[C320-list] fin vs. wing keel

[Gary Magnuson]

Dear Gene,
Having gone through the same thought process, I think the issue depends 
on the conditions you face where you plan to sail,  On Lake Superior, in 
the Apostle Islands, our bottom is sand and rock, with deep safe water 
within easy reach of islands shore. The fin vs Wing is often a 
discussion at 5:00 on the dock boxes, and it is generally accepted that 
when you go aground on a sand bar, the fin keel will allow a kedge off 
more readily than wing.   The wing will encourage you to get in closer 
to shore before dropping the hook for the night, but also may allow a 
harder grounding problem to solve.   If you have a lot of shallow water 
in your area where depth is a constant issue, the wing is the way to 
go.  I bought the fin and have been extremely happy on my 1995 320.  
While on her delivery trip from Whitehall Michigan to Bayfield, WI in 
2007, the Lakes were low, and there were two harbors that we had to 
bypass because of draft, and a couple of places where the fuel pump hose 
was extended full length, due to depth issues, but I am still happy with 
my choice of the fin Keel.  Each October, during the Venetian parade, it 
is fun to hear the crowd cheer, when I spin her 360 in her own length.   
We also had a bumpy crossing to Grand Marais, MN this summer with 25 to 
35 knot's of wind and following seas on the port quarter.  I realized 
one disadvantage of the very quick response of a fin keel, as I fought 
the helm trying to hold a steady course, but I don't know if the wing 
configuration would have tracked better or the same.  I think the full 
keel boats track straighter.  I think your best advice is to search the 
local knowledge, and sift it for the issues you consider critical.

Good luck,
Gary
320#205
Time A Weigh





On 10/28/2011 11:58 AM, Gene Helfman 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