On 12/4/2013 11:19 AM, no spam wrote:

How well does the swing-down keel work on any of these boats. Typically
first to leak and cause lots of problems that are hard or impossible to
fix - including making noise as you come about etc.?

Well, that's pretty much true of older or poorly maintained boats.
But it doesn't have to be that way.

If the hinge is loose (worn) or there is slop between keel board and
the trunk it retracts into, it will bang around, wobble some, and maybe
have a tack (side) that it sails better than the other.

The pennant (cable that raises and lowers the keel) will sing sweetly at
any speed. But that's pure unadulterated drag.

Loading heavily enough to get the hinge pin under water can sink a boat.

And the slot for the trunk is not exactly what we call a streamlined
shape...

Another thing is that swing keels are usually cast iron - not lead.
With all the issues that come with iron in salt water.

And the trunk takes up a lot of room in the cabin - right where the
floor could be.

But - some people still like the idea...