[C320-list] fin vs. wing keel

[Irving Grunes]

We have had any number of groundings,but never required a tow.

Remember that the most powerful mover for you boat are your sails. Use them
for healing and just pulling.
Irv Grunes
2001 #851


On Sat, Oct 29, 2011 at 12:23 PM, Uhlman <uhlman at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Lou
> We have had wing keel gounding experiences.  First one was with our
> Catalina 28.later with our 320!
>
> Both were  what i wouid call light groundings in mud bottom but both
> resulted in a tow.   one tow was from a friend. The other reguired a call
> and a real tow.
> Bob uhlman
> Whisper, 1158
>
>
> Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G Touch
>
> -------- Original message --------
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] fin vs. wing keel
> From: Flyingmonkey <lou at flyingmonkey.im>
> To: "C320-List at Catalina320.com" <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> CC:
>
> I'd like to hear from those who have actually experienced a grounding with
> the wing keel. This is my first wing keel vessel and I'd like to know what
> to expect when it happens. I'm a realist when it comes to these things.
> There are those who have run aground and those who have not "yet" run
> aground.
>
> Thanks,
> Lou Hodac
> S/V Blue Moon
> Hull#702
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Oct 29, 2011, at 11:00 AM, Andrew Santangelo <andrew_santangelo at mac.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Hello All,
> >
> > I would also add the fin keel works for most of the great lakes.  We had
> some close calls in the Kalamazoo River in Saugatuck off Lake Michigan,
> otherwise the fin keel also works great in this region.
> >
> > The big issue is if you plan to race your vessel at all and want a chance
> to place you really need to go to the fin keel - the pointing ability and
> carrying less mass is a huge difference.  Now I cruised extensively all over
> the great lakes before racing and I still cruise quite a bit and I have to
> say pointing better towards my destination and going a tad faster to beat
> some coming weather is an added boost I love. I have also see a few wing
> keels run aground.  It is not pretty getting off vs. a fin keel.    When
> sailing in shallow water, I really try to avoid cutting it close regardless
> of fin or wing keel.  Of course that is what GPS, chart plotters and tide
> charts are for.
> >
> > Regarding west coast sailing since I did the massive move/shipping of
> Dawn Treader to SFO - lots of wind, you fly with the tides (weather you want
> to or not), and a fin keel is totally fine.
> >
> > Best Regards,
> > Andrew
> >
> > C320
> > "Dawn Treader"
> > #333
> > San Francisco
> >
> >
> >
> > On Oct 29, 2011, at 9:03 AM, Brad Kuether wrote:
> >
> >> If you can sail comfortably in your waters without worrying about going
> aground get the fin.  The performace difference is remarkable.   But if you
> have any doubt on depth, you open up a LOT of options with the wing.  And to
> be honest, I move along OK.  (folding prop really helps here...) Pointing is
> a different matter.  I find with the 150 up front and sheeted in tight, I do
> better, but nothing great.
> >>
> >> My prior C&C had a 5'4" fin, and that was boarderline.  I did OK in the
> upper Chesapeake.  Some anchorages were out of scope.
> >>
> >> 6 feet plus under a Catalina 320?  No way.  Not here.
> >>
> >> -Brad, Mary, Monica, and Jarod
> >> "Independence"
> >> 2004 Catalina 320 Hull 1006
> >> Middle River, MD
> >>
> >> PS - First snowfall of the season has begun in earnest.  Its supposed to
> be bright and sunny with highs still in the low 60s!!!!!!
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Burti" <clburti at gmail.com>
> >> To: <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> >> Sent: Friday, October 28, 2011 1:15 PM
> >> Subject: Re: [C320-list] fin vs. wing keel
> >>
> >>
> >> The simplest rule of thumb is for East Coast cruising...get a wing
> >> keel...West Coast, a fin is fine.
> >>
> >> There is simply too much thin water South of Norfolk not to take
> >> advantage of the extra foot of clearance..
> >>
> >> On Fri, Oct 28, 2011 at 12:58 PM, Gene Helfman <genehelfman at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>> Dear all: In our ongoing search for a 320 (ca. 2000 +/-), we've run
> into a
> >>> mixture of opinions on the qualities of the shallow vs. deep draft
> boats.
> >>> We have a harbor and hoist situation in our home port that makes 6 ft
> draft
> >>> problematic but not impossible. Would anyone like to chime in on the
> costs
> >>> and benefits of the wing keel boats (of which fewer were produced and
> are
> >>> harder to find) vs. the deeper-draft fin keel boats? We intend to
> cruise
> >>> not race so faster turning isn't much of an issue.
> >>>
> >>> thanks,
> >>> gene
> >>> --
> >>> Gene Helfman, Professor Emeritus
> >>> Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia
> >>> PERMANENT address:
> >>> 498 Shoreland Dr., Lopez Is., WA 98261
> >>> (360) 468-2136
> >>> genehelfman at gmail.com
> >>>
> >>> "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day,
> >>> Teach a man to fish and he'll deplete the
> >>> oceans."
> >>>
>