Fin Keel Strength ?

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by endoftheroad

This picture may be disturbing to a "performance cruiser" but that 1974 lead encapsulated keel really does it for me.

Very solid boats. If buying one its worth getting one with a totally lead keel. Some of the models used both lead and iron. Even in those days they often tried to save a few dollars.
An encapsulated keel balasted with ferrous metal does not very often give trouble, but when it does its frequently catastrophic.
Lead encapsulated keels are great, anything else would make me very nervous, and I would rather have a bolt on keel.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

Morris is a pretty expensive boat, they are using fin keels and ............ spade rudders.

Don,

You seem mildly confused: when I talk costs I mean the (possible) incentives for (fin keels) being introduced in the broad market (say like 30 years ago?). Today, look at IMOCAs - very expensive, with very vulnerable foils, hence too (apparently) counter my argument.

If you look at Morris yachts of the era when fin keels got introduced into cruising, what do you find? Frances, Linda, Leigh ...

Big hug,
b.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by endoftheroad

This picture may be disturbing to a "performance cruiser" but that 1974 lead encapsulated keel really does it for me.

OMG..... I'm feeling nauseous..(sp?)...

"Warning some images may be disturbing to some viewers...."

[Bash]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

Very solid boats. If buying one its worth getting one with a totally lead keel. Some of the models used both lead and iron. Even in those days they often tried to save a few dollars.

Some used concrete with iron. Awful.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Don,

You seem mildly confused

I'm an admitted "mildly confused" person. Should give me a pass in general for any posting!

[Cheechako]

Concrete and iron or steel punchings have been used for a long time in commercial craft and some sailboats. It's pretty rare to see and issue from it but it does arise occassionally. I've seen far more bolt on keels being worked on. Sure, given a choice lead surrounded by a couple of drums of epoxy would be great... Think about it, submerged bridge pilings are... Cement and steel!

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

If you look at Morris yachts of the era when fin keels got introduced into cruising, what do you find? Frances, Linda, Leigh ...

Big hug,
b.

You find external bolted on lead keels...... Frances, Linda, Annie, Leigh, Justine etc. etc. have always had external bolted on lead. Some full keel, some cut-a-way, some fin but all were bolted on external lead.

[Randyonr3]

Originally Posted by endoftheroad

This picture may be disturbing to a "performance cruiser" but that 1974 lead encapsulated keel really does it for me.

And this picture may be disturbing to a "full keel cruiser" but 1200 lbs of finely designed fin keel built (bolted on) for "Bluewater " performance does it for me...

welcome to my 42

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

I'm an admitted "mildly confused" person. Should give me a pass in general for any posting!

;-)

Granted. With love.
b.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by endoftheroad

This picture may be disturbing to a "performance cruiser" but that 1974 lead encapsulated keel really does it for me.

Love the keel, hate the volume. Love/hate relationship ;-) pretty common in sailing!

b.

[robert sailor]

Bene First 42..wonderful boat, much better built than newer ones.

[daddle]

Originally Posted by Randyonr3

And this picture may be disturbing to a "full keel cruiser" but 1200 lbs of finely designed fin keel built (bolted on) for "Bluewater " performance does it for me...

welcome to my 42

Looks god to me! But surely it is more than 1200 pounds??

[rtbates]

No keel is as strong as a full encapsulated keel. Fin keels, like most aspect of boat under water design, were derived from racing. Will you be racing or cruising? Do you want comfort in a seaway or outright pointing ability? Do you want peace of mind in a grounding or the ability to tack in a heart beat? Do you want a deep bilge to hold more than a cup of water before it sloshes out onto the salon floor? Do you want a fully protected rudder and prop that doesn't grab every crab pot line that goes under the hull? I like the shallow draft, 3.5', and motion of my full keel Cape Dory.

Ignore all of the above IF you want to do buoy racing.

[robert sailor]

So the next question is if the encapsulated full keel is the very best way to go where can I buy a brand new boat that has all these great features?? How much of a choice do I have?

[Randyonr3]

Originally Posted by daddle

Looks god to me! But surely it is more than 1200 pounds??

You be right, forgot a zero, its 12,000...... Normally of would be around 9k, ours is an owners version, tall rig, deep keel, and.cutter rigged, and à little more inside. Total weight of around 24 thousand dry weight, loaded shes tipping thé scales, at 30 thousand. Nog exactally à lite weight boat...