Jeff H

Hi Jeff,


I sure have enjoyed, and been rewarded by, your writing over the past few years.

You wrote--approximately-- that peoples opinions of the proper bluewater cruiser is what should dictate whether one chooses a long keel, or a fin keel, and that a boat with one or the other does not give it an advantage over the other. (Rough approximation, now, I see.) But isn't a full keel inherently stronger? Aren't boats built with full keels more likely to be built to a strength standard that is less arbitrary, and by design, their keels more unified and, thus, protected?
I know that variables in the design and build could render a particular fin keeler more robust than a particular full keeler.

It just stands to (my) reason that a fin keel mount will experience more concentrated loading.

Scott