Any performance bilge keelers?

   Toying with the idea of getting a cruiser up to 32ft c1990 vintage. Some benefits of a bilge keeler for coastal hopping and choices of anchorage. Never sailed one. Are there any with reasonable windward performance? Is a 'twin keeler' supposedly saying better performance. I do not need racing performance, still get my fix dinghy sailing but do not want a dog.

Any other disadvantages? Have heard the prop is more prone to picking up debris. Manoeuvrability under motor?

Thanks.

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Strangler Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 24 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 154	Post Options Post Reply Quote Strangler Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Any performance bilge keelers? Posted: 29 Jun 15 at 4:05pm
	Toying with the idea of getting a cruiser up to 32ft c1990 vintage. Some benefits of a bilge keeler for coastal hopping and choices of anchorage. Never sailed one. Are there any with reasonable windward performance? Is a 'twin keeler' supposedly saying better performance. I do not need racing performance, still get my fix dinghy sailing but do not want a dog. Any other disadvantages? Have heard the prop is more prone to picking up debris. Manoeuvrability under motor? Thanks.

Wee Man Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Aug 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 214	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wee Man Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jun 15 at 6:27am
	Westerly Fulmar is pretty quick & 32ft.
	Nacra Infusion F18

catmandoo Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 545	Post Options Post Reply Quote catmandoo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jun 15 at 11:55am
	Bilge keelers generally performance comprimised and almost as a rule slower ,less efficient than the same hull with fin keel afaik , Good for grounding intentionaly , nightmare if not 😜 But there are some with good performance and designed as such , rowsell morrison built some seriously quick twin keel boats think built by rm yachts , there was an ole ior racer that had tacking bilge boards , ie internal ballast and unballasted boards that was quick untill outlawed , think foxer make a wee fast bilge board yacht too .


PeterV Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 24 Feb 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 131	Post Options Post Reply Quote PeterV Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jun 15 at 12:19pm
	The principle difference is in the way the bilge keels are constructed. Early boats with moulded bilge keels had to have them vertical so they could come out of the mould. These are all really slow. Later boats had bolt on iron fins, splayed out and assymetric. These will go much better. Also look at the draft, some of the early bilge keelers were only about 2' draft on a boat almost 30' long whereas others, like the Fulmar is much deeper. So, just by loking at the boat out of the water will give you a good idea of it's likely performance. I'll second a Fulmar as a bilge keeler that really goes well.
	PeterV Finn K197, Finn GBR564, GK29 Warsash

rb_stretch Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 23 Aug 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 742	Post Options Post Reply Quote rb_stretch Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 30 Jun 15 at 7:00pm
	I had an RM880 which was as quick as any modern fin keeler (excepting out and out raceboats). Problem is getting hold of one. I bought new and when I sold the boat it went straight back to France.

chrisarnell1 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 06 Sep 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 89	Post Options Post Reply Quote chrisarnell1 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jul 15 at 11:07am
	Dad had a Moody 31. Lots of them in Christchurch owing to shallow draught. Great boats in all conditions. Not a racing boat by any means but if you're hacking up the Solent, wind against tide, in 35 knots - something that does 7 knots upwind and keeps you dry is a touch of class.

NickA Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 30 Mar 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 783	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickA Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Dec 15 at 10:20pm
	Sailed a bilge keeled moody 31s round cornwall once; spent all night trying to get it past Brixham by tacking up wind .. instead of getting into Tobay we realised we were just going back and forth without gaining any ground. Fast enough, but wouldn't point at all. Bloke who sold it had just bought a Westerly Fulmar .. along with almost everyone else at his yacht club.
	Javelin 558 Contender 2574