On Wed, 04 Dec 2013 12:21:35 -0600, Richard
wrote:

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.

True indeed.

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.

Ayup. Big " if" though.

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

Not much..and the singing is the speedometer.

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

Mine is always below the water line. On both boats.

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

But its not drag..only a little turbulance.

Another thing is that swing keels are usually cast iron - not lead.
With all the issues that come with iron in salt water.
Lots of salt water in Texas lakes is there?

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

In the E20..its 6", in the V24..its 4" 5" wide on the E20...3" on
the V24

But - some people still like the idea...

Hard to sail a full keel on a lake. Really hard in most lakes. There
is shoal draft...but...thats like not having my swing keels down.

No cranes to unload the boats here either....we back the trailers into
the water and float em off. And never get the vehicle wet.


Gunner

--
"Owning a sailboat is like marrying a nymphomaniac. You don’t want to do that
but it is great if your best friend does. That way you get all the benefits without any of the upkeep"

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