You'll probably think I'm barking, but here goes:
I'm looking for a GK24, for some reason I just like the look & lines of them. Problem is: I sail on the Essex coast hence very shallow. Nearly all the ones I have seen are 5ft draft which is totally impractical.

So here's my thought, there is a company in Canada which, apparently, shorten the keel & fit a wing/bulb with additional weight to compensate. As a result you will produce slightly more leeway & wont point so high, (I'll only be cruising) but it will mean I get a more time messing about on the water each tide.

I saw in the forum that someone had tried a wing keel, but I don't know what results he achieved, has any one here played around with keel designs ?


Cheers

Simon

Hi Simon

Just to say that we can empathise with your thoughts - you are not mad - think your idea is worthy.
We would be very interested to know how you get on.
Do you know that ther is a shallow draught version - 4' 3" I believe.
The keel on this version has a greater 'cord' - probably giving better directional stability as well.

Yours

Dawn & Anthony

Thanks Dawn & Anthony

All the GK's I have seen are all deep fin, shoal draft GK's are pretty rare.

I'll put an update in if it happens. If it all goes horribly wrong I'll be on the look out for a replacement keel.

Simon

I believe that Samarai is still for sale, she is shallow fin.

Regards

Robin
Hooligan GBR3537

Hi Robin

Yes, thanks for that, I have seen the ads & she looks a great boat, BUT £7500 is a bit hot for me. I'll be using it for day sailing, & if I don't get around to using it for a while I wont feel so bad with a cheaper (£5k)boat.

Cheers

Simon

fair point!!!!

The wing keel was actually more a means of moving the centre of gravity down - one such boat is Electronique. The wings are fitted to the standard 5 foot keel - for that boat they kept the wings part way up the side of the keel so the iron would hit the shingle first.

Given the IOR inspiration for the standard keel (low COG penalised rating- the extreme IOR had ballast in the bilge and a light keel) , a shallow draft keel with less or reversed taper will put the centre of gravity as low and have a similar area. After all the difference is only 9 inches draught between the two.

Hi Simon
I had a wing keel on Electronique but removed it shortly after moving to Emsworth over 10 years ago so that I would be able to race in the GK24 class. The wings are at the bottom of the garden. If I was going to take Electronique across the Atlantic I would put them back on again.
I have the drawings for the wings so there's no need to apply to Canada. If you let me have your phone number we could have a chat about them.
Fred

Hi Fred

Thanks for your reply, but I have sorted myself out a boat to sail until something more suitable comes along. I am still hankering over a GK24 & still on the look out for a shoal draft version, (sailing on the East Anglian coast is too restrictive with a deep fin).

I would still be interested in your information on your wings tho. Then I could possibly find a cheap deep fin GK to restore and modify. The company in Canada was the only firm which had done such a modification but couldn't really answer all my questions. They cut a length off the keel (approx 12"" then add the lead bulb with 20% more weight to keep the righting moment the same.)

One query I had was whether the keel bolts etc will be man enough for the extra 20% weight of the keel.

If you like you can email me directly at simonk@aspects.net


Many thnaks

Simon