shoal draft usage

captaincurt · 23-09-2008, 06:41

Greetings....yes I'm a newbie....have a 30' O'Day to tool around Charleston Harbor here in SC. It is a shoal drafted boat. She is 3.5 ' with raised keel, and 7' with lowered keel. The harbor is shallow in a lot of spots, so my question is how safe would it be to sail here with the main only with the keel raised?

imagine2frolic · 23-09-2008, 07:48

sail it until she reaches a 20 degree heel. Then reduce sail.

captaincurt · 23-09-2008, 08:12

Thanks for the reply....I appreciate it. If at full keel, we'd be bumping into sandbars all day. We'll bounce around the harbor until comfortable with the boat, then head eastward beyond the jetties when we've got it all figured out!

Downthere · 02-10-2008, 12:06

Captain Curt,
I also have a swing keel and am new to sailing and have my boat in Charleston! I have a Beneteau 31 foot and it seems to sail great with the keel up. In fact I have only been offshore once and that was the only time I left the keel down all day. With the keel up and one reef in the sail, it seems very safe in strong winds of 19 knots (strong to me). The heel was not excessive. I think the narrow iron swing keel on mine does not significantly affect the stability since with it up, it is still 2 feet below the waterline and the fixed part of the keel is much more massive.
We should get together and sail in some skinny water!

Steve

captaincurt · 02-10-2008, 12:10

Ahoy Charleston....yea we should get together sometime. My boat is a
30" O'day, and she is moored off of Crab Bank. You can e-mail me at captaincurt321@comcast.net and maybe we can dodge some sandbars.

Steve Pope · 02-10-2008, 13:59

You don't say whether your centre board is weighted. I have a c/boarder that has alluminium boards (light) all the ballast is in the keel, I only use the main board when sailing to windward otherwise when the sheets are eased up it comes. I use the aft board when sailing down wind as it helps the boat track better. The only other time I use the main board is when manoeuvering under power in a confined area, it allows the boat to turn sharper.

23-09-2008, 06:41	#1
captaincurt Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 17	shoal draft usage Greetings....yes I'm a newbie....have a 30' O'Day to tool around Charleston Harbor here in SC. It is a shoal drafted boat. She is 3.5 ' with raised keel, and 7' with lowered keel. The harbor is shallow in a lot of spots, so my question is how safe would it be to sail here with the main only with the keel raised?

23-09-2008, 07:48	#2
imagine2frolic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: N.E. Florida Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE Posts: 2,117 Images: 112	sail it until she reaches a 20 degree heel. Then reduce sail. __________________ BORROWED! No single one of us is as smart as all of us! SAILING is not always a slick magazine cover!

23-09-2008, 08:12	#3
captaincurt Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 17	Thanks Thanks for the reply....I appreciate it. If at full keel, we'd be bumping into sandbars all day. We'll bounce around the harbor until comfortable with the boat, then head eastward beyond the jetties when we've got it all figured out!

02-10-2008, 12:10	#5
captaincurt Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 17	downthere Ahoy Charleston....yea we should get together sometime. My boat is a 30" O'day, and she is moored off of Crab Bank. You can e-mail me at captaincurt321@comcast.net and maybe we can dodge some sandbars.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

02-10-2008, 12:06	#4
Downthere Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Charleston, SC Boat: Beneteau 311 - Peace Posts: 3	Captain Curt, I also have a swing keel and am new to sailing and have my boat in Charleston! I have a Beneteau 31 foot and it seems to sail great with the keel up. In fact I have only been offshore once and that was the only time I left the keel down all day. With the keel up and one reef in the sail, it seems very safe in strong winds of 19 knots (strong to me). The heel was not excessive. I think the narrow iron swing keel on mine does not significantly affect the stability since with it up, it is still 2 feet below the waterline and the fixed part of the keel is much more massive. We should get together and sail in some skinny water! Steve

02-10-2008, 13:59	#6
Steve Pope Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Maungaturoto, New Zealand only 10 minutes from the Kaipara harbour, it is a tidal harbour with one of the largest shore lines in the Southern hemisphere, no shortage of sand banks though. Boat: Trismus 37 (alloy) built in 1976 or 1986 depending on who you talk to! Posts: 452	You don't say whether your centre board is weighted. I have a c/boarder that has alluminium boards (light) all the ballast is in the keel, I only use the main board when sailing to windward otherwise when the sheets are eased up it comes. I use the aft board when sailing down wind as it helps the boat track better. The only other time I use the main board is when manoeuvering under power in a confined area, it allows the boat to turn sharper.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Chain and Line usage	theonecalledtom	Anchoring & Mooring	14	13-11-2008 18:09
deep vs shoal production	bmanley	Monohull Sailboats	26	06-12-2007 07:49
CSY 44 shoal Draft	Paul J	Meets & Greets	2	27-09-2007 17:41
CSY Shoal Keel Offshore Seaworthiness	Bev & Bill	General Sailing Forum	18	15-02-2005 06:57
Gas Usage	Alan Wheeler	Construction, Maintenance & Refit	1	27-08-2004 15:33