I’m not an expert at all but I bought an old Alberg 30 and crossing the pacific was much better than when I rode on a boat with a bolt on fin keel. Steering my boat is more difficult but I think worth it. I would love to get an island packet one day but they are expensive
well being around boats for a lifetime and sailing as many years as I have I can disagree with much of this argument, and then agree with some, I have sailed or owned nearly every keel design. as a sailor, tech, and design /builder, restoration and advisor I still belong to the semi traditional soft cutaway full keel school, LOVE my full keel 42 ketch, but will agree it is hard to dock and forget reverse, One thing is for certain, if you rig your vessel well sail it well they will point relatively high, the comfort motion can not be beat period, nothing is as smooth and comforting in heavy weather as a well designed full keeler, Not just any full keel boat. Now tracking is very good too, on a long voyage you may only need to compensate course a few degrees up to land on your mark. steering is very easy if it is set up right, if you have standard non assisted hydraulic steering there is never any hard pressure working against you and it is feather light, it is NOT hard to to steer simply due to keel, that is FALSE unless you running with a tiller and some cable units might have too small of a quadrant or poor gear ratio in the pedestal. all keels will have advantages and disadvantages, every thing in boat design is a compromise and if you go as deep as to study all the findings and research over the past 60 years of the Naval institute regarding all the sea accidents, design research, etc.. you will find there is no one bad or good design, they all have vary distinct and notable qualities and advantages. full keels are not really going anywhere for the offshore guys anytime soon, I promise.
Full keel for me, but that's because of the sailing I want to do, which is relaxed daysailing, overnighters and the occasional longer passages, often solo or shorthanded. The boat was built in 1950 and designed as a pocket cruiser, though at 7 tons is medium-to-heavy displacement. My sailing grounds are Port Phillip Bay, which is a large embayment in Melbourne - famous for its changeable weather - and occasionally venturing out into Bass Strait. No, she doesn't point high. Yes, she's difficult to reverse into her pen (though as I become more and more familiar with the boat's characteristics, this gets easier). But these are small beer compared to how comfortable she is, and how much I have learned to trust her seakeeping abilities. And then there's the graceful beauty of her lines...
It's not about the feature, fin keel, full keel etc... it's about the overall design and making sure that the design is sailing to its designed weight. There are many good and bad full keel boats as well as fin keel boats. This one element of the design cannot be used to judge the whole... and of course you can make any of them bad handling dogs by overloading them or sticking all the weight in the ends. The individual designs track record and the builders track record are way more important than making sure you have any given feature.
I hear everything you say about the older ,“traditional” ,or “non production” boats… I get why they aren’t the best fit for many…but give me an overbuilt, canoe stern, full keel, skeg mounted rudder …i don’t care what you throw at one , it’s like riding a train cutting through huge waves, or taking following seas without broaching …sure you may only make 6.5-7 knots on 37-40 footers , but you’ll arrive at port or wake from a shift feeling rested … Many cruisers find themselves stuck on a reef in far away places, while banging for hours or days …let’s see how long a benateau or hunter will last at that… How about anchoring in shallow water with hard sand or rocky bottom?…a rogue wave comes along and bangs your rudder in to bottom…it often times results in bent or destroyed rudder on boats without a skeg… Ok , I’d prefer a modified cutaway keel over full keel because I’m not doing long passages traversing the Gulf Stream or other major currents , but nothing tracks better than a full keel if you are… Everything is a trade off when choosing a boat, but for these items, they are worth it to me… Thanks for your opinions …I agree with much of what you say…
I confess , the designs of the new production boats are very tempting to me….The spaces above and below decks are so open and spacious…they build so many that they have managed to refine every square inch, and get proportions , and layouts that just feel right…then I meet a guy who just took delivery of a new dual helm beneteau 40 in Florida …he sailed it back to Louisiana…he told me that he was in a high following sea for a good ways, and the auto pilot couldn’t keep up with the broaching, so he had to man the helm…he was worn out fighting it… He still loved his boat because he said that he isn’t making that trip again, and will be coastal cruising where it shines as a fast , exciting , comfortable yacht… I really like the Hans Christian christina models …they are solid offshore cutters with wide transoms, modified cutaway keels with skeg hung rudder, and raised open salons …they even have more spacious cockpit …they don’t have the same sexy lines of the old , but she’s my kind of girl..
