Keel

[ksmith]

I am looking at a Watkins 27. This has a keel that is encapsalted/molded in the hull. At first I thought that seems like a good idea. No keel bolts setting in bilge water. Then got to wondering about hard grounding.

Then decided a disscussion might be in order.

[bene343]

a few boats have encapsulated keels cabo rico, island packet

and a full keel can be somewhat considered that way

[s/v Moondancer]

Need to check what is inside the encapsulation...I saw one boat in the yard that was poured concrete and iron scraps inside the fibreglass and once the sea water got in the fibre glass cracked...Not a Watkins but do find out.

[mesquaukee]

I have a 40 foot boat with an encapsulated lead keel. Ran over an unmarked wreck and was hung up for a while, a few scratches only.
Another time I was following another boat that "knew" the way. I ended up knocking 6" of of some @%<?# %@#&% in some unamed tropical country at 4 knots. A few gouges only. The lesson being make sure he has more draft than you and knows how to go slow.
From what I have seen on other boats that have hung up on reefs I do not see a problem with an encapsulated keel as long as it isn't iron scraps. I do not like the idea of all that iron slowly expanding as it corrodes. Though to corrode it needs oxygen.

[ksmith]

Thanks for the input. The ballast is suppose to be lead.

[s/v Moondancer]

Then you might e a very good system.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Ksmith,
You might want to start a thread called Watkins 27 under the monohull subject so that you can get replies from those former owners about build quality, sailing ability etc..
Kind regards,
JohnL