[C320-list] fin vs. wing keel

[Brian Carol Mclamb]

This is my second Catalina with a wing keel, and I love it.  My recommendation is to consider the intended cruising area you intend to enjoy.  I am in NC on the Pamlico Sound, and Neuse River where depth is a concern.  I also use it to go to Cape Lookout so some ocean sailing is also done.  The only time I notice a real need for deep fin keel is when winds climb in to the 20+ knots of wind when you are trying to hold a compass course.  This is infrequent so I still love the wing keel.   Brian from Serenity # 1075.

Sent from my iPad

On 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:
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>    genehelfman at gmail.com
> 
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> 
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