The 32' Westerly Fulmar is great for coastal cruising in areas where significant differences between high and low tide are likely to put
single keel boats on their sides at low tide as in protected waters along the coast of New
England. This offers many possibilities that come with being closer to the shore in
remote areas for exploring. And, being connected to the sea bottom for several hours, offers more possibilities for exploring for shell
fish, picnicking on shoals, looking for crabs and lobsters with a net.
I don't know how well they sail when the going gets tough, but I assume you will want to check that out on a very windy day before deciding .
However, here is the downside (pun intended I suppose):
google the
images of the underside of the
hull and you will see that the
propeller and
rudder are hung out from the
hull, increasing vulnerability if running aground on shoal banks where the prop runs aground before either one of the keels do. But, in any
depth of
water it will gather up sea weed, flotsam,
fishing nets, etc., slowing boat speed and interfering with
rudder response, making it a serious liability in heavy
current, as when crossing the
Gulf Stream or trying to beat off of a lee shore. Also, the unprotected rudder appears to be on the small side.
I would advise that you look at other designs that have the advantages offered by a
single keel that have either: 1) a skeg molded with the hull, to which the rudder is hung; or 2) a more traditional cut-away fuller length keel.
In summary, there are good reasons why twin keels are popular where the tide differential is great, but not so in other waters. ...there are so many other designs at reasonable
for sale by owner prices to choose from.
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