– Feels much larger than it is
– Freedom to move below deck
Com-Pac Horizon Cat | – Simple catboat rigging – Quick-rig system – Shallow 2′ draft – Quality construction |
Marshall Sanderling | – Traditional charm – Easy to maintain – Electric motor option |
West Wight Potter 19 | – Go anywhere reputation – Packs in amenities – Towable by any vehicle |
Seaward 26RK | – Quality construction – Big boat features – Retractable keel |
Corsair F-24 Trimaran | – Very light/easy to tow – Shallow draft – Fast performance |
MacGregor 26M | – Massive interior space – Planing hull enables speed – Towable by most SUVs |
The best trailer sailor for your adventures will depend on many factors. Like any boat, whatever you decide on will be a compromise – boats always are. But there are plenty of choices out there, no matter what size your tow vehicle is and no matter what sailing adventures you have in mind.
What size sailboat is trailerable?
Even large yachts are routinely transported by towing across land, so the question is more of how big a sailboat can you tow? Your tow vehicle will be the limiting factor. The upper limit for most large SUVs and trucks is usually a sailboat around 26 feet long.
Sailboats are generally very heavily built, with ballast and lead keels. Sailboats specifically made to be trailer sailers are lighter. They may use drainable water ballast tanks instead of fixed ballast and have fewer fixtures and amenities.
To find the best trailer sailer, you need to balance the total tow weight, the ease of rig setup at the boat ramp, and the boat’s draft. Shallow draft boats with centerboards are the easiest to launch and retrieve.
Is a Hunter 27 trailerable?
No. The Hunter 27 is a one of those fixed-keel larger boats built from 1974 to 1984. The boat’s displacement is 7,000 pounds, not including trailer and gear. That alone makes it too heavy to tow by all but the beefiest diesel trucks.
Furthermore, the fixed keels had drafts between 3.25 and 5 feet, all of which are too much for most boat ramps. In short, the standard Hunter Marine 27 is too big to tow for most people.
On the other hand, Hunter has made several good trailer sailers over the years. For example, the Hunter 240 and 260 were explicitly designed for trailering. They have drainable water ballast and shallow keel/centerboard drafts less than two feet.
Is a Catalina 22 trailerable?
Yes, the Catalina 22 is easily trailerable and makes a wonderful weekend sailboat. In fact, there were over 15,000 Catalina 22s made and sold over the years.
The boat’s displacement is 2,250 pounds, which means your total tow weight with trailer and gear will be under 3,000 pounds. This is within the capabilities of most mid to full-size SUVs and light trucks. Be sure to check your vehicle’s towing capacity, of course.
The centerboard on the Catalina 22 is another factor in its easy towing. With the board up, the boat draws only two feet. This makes it easy to float off the trailer at nearly any boat ramp. You should avoid fixed keel versions of the 22 for towing unless you have access to extra deep ramps.
Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.
Can someone tell me why no other manufacturer makes pop tops? Those who have them, love them. Makes sense for head space with a trailerable boat too. Catalina stopped making them decades ago, yet people still swear by them. So, why isn’t there any newer models?
MacGregor put pop tops on many of its trailerables
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Your source for the latest news on yachts, boats and more. Read through our articles to find out how to compare boats and find the right fit for you!
Find Out the Best Shoal Draft Sailboats
Feb 17, 2020
less than a min
re you looking to buy a boat or a yacht? Are you new to the whole naval industry and the marine world? Are you utterly confused right now? It does sound like the beginning of a very random ad, however do not panic! If you are looking to buy a boat and are not sure where to start, know that this is something common for many people. The boating industry is a very interesting and complex one, offering a variety of models and makes with different characteristics that could or could not be appropriate for you. As a result, before buying a boat or settling on a model, make sure to do your research properly . A good first step is to learn the terminology and what different sailboats have to offer.
Let’s start with what a shoal draft sailboat is and what the best shoal draft sailboats can offer you.
A shoal-draft sailboat has a non-centerboard fin keel. They offer the ability to enter very shallow waters and even sail in those waters. That is the main advantage shoal draft sailboats display compared to center-line keels. They are easier to maneuver in complicated situations and their fins take up less interior space. Also, they require less maintenance overall.
The 3 best shoal draft sailboats
Shoal draft sailboats have become quite popular in the last few years due to their undeniable advantages. Here are the three best shoal draft sailboats that you should have a look at before making a purchase.
The Beneteau First 435 is a 1980s construction that became popular quite fast. It features a big hull that allows for ample accommodation space. It includes a three-cabin/three-head layout as well as an aft cabin with a peninsula bed. As a result, during the 80s and 90s this yacht was considered a large one. It also came with the opportunity to choose between a shallow or deep keel, or even three keels, a 2.3-meter draught fin, a 1.9-meter shallow fin and a centerboard, however this model was not much in demand.
The Bavaria 40 Cruiser is a big boat featuring a large space at a convenient price due to its design and engineering. It was first built in 2000, with two types of keels, the deep iron, a 1.95-meter draught, and a shallow iron, a 1.65-meter draught. It has a three-cabin and a two-heads layout. In addition, the interior space is well lit and aerated.
- JEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY 36.2
The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 36.2 is a shallow fin sailboat with a 1.37-meter fin. The boat still remains stable when on water due to an increased ballast. The hull of this model is well proportioned and allows for comfortable accommodation space. It also features a big fore-cabin, aft cabin, and a large aft heads compartment area. All in all, this is a good model for those looking for a comfortable cruise boat rather than a race boat.
You can compare these three boats with other models on TheBoatDB and decide for yourself which one is the most appropriate for you!
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best shoal draft blue water boats 26 to 30
- Thread starter anchorclanker
- Start date Jun 6, 2012
- Forums for All Owners
- Ask All Sailors
anchorclanker
I know the question has been asked a 100 times before, but I dont know if it was ever asked in this particular way. There are so many boat makes and models in that size range you get delirious wading through them. Dream would be to one day go out into the gulf and work my way down into the islands. Shallow draft via swing keel would be optimum. But strength is at least second to draft, but really its first. Trailerable is also a requirement, so beam has to remain within legal limits.
anchorclanker said: I know the question has been asked a 100 times before, but I dont know if it was ever asked in this particular way. There are so many boat makes and models in that size range you get delirious wading through them. Dream would be to one day go out into the gulf and work my way down into the islands. Shallow draft via swing keel would be optimum. But strength is at least second to draft, but really its first. Trailerable is also a requirement, so beam has to remain within legal limits. Click to expand
Watkins 23 footer (which is trailerable) would work...retractable keel to 18 inches, down it's almost 6 feet. Also, Watkins seem bigger on the inside than they actually are.
or the macgregor X or M. its not really strong, but it can motor fast (around 12-15knts). that speed can make up for its lack of strength since you can motor in a smaller weather window. One problem with the small boat is storage in the islands. -you'll need water and fuel down island. Have you also considered a trimaran ? corsair makes some nice boats that just fly, and are trailer-able. http://www.f-boat.com/pages/news/f32new.html
I know Matt Layden (builder of Paradox, pictured by Sumner), he is the perfect example of the old adage that it isn't the boat, it is the sailor. He is known as "Wizard" and his exploits /accomplishments are legendary.
Stu Jackson
Introduced in 1974 from the board of Bruce King and designed to be trailered and easily rigged and launched. LOA = 24' 8" LWL = 20' 10" Beam = 8.0 feet (legal to trailer without permits) Draft = 2.0 feet (w/ board up) Displacement = 5,400 lbs. Ballast = 2,500 lbs + 150 lb. centerboard Sail Area = 265 sq. ft. (100% foretriangle) Head Room = 5' 6" Rating = 18.0 IOR (Quarter Ton)
Robert, were you talking about the Ericson 25? That's one nice small yacht, and legally trailerable as well. L
This is a very interesting boat that I saw at the Annapolis boat show http://www.seawardyachts.com/writeups/SailKeys.pdf
RAD said: This is a very interesting boat that I saw at the Annapolis boat show http://www.seawardyachts.com/writeups/SailKeys.pdf Click to expand
twistedline
How about a Nor'sea 27?
justsomeguy
anchorclanker said: Now thats what im talking about. But what do ya do if the electric winch for the keel fails? Would this be blue water capable? I do realize the guy at the helm has a lot more to do with survival than the boats integrity, but having a good strong ship is always a plus. Click to expand
Check out the Seaward Yachts as they come in 26' and 32'. You did not mention affordable in your requirements so these boats may fill your needs. Don't forget saving some for the heavy duty tow vehicle which is required.
FastOlson said: Robert, were you talking about the Ericson 25? That's one nice small yacht, and legally trailerable as well. L Click to expand
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Yachting Monthly
Why twin keels are making a comeback
- Theo Stocker
- March 20, 2019
French boat builders are leading the way with versatile new twin keel boats. Theo Stocker went to discover the appeal and how to dry out in style
There are a significant number of sailors who prefer boats that can take the ground
Bilge keels can be a divisive topic. While it might seem like the majority of new boat buyers are in favour of fin keels, there is a significant undercurrent of sailors who prefer boats that can take the ground.
While fin keels offer a deeper centre of gravity, marginally less drag and more lateral resistance, making them theoretically better at sailing to windward, they are a relatively recent development and it’s not long since all yachts were long-keeled and could comfortably dry out on legs or alongside a harbour wall.
In the tidal waters of the UK, where drying harbours and half-tide creeks abound, the ability to dry out can vastly increase both your potential cruising grounds, and the cost and location of your home berth.
There are a wealth of shallow draft cruisers available on the second-hand market today.
Moody, Westerly and Hunter all produced enormously popular bilge keel models, while Southerly, Parker, Feeling, Ovni and Allures have been making lift keel and swing keel yachts for years.
Drying out opens up new cruising grounds
Latterly, it is the French centre-board yachts that have proved most popular for the adventurous sailor keen to get off the beaten track. That may explain why bilge keels have rather waned.
There are some new kids on the block, however, that are reinvigorating the concept.
Most notably, La Rochelle-based RM yachts offer a range of epoxy-infused plywood boats that can take the ground between their two keels and a weight-bearing rudder.
