Shoal Keel For Ocean Passages

[Haddock1]

Hi All,

I have just bought a new boat with a shoal keel and wanted to know your views in regards to performance, seakeeping and specifically are they suited to off shore/ocean sailing.

Thanks

Mike

[GordMay]

You might be interested in this earlier CF thread:
“Shoal Draft v. Full Depth Keel” ➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...el-137731.html

[BillKny]

The answer is: IT DEPENDS.

Shoal keels take a small performance hit when going to windward. but for everything else, it has more to do with the design of the boat than the exact depth of the keel.

[Haddock1]

Originally Posted by GordMay

You might be interested in this earlier CF thread:

Thanks for this and had a read. The answers there are mostly about bilge keels and the takeaway is there is not a lot of difference other than performance due to the increased weight and wetted surface.

I guess my specific question is in terms of the suitability for ocean sailing. Would a shoal keel be more susceptible to rolling down wind and less planted than a deeper fin keel?

[boatman61]

Once again.. down to Hull design more than draft.

[Sandy Frank]

Since you bought it, the answer is yes.

If you did not buy it, the answer is still yes but see if you can get on a few different keel types and see how they feel in the ocean.

[jewt]

I had a '69 Morgan 41 K/B. Myself & my former squadron mate and sailing buddy made over a dozen trip to and from Beaufort NC and the Bahamas, several of them directly to or back from Great Sail Cay. In addition we won lots of silver in club races.
Like someone said it depend on lots of other factors.

Good luck with your new boat.

jewt S/V Bifrost (number 8)

[Curmugeon]

We can probably help more if we knew what boat it is

[jim King]

If we're talking a Bavaria C57 as the new boat, then no sweat! You'll rule the sea!

[Pizzazz]

Most offshore passages under sail are downwind, where it makes no difference. Most offshore upwind packages are under engine, so no difference again. If you were racing near shore, you would care. Otherwise, not really.

[Tetepare]

Assuming the passages lead to lagoons, the shoal keel will get you into more places. The whole purpose of shoal keels is shallow water, if all anyone ever did was passages there would never be a shoal keel.

You can get into Moorea with any fin keel, but not Rarotonga.

[gulfcoastsailor]

Originally Posted by Haddock1

Hi All,
I have just bought a new boat with a shoal keel and wanted to know… ???
Thanks
Mike

Little late to I inquisitive

[rhubstuff]

I bet if you were put on the same model of a shoal keel boat and then a deep keel boat blindfolded, you would have a hard time telling the difference. Just go with it and don't worry about it. Enjoy those shallow harbors while the deep keels sit outside.

[skipperpete]

Originally Posted by Haddock1

Hi All,



I have just bought a new boat with a shoal keel and wanted to know your views in regards to performance, seakeeping and specifically are they suited to off shore/ocean sailing.



Thanks



Mike

Joshua Slocum thought so but then again, in that time there was not a lot else to choose from. Banks schooners were quite deep drafted though.
Pete.

[Yellowtulip]

The primary purpose of any keel is to counteract the heeling force of the sails. A well-designed shoal draft boat will stand up to its rig just as well as a deep-keeled one. It may have a slightly smaller rig. It’s possible that a shoal draft boat may be less directionally stable than a fin keeler, but then it may be faster downwind.

Seaworthiness depends on many factors besides keel configuration. It’s a question of good overall design.