Ive always had a soft spot for the h c 33…probably should have gotten something more along those lines before buying and refitting a vagabond 42…I am looking at the tayana 37, Baba 35, and the likes…bob perry is the man…also have always liked the Cabo Rico 34-36…the 36 would be my first choice if a good one pops up and is priced reasonably…I think I’d choose it over the pacific seacraft 34…all fine boats …
Just get what works best for you, none of those would be my choice and that's what's great about sailing, your vessel is not about me, it's about you and what works for you, if those work, that's awesome, hopefully you can find some bargains, should be an economic downturn shortly that will help with some deals
I’m kind of thinking that the older heavy cruisers may not be dropping in price like the production boats because more people may take to the sea during an economic downturn…I find that the prices are still holding , or not reflective in the listing prices yet…lots of unknowns, but I’ll be sniffing around regardless…always a sleeper around the bend…
The ability of a full-keeled vessel to take a grounding (lying over on her beam ends) and then get back on her feet with the incoming tide and sail or motor away, cannot be overvalued. I don't care if it is old-shcool. (Ask me how I know) This stunt cost me a mountain of personal embarrassment but no vessel damage whatsoever. In fact, no water was shipped during this episode. (Warning, don't try this at home.)
They stopped building full keels because of production costs. The number of fatal incidents with bolt-on keels makes them too much anxiety. Speed is not hugely different.
It makes sense that more fin keel boats are crossing oceans because as you said there are more of them out there. So before there was a lot of fin keeled boats there was full, long, modified,... so it's not that the fin is any better its that there's more of them .. Just install a bow thruster if you have problems docking,, even a lot of modern sailboats with fin keels have bow thrusters.. because any boat 40ft or longer will have problems docking.
I sailed to Hawaii in a full keeled Atkin Ingrid. It was the worst boat I have ever been on. It would not track on any point of sail. Tiller steering was very difficult. If we let go the tiller for 2 or 3 seconds it would veer of course instantly. The self steering did not work at all. It had to be hand steered the whole way. Never again!
Another advantage of a full keel is that you can hove - to and it will stay at the same angle to the waves. With a ketch rig they are very easy to handle.
Fin keels have taken over the market because full keels are more expensive to produce, slower, and are harder for novice boaters to handle in the marina. They're worth that added expense however due to their increased seaworthiness, greater comfort, and longevity. Other factors mentioned such as hobby-horsing, pointing ability, and heeling characteristics are entirely dependent on the individual design, not the general keel type. You can make fin keels that point low and are excessively tender just as easy as you can make full-keelers that have wide-fat plastic asses and plumb bows that pound gracelessly through the surf like today's boat-show specials (though, who would want that?)
As a solo sailer I love my full keel westsail 32. I disappointed in this trash on my boat Basically when you went after full keels, that’s basically what you did. You know I think you did this topic for you, just so you can justify not having one on your on your boat. When shit hits the fan out in the middle of nowhere, would you rather be on my WS32 or a bolt on fin. JS. The Perfect Storm Satori explains it all.
My ancestors had better ideas. Shallow draft, full keel and docking no problem as they usually just ran it up on shore. Slow speed maneuvering also no problem especially when you had 60 plus buddies rowing. No bow thruster needed. This 1000+ year old design still keeps up with modern monohulls and tracks beautifully. Imagine a reimagined Viking longship with modern sailing rig.
Let's see you heav to a fin keel and your facts aren't facts. Tayana37's have probably crossed more oceans than any other type of sailboat and still crossing oceans
I'm confused about the comment made at 5:57. "... full keel is too inefficient. This will lead to long-term much much higher running costs." How is the inefficiency related to costs? I'm not seeing the connection.
@@drewboardman9109 I just did, heavier means slower, slower means longer passages, longer passages means more provisions, more provisions mean more money, slower means more wear and tear, heavy means bigger ground tackle, bigger ground tackle means more money, the list goes on and on
Cruising is for pleasure, the longer it takes, the more enjoyable, as for provisions costing more, Don't Finn keel sailors eat at the end of a voyage? I often test the depth of a river or bay with my FULL KEEL, I'd like to see a finn keel sailor try that. The list goes on, Speed is not everything.