Hot on the heels of these French class leaders are Brittany yard Marée Haute and their Django brand, which produces lightweight GRP pocket cruisers from six metres up to 12 metres.
While they offer deep fin and lift keel options, it is their twin keeled versions that are currently proving most popular. So where better than Brittany to go for a test sail?
We went along to try drying out in the latest incarnation of these new and interesting twin keel cruisers.
BILGE KEEL OR TWIN KEELS?
There have been many design variations that come broadly under the term bilge keels. Strictly speaking, bilge keels are in addition to a long central keel, fitted near the bilge, where the hull turns from the bottom to the side of the boat.
Traditionally, these were non-structural, shallow and long, largely intended to reduce rolling. Twin keels, in contrast, replace the central keel entirely and the boat is structurally adapted to make these the main ballast-bearing hull appendages.
Some early twin keel moldings simply added two shallow-draught keels either side of the centreline, at right angles to the waterline and parallel to the centreline, but these boats often tended to sag to leeward when sailing upwind, and sometimes lacked the proper hull reinforcement at the attachment points.
More modern twin keels tend to be much better hydrodynamically aligned and, some argue, provide at least as much lateral resistance as a single keel, though in theory, more drag.
A boat with two keels will tend to be heavier because of the additional reinforcement needed to bear the loads of the ballast and of drying out, and will usually have a higher centre of gravity because of their reduced draught. Again, modern construction, narrow-chord keels and ballast bulbs all help to reduce these effects.
1 FINDING A SPOT
The art of drying out is all about finding the right spot to take the bottom. In an ideal world, you would find somewhere that is totally sheltered.
Luckily, when drying out you can tuck in much further than you normally would, but you don’t want any swell coming through that will lift the boat and drop her on her keels in the crucial moments that she is settling down, or refloating as the tide returns.
Most twin keelers will be designed to withstand some wave action on the keels, but you don’t want to push it. You then need to find an area of seabed that’s as level as possible. Despite the fact that you are suspending the boat’s weight at over a metre’s height, the wide set keels ensure she is very stable, so unless you are on rocks, you should be fine.
Finding a sheltered anchorage without too much swell is vital when drying out. Credit: Alamy
The type of bottom makes a difference too. Rocks will tend to be uneven and could damage the keels, although smaller stones won’t be a problem.
Gravel, sand or mud are ideal and will normally be pretty level. Hard sand is the ideal as you will then be able to walk to and from your boat with ease at low tide, but it’s worth having a pair of wellies on board for the inevitable muddy puddles that will be left as the water recedes.
Before you decide to dry out, it’s crucial to plan ahead. You might have enough water to get in on this tide, but you don’t want to get neaped if the tides are dropping off.
Similarly, have a look at the forecast. If the wind is forecast to change while you are dried out, check that the anchorage will remain protected.
Don’t forget to note the barometric pressure and general wind direction, which can have a significant impact on the predicted tidal heights.
While charts will help, local knowledge is king. Almanacs and pilot books will give useful advice for where to go, but ask other sailors too.
Locals may well know little spots that are well and truly off the beaten track.
2 ANCHORING
Once you have chosen where to dry out, you will need to anchor. If you are in an open bay with plenty of space, a single bow anchor will be fine.
It’s an odd feeling waiting for your yacht to go aground
If it is important which way you are facing when you dry out, however, such as on a sloping beach, in a narrow river, or if there are other boats around, you will need to lay both a bow and a stern anchor to control your position.
In drying harbours, there may already be moorings, often fore-and-aft, to stop the boat from swinging.
3 PREPARING THE BOAT
Fit any legs or transom support
You may need to rig extra gear to keep the boat upright. Some fin keel and lift keel boats will have drying-out legs.
Bilge keelers with reasonably long keels fore and aft will be stable enough fore and aft with no additional gear, but more modern twin-keelers often aim to create a tripod, between keels and a weight-bearing rudder or an additional leg.
The Django 770 has an adjustable transom leg. While this is weight-bearing it’s more of a stabiliser and should be set slightly short in a swell.
4 DRYING OUT
If you are in a place you are familiar with and have dried out in before, you should be safe to anchor or moor the boat securely and head ashore while the tide goes out.
If you are somewhere new, however, it is worth staying with the boat for the critical period that the keels are taking the bottom until the boat is securely aground.
It is worth staying on your yacht while it is drying out if you are stopping somewhere unfamiliar
This is particularly true if your boat has drying out legs, as the relatively small surface area of the leg could end up on a rock or a soft spot, and will need adjusting and tensioning to keep their boat comfortably upright.
5 HIGH AND DRY
If you are lucky, you will be able to walk ashore at low tide without getting your feet wet. If you are going ashore for a while, make sure you check the tides — you may need to carry the tender to the high-water mark if you don’t want to swim back.
It is a good chance to check your hull fittings
In most places, a pair of wellies will help when walking through mud, or over rocks. You may need to lower the bathing ladder to climb down from the boat, and to get back on when the tide is out.
Fabio Muzzolini is the sales director for Marée Haute, the Breton builders of the Django range of twin-keeled yachts
If you’re in a narrow river, low water is a good opportunity to have a look at exactly where the channel goes.
The boat will be very stable once dried out, but be careful about putting too much weight on the bow — it’s probably a good idea not to have more than one person on the bow when dried out.
