule.
I am not sure this is the right way of looking at optimum keel design.

We need to consider the righting moment as well as the hydrodynamic efficiency.

If we look at a Scheel keel (or a bulbed keel) for a set draft it is usually more efficient than a simpler fin keel of the same draft. A deeper simple fin keel may well be better, but a deeper Scheel, or bulbed keel is likely to better again.

Of course it is not quite that simple there are differences depending on the point of sail etc.
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Old 16-09-2014, 13:56   #12
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Re: Sheel Keel

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Originally Posted by deluxe68 View Post
Does Pacific Seacraft and Swan use real Scheel keels or facsimiles?
Pacific Seacraft offered Scheel Keels on their Crealock designs. A picture of Henry Scheel and a description of the Scheel Keel was included in the brochure for at the least the Crealock 37.

When talking with Crealock many years ago at a Pacific Seacraft open house when they were based in Fullerton, CA. Crealock indicated he had been working on something similiar many years earlier that if he had continued to work on would have the eliminated the need for Pacific Seacraft to the license the Scheel Keel.

I have never heard that the Pacific Seacraft offering was not a licensed Scheel keel.

Crazy Fish - my Crealock purchased new in 1989 was purchased with a Scheel Keel.

Regards
Marc
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Old 16-09-2014, 14:27   #13
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Re: Sheel Keel

B & B,
You ask about a Scheel Keel in relationship to an "offshore" boat. Do you intend to spend all your time offshore or do you have a cruising agenda? A thought to consider in relation to a Scheel Keel is what is going to be your primary cruising ground. If you plan to cruise primarily "thin water" locations, then shallow draft is an important consideration . . . ergo a Scheel or other shallow keel type. However, if your cruising ground is primarily deep water, a deeper draft vessel will be a better choice. Choose the boat/keel that best fits your needs and you will never regret your choice. And then there is that boat that you just can't get out of your mind and you just have to have it . . . well, there goes logic. Good luck and good sailing. P.S. I would have no problem buying a boat with a Scheel.
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Old 03-11-2015, 09:53   #14
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Re: Sheel Keel

Butch Dalrymple-Smith is licensed to design Sheel keels. About 29 years ago, Butch was able to model the wheel keel in 3D. Sheel was so pleased that he gave Butch a free license to design steel keels.

Steel said that when he saw Butch's 3D projection, he said that it was the way it should look and was unable to describe it as well as the computerized 3D version.

At the time, Butch was the long time partner of Ron Holland. As a result of the work Butch had done with Sheel, he and Holland were commissioned to design the New Zealand's America's cup boat. They invited Farr to join them.

Thanks to this commission, hundreds of tank tests were performed on variations on the Sheel Keel. Ultimately, for the America's Cup. the found a better performing keel, but that should not rule out the usefulness of the Sheel Keel.

Butch has done by far the most research on this keel and he has even more experience with this design. There is no one better to talk to about this keel.

I have know Butch for a very long time. He was Holland's partner for about 20 years and did all the nuts and bolts stuff for Holland. He started his own practice in La Ciotat, France as Butch Design.

I have commissioned him to design a new keel, rudder and extended transom for my Elite 37TM MarkII Custom (Kirie Feeking 1100), since he was hands on in the original design.

My boat, Mistral, is the sweetest sailing boat I have ever been one and instead of buying a new boat, I am extensively refitting her. I am also repowering with electric propulsion.
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Old 03-11-2015, 10:16   #15
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Re: Sheel Keel

Quote:
Originally Posted by noelex 77 View Post
I am not sure this is the right way of looking at optimum keel design.

We need to consider the righting moment as well as the hydrodynamic efficiency.

If we look at a Scheel keel (or a bulbed keel) for a set draft it is usually more efficient than a simpler fin keel of the same draft. A deeper simple fin keel may well be better, but a deeper Scheel, or bulbed keel is likely to better again.

Of course it is not quite that simple there are differences depending on the point of sail etc.
Indeed. You get more righting moment for less weight with a bulb or Scheel keel. This has a big effect on performance.

But I'm not sure I agree with the premise, either. Don't forget the End Plate Effect. I think most Scheel keels are optimized for draft, but I guess a Scheel keel optimized for lift would be more, not less efficient than a plain fin.

Whether it is possible to get useful End Plate Effect from a bulb keel, I don't know -- some people claim yes. But you certainly want a bulb versus plain fin for efficient use of ballast, which is hugely important. Also, choose lead versus iron, which has a bigger effect than you might think.

That's because the difference in density between lead and iron is greater under water (151% of iron in water versus 144% on land). Or use tungsten, a long time dream of mine Tungsten is almost twice as dense as lead (and 245% of iron!). That would make a hell of a keel bulb!
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