I sail a lot of boats in 36 to 50 range in the ocean and if I was you I would go to sea on a full keel Nonthing handles better. If you a day sailer inlet hopper Then go with any other. Design
full keel is fast if it has clean runs on her bottom. I have a 32 foot Atkins "Thistle' SHE IS AS FAST AS ANY OTHER SAILBOAT IN OUR AREA. She goes hard and fast to windward, is comfortable even in the harbour once one gets head around how to handle her. mOST OF WHAT IS SAID ABOVE IS COMPLETE BULLSHIT!
Underrated point here - Orcas didn't start sinking sailboats until we started making delicate sailboats with flimsy little fin rudders, thus creating a new and entertaining sport for bored Orcas. You don't see any reports of Island Packets or Hans Christians getting sunk in the Strait of Gibraltar. Turns out that when your boat is properly designed to survive the occasional grounding, you don't need to worry so much about the odd Orca interaction either!
I have owned several different keeled boats and Full Keel is the Best in my opinion
I’m not an expert at all but I bought an old Alberg 30 and crossing the pacific was much better than when I rode on a boat with a bolt on fin keel. Steering my boat is more difficult but I think worth it. I would love to get an island packet one day but they are expensive
I guess depends what you do. If you hop from one marina to another i doubt that.
well being around boats for a lifetime and sailing as many years as I have I can disagree with much of this argument, and then agree with some, I have sailed or owned nearly every keel design. as a sailor, tech, and design /builder, restoration and advisor I still belong to the semi traditional soft cutaway full keel school, LOVE my full keel 42 ketch, but will agree it is hard to dock and forget reverse, One thing is for certain, if you rig your vessel well sail it well they will point relatively high, the comfort motion can not be beat period, nothing is as smooth and comforting in heavy weather as a well designed full keeler, Not just any full keel boat. Now tracking is very good too, on a long voyage you may only need to compensate course a few degrees up to land on your mark. steering is very easy if it is set up right, if you have standard non assisted hydraulic steering there is never any hard pressure working against you and it is feather light, it is NOT hard to to steer simply due to keel, that is FALSE unless you running with a tiller and some cable units might have too small of a quadrant or poor gear ratio in the pedestal. all keels will have advantages and disadvantages, every thing in boat design is a compromise and if you go as deep as to study all the findings and research over the past 60 years of the Naval institute regarding all the sea accidents, design research, etc.. you will find there is no one bad or good design, they all have vary distinct and notable qualities and advantages. full keels are not really going anywhere for the offshore guys anytime soon, I promise.
I'm with you. I disagree with much of the author 's opinion
Me too.
Full keel for me, but that's because of the sailing I want to do, which is relaxed daysailing, overnighters and the occasional longer passages, often solo or shorthanded. The boat was built in 1950 and designed as a pocket cruiser, though at 7 tons is medium-to-heavy displacement. My sailing grounds are Port Phillip Bay, which is a large embayment in Melbourne - famous for its changeable weather - and occasionally venturing out into Bass Strait. No, she doesn't point high. Yes, she's difficult to reverse into her pen (though as I become more and more familiar with the boat's characteristics, this gets easier). But these are small beer compared to how comfortable she is, and how much I have learned to trust her seakeeping abilities. And then there's the graceful beauty of her lines...
The key is just getting a boat that works for you, sounds like you have done just that
It's not about the feature, fin keel, full keel etc... it's about the overall design and making sure that the design is sailing to its designed weight. There are many good and bad full keel boats as well as fin keel boats. This one element of the design cannot be used to judge the whole... and of course you can make any of them bad handling dogs by overloading them or sticking all the weight in the ends. The individual designs track record and the builders track record are way more important than making sure you have any given feature.