A couple of buckets will also come in very handy.
Fill one of them up before you lose the water so you can wash your feet once you’ve walked back across the sand or mud.
The other bucket is for calls of nature, as you won’t be able to flush the heads.
6 REFLOATING
Afloat again and ready to sail
Waiting for the tide to return is the easy part, if all crew are back aboard.
As soon as the boat is floating, remove any drying-out legs or supports — these are remarkably easy to forget, but could cause real damage if left down.
Don’t forget to lift the bathing ladder too.
Retrieve your stern anchor first (you can do this when the tide is out if the conditions are right) and then weigh the bow anchor and you’re off.
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40 Best Sailboats
- By Cruising World Editors
- Updated: May 24, 2024
Sailors are certainly passionate about their boats, and if you doubt that bold statement, try posting an article dubbed “ 40 Best Sailboats ” and see what happens.
Barely had the list gone live, when one reader responded, “Where do I begin? So many glaring omissions!” Like scores of others, he listed a number of sailboats and brands that we were too stupid to think of, but unlike some, he did sign off on a somewhat upbeat note: “If it weren’t for the presence of the Bermuda 40 in Cruising World’s list, I wouldn’t even have bothered to vote.”
By vote, he means that he, like hundreds of other readers, took the time to click through to an accompanying page where we asked you to help us reshuffle our alphabetical listing of noteworthy production sailboats so that we could rank them instead by popularity. So we ask you to keep in mind that this list of the best sailboats was created by our readers.
The quest to building this list all began with such a simple question, one that’s probably been posed at one time or another in any bar where sailors meet to raise a glass or two: If you had to pick, what’re the best sailboats ever built?
In no time, a dozen or more from a variety of sailboat manufacturers were on the table and the debate was on. And so, having fun with it, we decided to put the same question to a handful of CW ‘s friends: writers and sailors and designers and builders whose opinions we value. Their favorites poured in and soon an inkling of a list began to take shape. To corral things a bit and avoid going all the way back to Joshua Slocum and his venerable Spray —Hell, to Noah and his infamous Ark —we decided to focus our concentration on production monohull sailboats, which literally opened up the sport to anyone who wanted to get out on the water. And since CW is on the verge or turning 40, we decided that would be a nice round number at which to draw the line and usher in our coming ruby anniversary.
If you enjoy scrolling through this list, which includes all types of sailboats, then perhaps you would also be interested in browsing our list of the Best Cruising Sailboats . Check it out and, of course, feel free to add your favorite boat, too. Here at Cruising World , we like nothing better than talking about boats, and it turns out, so do you.
– LEARN THE NAVIGATION RULES – Know the “Rules of the Road” that govern all boat traffic. Be courteous and never assume other boaters can see you. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard
40. Moore 24
39. Pearson Vanguard
38. Dufour Arpege 30
37. Alerion Express 28
36. Mason 43/44
35. Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 43DS
34. Nor’Sea 27
33. Freedom 40
32. Beneteau Sense 50
31. Nonsuch 30
30. Swan 44
29. C&C Landfall 38
28. Gulfstar 50
27. Sabre 36
26. Pearson Triton
– CHECK THE FIT – Follow these guidelines to make sure your life jacket looks good, stays comfortable and works when you need it. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard
25. Islander 36
24. Gozzard 36
23. Bristol 40
22. Tartan 34
21. Morgan Out Island 41
20. Hylas 49
19. Contessa 26
18. Whitby 42
17. Columbia 50
16. Morris 36
15. Hunter 356
13. Beneteau 423
12. Westsail 32
– CHECK THE WEATHER – The weather changes all the time. Always check the forecast and prepare for the worst case. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard
10. Alberg 30
9. Island Packet 38
8. Passport 40
7. Tayana 37
6. Peterson 44
5. Pacific Seacraft 37
4. Hallberg-Rassy 42
3. Catalina 30
2. Hinckley Bermuda 40
1. Valiant 40
- More: monohull , Sailboats
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| Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. | 05-04-2018, 22:04 | | Boat: 1967 Alberg 30 | my first next year, as a full-time . I live in and plan to spend quite a bit of time in the . So naturally, a is a benefit there. But when I retire in 12 years, could I comfortably cross the Atlantic in a Shallow ? Or would it be rough going in rough seas? I don't have any intentions of , But spending some time in the would be very appealing to me. So basically, I see myself spending 95% of my time in the Carib or cruising the Atlantic Coastline. 