Hello from Virginia Beach VA

[sirknite]

I have been involved as a Captain and Master delivering Yachts from Alaska to Vancouver and Washington state. I have owned a Rawlston commercial boat 44' Aluminum super structure and 5000 gal live well and a 30' custom wooden trawler featured in Passage Maker. I spent a year and a half in Puerto Rico sailing a number of well known manufactures sail boats. Ranger, Peason, others I do not remember. I have also sailed Hobi Cats.

Of current interest, I am trying to settle on the purchase of a Yawl/sloop Main, Jib and Staysail in the 34' to 40' size (looking at the 34 size) and have looked at Island Packet 40 and 37. I have spent hours (lol) on YouTube looking at all the sailing stories. I am focused on true blue water yachts. Heavy displacement. I have done long passages but near shore from Alaska (inside and outside passages) to Washing and Vancouver Island including the infamous Fraiser River with all the current and logs.

So I have a question. A full keel seems to be the most popular, however I also heard and argument for a heavy displacement with center board. The statement was made that surfing down large waves can potentially cause a broach on a full keel boat where as this can not happen to a center board or similar keel. So my question is what say you to this based you your knowledge or experience?

Looking forward to many discussions here and thank you for this site.
Stan Kennedy

[JPA Cate]

Hello, Stan,

With regard to broaching, it is quickness of feel with the boat's steering that will keep you going straight when surfing down a wave on your way across a bar crossing or down the front of the wave. So, if the rudder is big enough, and the boat's steering is fast enough, to keep the stern into the wave, you won't go broadside to. AVOID HYDRAULIC STEERING.

Some of us have ocean miles in only fin keeled boats. Others here just love full keeled boats. Iirc, the IP is a cutaway forefoot longish keel. They are not known as sparkling performers, but until you've sailed on a few different types of boats, you will not know what suits you best, regardless of others' opinions. Generally people are more enthusiastic about what they have owned, and sometimes that's not a big number.

Ann
no professional qualifications, but 175,000+ sea miles in fin keel monohulls

[SeanPatrick]

Welcome aboard!

[Adelie]

Welcome to CruisersForum!

I would suggest updating your profile with your general location and your boat make & model or “Looking” in the "Boat" category. This info shows up under your UserName in every post in the web view. Many questions are boat and/or location dependent and having these tidbits under your UserName saves answering those questions repeatedly. If you need help setting up your profile then click on this link: https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post3308797

I would happily help more if the link above is not enough.

[thomm225]

Most folks I know with older boats with a centerboard seem to always have trouble with the cable that lowers and raises them.

I wouldn't want moving parts as part of my keel.

If you are worried your boat will get out of control when surfing down a wave, lower sail, put in a few reefs, or heave to.

[1camper]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Most folks I know with older boats with a centerboard seem to always have trouble with the cable that lowers and raises them.

I wouldn't want moving parts as part of my keel.

If you are worried your boat will get out of control when surfing down a wave, lower sail, put in a few reefs, or heave to.

^^This.

Hello, I'm in VB too but my boat is in Deltaville. Tons of boats up there..great place to meet boaters and discuss the pros and cons while looking over some deals.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by 1camper

^^This.

Hello, I'm in VB too but my boat is in Deltaville. Tons of boats up there..great place to meet boaters and discuss the pros and cons while looking over some deals.

Right.

I've been up there 6-7 times over the years since I have been back up here.

Lots of boats.

It's so strange seeing the Bay from the opposite shore.

I grew up on the Eastern Shore and on the Bay back then (early to mid 60's) there were sand beaches and the water was clear and while swimming all day we looked to the West.