I hear everything you say about the older ,“traditional” ,or “non production” boats…
I get why they aren’t the best fit for many…but give me an overbuilt, canoe stern, full keel, skeg mounted rudder …i don’t care what you throw at one , it’s like riding a train cutting through huge waves, or taking following seas without broaching …sure you may only make 6.5-7 knots on 37-40 footers , but you’ll arrive at port or wake from a shift feeling rested …
Many cruisers find themselves stuck on a reef in far away places, while banging for hours or days …let’s see how long a benateau or hunter will last at that…
How about anchoring in shallow water with hard sand or rocky bottom?…a rogue wave comes along and bangs your rudder in to bottom…it often times results in bent or destroyed rudder on boats without a skeg…
Ok , I’d prefer a modified cutaway keel over full keel because I’m not doing long passages traversing the Gulf Stream or other major currents , but nothing tracks better than a full keel if you are…
Everything is a trade off when choosing a boat, but for these items, they are worth it to me…
Thanks for your opinions …I agree with much of what you say…
I confess , the designs of the new production boats are very tempting to me….The spaces above and below decks are so open and spacious…they build so many that they have managed to refine every square inch, and get proportions , and layouts that just feel right…then I meet a guy who just took delivery of a new dual helm beneteau 40 in Florida …he sailed it back to Louisiana…he told me that he was in a high following sea for a good ways, and the auto pilot couldn’t keep up with the broaching, so he had to man the helm…he was worn out fighting it…
He still loved his boat because he said that he isn’t making that trip again, and will be coastal cruising where it shines as a fast , exciting , comfortable yacht…
I really like the Hans Christian christina models …they are solid offshore cutters with wide transoms, modified cutaway keels with skeg hung rudder, and raised open salons …they even have more spacious cockpit …they don’t have the same sexy lines of the old , but she’s my kind of girl..
Ive always had a soft spot for the h c 33…probably should have gotten something more along those lines before buying and refitting a vagabond 42…I am looking at the tayana 37, Baba 35, and the likes…bob perry is the man…also have always liked the Cabo Rico 34-36…the 36 would be my first choice if a good one pops up and is priced reasonably…I think I’d choose it over the pacific seacraft 34…all fine boats …
Yes…the heavy weather days when newly designed boats sail past while crew clings on for dear life, while we are sipping tea…
Just get what works best for you, none of those would be my choice and that's what's great about sailing, your vessel is not about me, it's about you and what works for you, if those work, that's awesome, hopefully you can find some bargains, should be an economic downturn shortly that will help with some deals
I’m kind of thinking that the older heavy cruisers may not be dropping in price like the production boats because more people may take to the sea during an economic downturn…I find that the prices are still holding , or not reflective in the listing prices yet…lots of unknowns, but I’ll be sniffing around regardless…always a sleeper around the bend…
How many full keels have fallen or broken off a full keel boat?
The ability of a full-keeled vessel to take a
grounding (lying over on her beam ends) and then get back on her feet with the incoming tide and sail or motor away, cannot be overvalued. I don't care if it is old-shcool. (Ask me how I know)
This stunt cost me a mountain of personal embarrassment but no vessel damage whatsoever.
In fact, no water was shipped during this episode.
(Warning, don't try this at home.)
Shit up dude, I sail 30,000 miles a year, I'm not some poser lavagabind
They stopped building full keels because of production costs. The number of fatal incidents with bolt-on keels makes them too much anxiety. Speed is not hugely different.
I love my Westsail 32!!
@@pwedzame too. Satori is Perfect Storm says it all.
It makes sense that more fin keel boats are crossing oceans because as you said there are more of them out there.
So before there was a lot of fin keeled boats there was full, long, modified,... so it's not that the fin is any better its that there's more of them ..
Just install a bow thruster if you have problems docking,, even a lot of modern sailboats with fin keels have bow thrusters.. because any boat 40ft or longer will have problems docking.
I sailed to Hawaii in a full keeled Atkin Ingrid. It was the worst boat I have ever been on. It would not track on any point of sail.
Tiller steering was very difficult. If we let go the tiller for 2 or 3 seconds it would veer of course instantly. The self steering did not work at all. It had to be hand steered the whole way. Never again!
Another advantage of a full keel is that you can hove - to and it will stay at the same angle to the waves. With a ketch rig they are very easy to handle.
Fin keels have taken over the market because full keels are more expensive to produce, slower, and are harder for novice boaters to handle in the marina. They're worth that added expense however due to their increased seaworthiness, greater comfort, and longevity. Other factors mentioned such as hobby-horsing, pointing ability, and heeling characteristics are entirely dependent on the individual design, not the general keel type. You can make fin keels that point low and are excessively tender just as easy as you can make full-keelers that have wide-fat plastic asses and plumb bows that pound gracelessly through the surf like today's boat-show specials (though, who would want that?)