5% crossing the Atlantic once or twice. EDIT: BTW, the in my target range are 10-15 years old, 37-40', most have winged keels (shoal versions). i.e. , , Elan, , etc... Your collective thoughts and expertise is greatly appreciated. | | | 05-04-2018, 22:31 | | Boat: 73´ULDB custom ketch | , the option is preferable for cruising. | | | 06-04-2018, 01:11 | | Boat: Leopard 39 | , and especially in , a deep keel will limit where you can go, or how close you can get to where you want to go. A shoal keel will affect your ability to point into the at the extreme angle of a beat, a consideration more relevant to than cruising. From your post, it seems that thin is a definite plan, and ocean passages, a maybe; and if you should grow in the latter direction as a sailor, you can always sell, and buy a different vessel for . | | | 06-04-2018, 07:21 | | Boat: Retired from CF | | | | 06-04-2018, 07:50 | | | 06-04-2018, 08:13 | | | on a fully loaded cruiser unless you love to bash your way to weather! - Elmore Leonard | | | 06-04-2018, 08:21 | | Boat: Moody 31 | 06-04-2018, 08:28 | | Boat: Retired from CF | on a fully loaded cruiser unless you love to bash your way to weather! | 06-04-2018, 08:34 | | Boat: Retired from CF | plastic oldies are fine, and especially if beam under 8'6", which usually means in the 25-28' range. If derailing is a concern, post here instead | | | 06-04-2018, 08:41 | | Boat: 73´ULDB custom ketch | 06-04-2018, 09:11 | | | where many full keeled yachts rolled around on the periphery. Crossing Oceans where comfort is premium theres little or no advantage to a deep keel. Gentlemen dont sail to weather Good luck with your quest! | | | 06-04-2018, 09:22 | | Boat: lancer 36 | 42 and man was I hooked. her 4.5 draft wing keel helps her out point almost every boat I come across these days. six months ago I bought all new radial cut warp drive and now I couldn't be happier with the performance upwind. besides their lifting ability the wings contain a lot of the weight of the total ballast. | | | 06-04-2018, 09:38 | | Boat: 1967 Alberg 30 | courses (have 101&103 scheduled for early May). I'm not much interested in racing my home, but I was concerned that there may be a major performance issue in bad weather, or high winds. My thought was that a shallow keel may make the boat heel more in high winds. If it is not THAT big of an issue, then I will naturally, start looking at shallow keel boats! I think that it is almost an imperative in the caribbean, where there are vast stretches of ocean that aren't much deeper than 6-12 feet. I have been looking over this forum for a month or so, and doing some elsewhere, but have never seen this issue explored or explained. Based on this thread, a shoal draft seems the logical choice for me, and since it wouldn't really effect an occasional , then a shoal draft seem like a no-brainer! Thanks everyone, for clearing this up for me. | | | 06-04-2018, 09:53 | | Boat: 1967 Alberg 30 | at the extreme angle of a beat, a consideration more relevant to racing than cruising. From your post, it seems that thin is a definite plan, and ocean passages, a maybe; and if you should grow in the latter direction as a sailor, you can always sell, and buy a different vessel for . | 06-04-2018, 10:29 | | Boat: lancer 36 | courses (have 101&103 scheduled for early May). I'm not much interested in racing my home, but I was concerned that there may be a major performance issue in bad weather, or high winds. My thought was that a shallow keel may make the boat heel more in high winds. If it is not THAT big of an issue, then I will naturally, start looking at shallow keel boats! I think that it is almost an imperative in the caribbean, where there are vast stretches of ocean that aren't much deeper than 6-12 feet. I have been looking over this forum for a month or so, and doing some elsewhere, but have never seen this issue explored or explained. Based on this thread, a shoal draft seems the logical choice for me, and since it wouldn't really effect an occasional , then a shoal draft seem like a no-brainer! Thanks everyone, for clearing this up for me. | Thread Tools | | Rate This Thread | : | Posting Rules | post new threads post replies post attachments edit your posts is are code is are are are | Similar Threads | Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post | | Ronaldsons | General Sailing Forum | 32 | 27-03-2017 09:30 | | OldFrog75 | Seamanship & Boat Handling | 29 | 31-01-2016 20:20 | | Coastal | Monohull Sailboats | 32 | 23-02-2014 16:46 | | excelpest2002 | General Sailing Forum | 13 | 12-01-2011 15:04 | | CaptainBW | Monohull Sailboats | 7 | 11-08-2010 15:06 | Privacy Guaranteed - your email is never shared with anyone, opt out any time. - New Sailboats
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Tucker Thompson Tall Ship Youth VoyageOn Watch: This 60-Year-Old Hinckley Pilot 35 is Also a Working…On Watch: America’s CupOn Watch: All Eyes on Europe Sail RacingDear ReadersWhat is the Best Keel for A Shoal Draft Boat?The popularity of our recent discussion of shoal draft boats prompted a dive into the archives on related topics, and we were delighted to see the name Warwick Collins pop up. Collins, the inventor of the tandem or “Collins keel,” died in 2013, but his name frequently appears up in boat design forums today. For those unfamiliar with Collins, he was typical of the eccentric personalities who often rise to the top in the field of sailboat design—a creative genius whose talents spread into a wide range of forums. In Collins case, the pursuits included poet, novelist, evolutionary biologist, and naval architect. And of course, inventor of the Collins keel—a design which incorporated two efficient foils joined by a ballasted foot. Do a Google image search for “Collins keel,” and you’ll see several variations . The fact that this PS Advisor Q&A from more than three decades ago ( PS January 1989) is just as salient today as it was then (the tandem’s close relative, the canard keel is a fundamental aspect of can’ting keel racing designs today) illustrates how innovation in foil and hull forms still relies as much on the imagination of creative geniuses like Collins as it does on computer algorithms. One shallow-draft keel form that this article doesn’t mention is the bilge keel, which is seeing a bit of a resurgence today. Also missing is the ancient leeboard design. If you are the proud owner of a bilge-keeler or leeboard boat, we’d be interested in hearing from you in the comments below, or e-mailing us at [email protected] . Here’s the original excerpt from PS Advisor January 1989, featuring a question from a reader in