Full keel boats

[boating2go]

We have look at several new boats that we like but they all have fin keels. Our Columbia has a full keel which I like better. Do any boat manufacturers still produce full keels?

[Helios]

Island packet


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[JPA Cate]

Amel, possibly still some Halberg Rassey.

Seems like you're talking about a cutaway forefoot, rather than a full keel......?

Ann

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

....................

Seems like you're talking about a cutaway forefoot, rather than a full keel......?

Ann

Yes, I'll second this observation. The old Tahiti Ketches had full keels that came down straight from the stem with a curve to reach a uniform draft to the contiguous rudder. The Columbia mentioned and the Island Packet, my own Morgan, and most others that people call "full keel" boats are not. They all have a cut-away forefoot and some don't extend the keel to the rudder.

Back to the question,- Few manufacturers are making longer keels that are contiguous with the rudder. Most have recognized an advantage with maneuverabiltiy and performance by having a "cut-away" aft of the keel too.

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Amel, possibly still some Halberg Rassey.

Seems like you're talking about a cutaway forefoot, rather than a full keel......?

Ann

Ann, Amels are fin keeled (both 55 and 64) with full skeg rudders.
The same for all HR built now.

Cheers,

Tomasz

[model 10]

HR used to build a wooden boat if you really wanted one. It wood have a full keel.

[Rhapsody-NS27]

Could probably get a Cape George built to order.

[gonesail]

cabo rico

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by DoubleWhisky

Ann, Amels are fin keeled (both 55 and 64) with full skeg rudders.
The same for all HR built now.

Cheers,

Tomasz

Thanks for the correction Tomasz. I thought they were cutaway forefoots. They are certainly not skinny fin with a bulb sorts of keels.

A.

[maxingout]

When I was sailing through tsunami debris in the Indian Ocean after the global tsunami, I wished that I was in my full keel Westsail 32. If we sailed over a giant partially submerged or floating log at night or twilight, a full keel would have protected the attached rudder probably with no damage. On my catamaran, if we had hit a log, there would have been serious damage to one or two rudders. That's why I hove too at night. I did not want to risk my rudders since they were balanced and unprotected.

http://www.maxingout.com/captainslogarchive5.htm

[markpierce]

Keel-protected rudders (and propellers) on a motorboat have advantages too.

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Thanks for the correction Tomasz. I thought they were cutaway forefoots. They are certainly not skinny fin with a bulb sorts of keels.

A.

Surely they are more sturdy than many

Here are examples from current production line:

Amel:



Hallberg Rassy:

Hallberg Rassy.jpg Views: 599 Size: 150.7 KB ID: 87388" style="margin: 2px" />

Cheers,

Tomasz

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by gonesail

cabo rico

The Cabo Rico, just like the Island Packet, and my Morgan, has a cut-away forefoot. They all provide great protection for the prop and rudder and they do present a gentle profile when grounding or striking a floundering object in the water. The Westsail mentioned above does have the full keel with the same curve extending down from the the stem to the bottom of the keel.

I know words and terms evolve over time. Maybe in more modern communication among boat designers the definition of a "full keel" has changed, but I'm stuck in the past.