I'll take the fin keels
For making sure the front doesn’t fall off there’s only one option
As a solo sailer I love my full keel westsail 32. I disappointed in this trash on my boat Basically when you went after full keels, that’s basically what you did. You know I think you did this topic for you, just so you can justify not having one on your on your boat. When shit hits the fan out in the middle of nowhere, would you rather be on my WS32 or a bolt on fin. JS. The Perfect Storm Satori explains it all.
Bolt on fin keel all day
Interested to know what you think of the Kracken yachts?
Great vids 👍
Nice vessels, not needed for 99.9 percent of sailors
Full Keels are reef-busters. On the other hand a fin keel can brake-off even by hitting under water sand dunes
I like these videos more than I like free tacos! Great job sir!
That's saying a lot. Thank you
Where do you get free tacos?
Anyone know the boat shown at 00:50 ?
I've been wondering the same :) he uses that clip quite a bit
I have a full keel. Baba30. I think im growing out of it.
Hey there! Can you please elaborate on what makes you grow out of a Baba 30?
They consider a Mason 44.
Do they ever get the joke?
My ancestors had better ideas. Shallow draft, full keel and docking no problem as they usually just ran it up on shore. Slow speed maneuvering also no problem especially when you had 60 plus buddies rowing. No bow thruster needed. This 1000+ year old design still keeps up with modern monohulls and tracks beautifully. Imagine a reimagined Viking longship with modern sailing rig.
I think you should stick to either lake power boats or those with pedals.
What make / model is the boat from 8:00?
Moody 41 ds
@@ChasingLatitudes Thank you!
@@iustintarachiu9326 you are very welcome, stunning vessel, far out of my price range but man do I love that design
@@ChasingLatitudes have you ever checked out the 40DS from Sirius Yachts? WAY out of my price range but really well designed yachts
What is the make and model at 0:40?
Dear Sir !! ............ GREAT Vlog !!........... Bless
Let's see you heav to a fin keel and your facts aren't facts. Tayana37's have probably crossed more oceans than any other type of sailboat and still crossing oceans
I'm confused about the comment made at 5:57. "... full keel is too inefficient. This will lead to long-term much much higher running costs."
How is the inefficiency related to costs? I'm not seeing the connection.
Full keel vessels are far slower, heavier, that equals longer passages, higher running costs, more expensive ground tackle and so on
@@ChasingLatitudes"higher running costs" - can you elaborate?
@@drewboardman9109 I just did, heavier means slower, slower means longer passages, longer passages means more provisions, more provisions mean more money, slower means more wear and tear, heavy means bigger ground tackle, bigger ground tackle means more money, the list goes on and on
@@ChasingLatitudes it is just money. You don't take up sailing as a money saving option.
Cruising is for pleasure, the longer it takes, the more enjoyable, as for provisions costing more, Don't Finn keel sailors eat at the end of a voyage?
I often test the depth of a river or bay with my FULL KEEL, I'd like to see a finn keel sailor try that.
The list goes on,
Speed is not everything.
Didn’t think I needed a full keel, now I am about 99% sure I don’t.
I sail a lot of boats in 36 to 50 range in the ocean and if I was you I would go to sea on a full keel
Nonthing handles better.
If you a day sailer inlet hopper
Then go with any other. Design
Put it simply. Not having the funds suck :D So if someone had a J class for free call me :D
full keel is fast if it has clean runs on her bottom. I have a 32 foot Atkins "Thistle' SHE IS AS FAST AS ANY OTHER SAILBOAT IN OUR AREA. She goes hard and fast to windward, is comfortable even in the harbour once one gets head around how to handle her. mOST OF WHAT IS SAID ABOVE IS COMPLETE BULLSHIT!
Just like your boat
Orcas…
The seas going to part as well ?
How did you know?
Underrated point here - Orcas didn't start sinking sailboats until we started making delicate sailboats with flimsy little fin rudders, thus creating a new and entertaining sport for bored Orcas. You don't see any reports of Island Packets or Hans Christians getting sunk in the Strait of Gibraltar. Turns out that when your boat is properly designed to survive the occasional grounding, you don't need to worry so much about the odd Orca interaction either!
Good information
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