Tampa, FL, where shoal draft can greatly expand cruising grounds: I read your comments on the shoal draft tandem or canard keel by the Englishman Warwick Collins. While you praised the keel, you really didn’t answer the main question for those of us who are looking for a new boat with shoal draft. Which is the preferred keel for shoal draft? Wing? Scheel? Collins? Centerboard? The old-fashioned long, shallow keel? Part of it depends on the hull. You can’t just stick any keel onto any hull-there has to be a marriage between the two. The long shoal keel, for example, would be a disaster as a replacement for the fin on a typical modem flat-bottom hull, and the fin a disaster on the deeper, round-bottom hull. So the following comments assume that there’s a satisfactory union between hull and keel. Practical Sailor published an in-depth report on keel-hull connections in the wake of recent failures. We think the Collins or canard keel looks promising, but we’d have to say it is still not adequately proven. It probably does offer better performance than a conventional keel of the same depth, but it’s not clear that its performance is superior to the other shoal-draft options. There’s also a bit of structural concern with the keel, in that it just about has to be made of iron or steel to have sufficient strength. Wing keels have some of the same problem, but a lead version of the Collins keel could probably deform badly in a hard grounding. We remain skeptical of the wing keel. While a well-designed one can perform comparably to other shoal-draft keels, we see many wings that are questionable. We walked through the New York Boat Show in 1989 with a naval architect who had designed wing keels for the America’s Cup boats, and his judgment was that every wing at the show was poorly done—sometimes appearing less efficient than a wingless keel of the same depth. In addition, of course, you always have the potential problem of snagging lobster pots or kelp, especially with wing keels that have reverse slope front edges (which they apparently need to be truly efficient). The Scheel keel is pretty well proven by this time. We think it’s a better bet than the wing, if you have that choice, and overall a good moderate design for shallow-draft cruising. Performance isn’t bad-in racing, both PHRF and IMS show that the Scheel keel is about 5 to 12 seconds per mile slower than a deeper fin on otherwise identical boats. However, we think the best bet is the modern keel/centerboard. Unlike centerboards of 20 years ago, the new ones are very efficient going to windward with the boards down and not all that bad with the boards partially raised or withdrawn into a stub keel. For the two boats we’ve recently sailed on-a C&C and a Sabre—our impression was that even with the board retracted the boats sailed about as well as comparable wing-keelers or Scheel keel boats. Maintenance, especially keeping barnacles and weeds out of the inside of the centerboard case, is a problem, and the tackle to raise and lower the board is a minor complication in rigging. But otherwise they seem best—good performance with shallow draft, and excellent performance when you drop the board fully. For people who like getting into the nitty gritty of foil design, designer Eric Sponberg produced an informative analysis a while back. Ralph Naranjo also reflected on keel preferences in his in-depth report on keel design . RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOROn watch: this 60-year-old hinckley pilot 35 is also a working girl, 12 comments. The Horizon Cat design by Com-Pac was a good answer to Florida west coast cruising with all the shoal waters. The stub keel provided ballast and together with a small amount of the bilge, provided the centerboard housing without intruding into the living space. The board is long enough for good lateral resistance and provides easy management with a pennant towards the tip led to a clamshell cleat on the cockpit sole. I have been exceptionally happy with the combination (and the early heads up when I wander into shallow water!). The keel/centerboard on Little Harbors(Ted Hood Sr)—I had a 38 footer for 14 years–was phenomenal. Go to weather?? Like a bullet. Did 4 Regatta D-Amigos races with her(Galveston /Vera Cruz), 620 NM , hard to weather most of the way into strong S/SE winds . She was in Trophy range in each race. Would have a larger one today except they quit making them and the larger ones were/are very expensive. I sail an 87 Sabre 42 CB. i love the keel…we can point with newer boats with a deep keel such as a 2003 SunFast 37 with the board down, but only draw 5′ with the board up. Yes there are negative aspects, such as the maintenance issues involved, but for us, the benefits have outweighed the negatives. Everything is a trade off….Is there the best all around design? I’m a twin-keel sailor in Southern Florida. I’ve owned and sailed four, a Vivacity 20, a Westerly 25 and a pair of Westerly Pageants (23′). I’m based in Sarasota, on the west coast where the Gulf waters are warm and blue, but the estuarine waters are brown and shallow. Advantages: Stiff: With a roughly 40% ballast ratio, the boats are stiff and can handle real wind without extreme heel. Shallow draft: The Vivacity drew 2 feet, and the Pageant is 2’10”. And both can be run aground without fear. This makes gunk holing an adventure instead of a peril. And no underwater parts to break or shear. Maintenance: pull up on a scenic sandbar and scrape the bottom, a fun summertime enterprise. Just don’t forget to figure out the tides. Stability: one of the Pageants had a vane-only self steering device, with no pendulum or aux rudder in the water. It once made the 48 hour trip from Sarasota’s New Pass to the Dry Tortugas entirely on the vane. A sheet-to-tiller system is almost as reliable, although with more variation due to “system” lag. Volume: by their nature, twin-keep designs are beamier than similar-sized single-keel designs. This provides separation for the keels. Thus interior space is larger, with more storage bins etc. Strength: most twin-keel boats are British, and are built for use in areas with large tidal ranges. Slips must accommodate serious water level changes, and are expensive to rent. Many twin-keelers regularly “take the bottom” on their moorings, day after day after day, with all the associated pounding. Dry: all four of my boats had bilge spaces so dry I could store postage stamps there. Finding water in the bilge was a rare event, usually due to leaving a port or hatch open in a rain. With a dry bilge, mildew was held at bay if you had some through-cabin ventilation. Posture: sits upright when in the boatyard; no jack stands required. Much better stability on a trailer (use a flatbed if you want). Disadvantages: Speed: more wetted area, so slower. Over the very long haul, I average about 3 knots for planning purposes. Mind you LWL is about 17 feet. Pointing: doesn’t sail well at the “edge” going to windward. Performs best about 50-55 degrees of the wind. Barnacles: with more underwater surface, more opportunity for barnacles to grow. Racing potential: last place every time. For family sailing and cruising, we’ve found bilge keelers to be an obvious choice for southwest Florida. They are blue-water capable, but shine in shallow waters. Roomy, airy, comfy. All boats are compromises, and sailors should be serious about what they want to accomplish. My Pageants were designed to take a family of four across the English Channel for a visit to France. While France is a long way from Sarasota, they continue to be seaworthy and sea-kindly cruisers. Now that is a proper review of a bilge keel, all the main pros and cons broken down, easy to understand and broken down into easy to visualise information. Thanks Very helpful as I’m looking to trade a Hunter 27 for a twin-keeled boat… Thank you! What about the swing keel on Southerly boats? Not sure if they fall into the shoal draft category but I find the capabilities of these boats particularly intriguing! I have had two excellent experiences with low draft boats. The first in a southerly 115, about 35 ft, design Dick Carter. A cast iron slab on the bottom of the boat with two prominent chines could take easily with a shallow draft of 3 ft and then perform even better with a retractable quarter round fin operated by a simple tackle inside the boat. Loved it and loved the downwind reduced resistance that could be measured in almost 1 knot. The second experience was the shallow draft of a 24 ft trimaran ( Farrier 720 trailer tri). This stuck me with multihulls, not because of the speed, but for the ability to navigate shallow waters and hop onto a beach without a dinghy. Unbeatable. TANZER 7.5 is the best 25′ boat that ever crossed the ATLANTIC with a Shoal Keel? Is this true? https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/tanzer-75 I am a yacht designer specializing in shoal-draft cruising sailboats. My designs are all over the world, in the hundreds. These include small craft like sharpies, Sea Bright skiffs and skipjacks, as well as large cruisers up to 75-feet. Most of these are true traditional-looking centerboard designs with long, traditional drag keels, but some have keel-centerboard configurations. I write about yacht design and construction for WoodenBoat Magazine and Professional Boatbuilder Magazine. I have three books in print about boat design, construction, history and cruising. I live aboard a 53-foot ketch with a draft of 3-feet board up, and 7′ 6″ board down. She is an excellent gunkholer as well as a proven offshore sailor. What is a drag keel? “”A keel centreboard configuration ” means stub keel with centreboard or perhaps a drop/lifting keel that doesn’t swing? LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyLog in to leave a comment Latest VideosTop 3 Winter Boat HACKS!Cabo Rico 34 Boat ReviewSuper Shallow Draft Sailboat: The Leeboard SharpieHans Christian 41T – Boat ReviewLatest sailboat review. - Privacy Policy
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Nevertheless, demand for shoal draught vessels has historically been such that designers typically produce two versions of a cruising yacht - one with what they consider to be the optimum keel for the model and its intended use, the other typically saving between 12 and 18 inches (0.3-0.45m) of draught, depending on the style and size of boat.
251 XSS. teamscoutboats. The 251 XSS, starting at around $112,000, is an excellent option for cruising or fishing in deep water. It is actually one of the first designed boats to handle inshore and offshore fishing, allowing you to experience the best of both worlds.
The Snowgoose catamaran benefits from a shallow draft of 2.08ft, meaning you won't have any trouble at all in shallow waters. It sails well and is a suitable bluewater sailboat, however, a low bridge deck clearance makes the boat slam in waves, both at anchor and underway. Check it out on Sailboat Data.
I started sailing small shallow-draft boats after having owned keelboats for 30 years. Confined to the marked channels in the Intracoastal Waterway while nearby estuaries and shallow coves beckoned, I purchased a sailing dinghy to explore the marshes and mangrove mazes that make up a good portion of the Florida coast. ... Top 10 Best Boat 2025 ...
The Shannon Shoalsailer 35 handles well under power, and is easily sailed by a shorthanded crew. In the sub-genre of beachable cruising sailboats, this boat is unique. The vessel's interior isn't compromised by keel-raising or housing mechanisms, and the generous cockpit is a true anomaly among monohulls this length.
Quick Setup Time. Towing Weight. 7 Best Trailerable Cruising Sailboats. Catalina 22/25 "Pop-Top". Com-Pac Horizon Cat for Classic Coastal Cruising. Marshall Sanderling — Small, Portable, Classy. West Wight Potter 19 — The Tiny Go-Anywhere Sailboat. Seaward 26RK with Retractable Lead Keel.
Boats such as these—economical, safe, comfortable, with extremely shoal draft and beachability—are ideally suited to the needs of most liveaboard cruisers. They are perfect for cruising the coast, doing the Great Circle, voyaging in the Caribbean, exploring rivers and bays, and shipping to Europe to cruise the canals.
The 3 best shoal draft sailboats. Shoal draft sailboats have become quite popular in the last few years due to their undeniable advantages. Here are the three best shoal draft sailboats that you should have a look at before making a purchase. BENETEAU FIRST 435. The Beneteau First 435 is a 1980s construction that became popular quite fast.
We were, after all, aboard a new Seaward 46RK, a fully appointed cruising boat, displacing a healthy 23,000lb. ... have done their best to solve this problem by coming up with a variety means of balancing performance against shoal draft. These include raising a boat's underwater appendages as the water starts to become scarce, and/or creating ...
J/95 performance shoal-draft sailboat- your ultimate cruising machine for sailing shallow-draft sailing areas. ... Sailing is at its best when the joy can be shared. J/95 has the versatility and the qualities to optimize your sailing experience over a longer season, closer to home.
November 24, 2014. My British colleague Rupert Holmes recently wrote about the center cockpit cruisers that have topped the list of classic sailboats on the right side of the pond - in Europe that is—in 8 Great Centre Cockpit Cruising Yachts. Rupert's choices are great boats, but they aren't necessarily common on U.S. waters.
All variable-draft boats depend on a fully deployed keel for windward performance. Walt Schulz of Shannon Yachts set himself the challenge of designing a 32-foot cruising boat that would sail to windward without drawing more than 30 inches. The result is the Shannon Shoalsailer, and Schulz's beamy design with dual shallow-draft bilge boards reportedly does just that. Schulz says the hull shape is
Sailing. Avoid lee shores. The most dangerous case is a rocky shore, certain to break the boat into small pieces and put the crew at risk. But a shoal-draft sailor can be tempted to sail in the shallows off a beach or over a sandbar. In just 3-5 feet of water, even moderate chop turns steep and nasty.
Expert boat-show shopping tips on choosing the perfect sailboat for your cruising needs, considering factors like size, layout, performance, and safety. ... A coastal cruiser will benefit from shoal draft, bumped-up auxiliary propulsion, and an interior layout with comforts and conveniences. ... Top Tools for Sailboat Cruising: Must-Have Gear ...
But strength is at least second to draft, but really its first. Trailerable is also a requirement, so beam has to remain within legal limits. One boat that meets ALL of the stated requirements would the early 80's Ranger 26. This is the trailerable boat from Ranger Boats in Kent WA, designed by noted NA Ray Richards.
There have been many design variations that come broadly under the term bilge keels. Strictly speaking, bilge keels are in addition to a long central keel, fitted near the bilge, where the hull turns from the bottom to the side of the boat. Traditionally, these were non-structural, shallow and long, largely intended to reduce rolling.
With a tall rig, relatively light displacement (15,000 pounds), and available in either a deep fin (5' 8") or shallow draft (4' 11") configurations, the C&C Landfall 38 was a strong yet sleek sloop with outstanding sailing characteristics. ... No list of the best in cruising boat designs would be complete without an example of the great ...
As I see it, "shoal draft" can be a vague term, but to me it practically means for most cruising Sailboats (up to about 40' LOA) boats a depth that is less than 6 feet, but could be as little as 3' on some cruising boats. BUT a "shoal" may be deeper if the surrounding depth is greater., as noted on charts, and is of concern to larger vessels.
Pick yourself up a 28 footer in reasonable shape with a 4 foot draft max. The shallow keel gives you options nobody else has. Until you've gone shoal, you just don't know what you've been missing. My last boat ( a cat) had a 32 inch draft, my current monohull, 27 inches.
The Scheel keel is pretty well proven by this time. We think it's a better bet than the wing, if you have that choice, and overall a good moderate design for shallow-draft cruising. Performance isn't bad-in racing, both PHRF and IMS show that the Scheel keel is about 5 to 12 seconds per mile slower than a deeper fin on otherwise identical ...
Designed for Bahamas charter, this full keel, heavy displacement, shallow draft boat is perfect for liveaboard cruising. Very roomy, stable, and sea kind, the Morgan OI41 is a joy to sail - both coastal and offshore. She points comparatively well with her cutter rig, and is extremely stable - tracking like a train.
LOA 50'7" LWL 45'4" Beam 15'11" Draft 7'1" Air Draft 79' Displacement 46,650 lbs Ballast NA Sail Area 1,409sq ft ... Top 10 Nominee Sailing sailboats. Related. Cruising. Destinations: Catskill, New York ... Top 10 Best Boats 2025 Nominees Moody DS48, Nautor ClubSwan 46 ...