[frers-list]Fairing keel and rudder

[Arthur Kelley]

Courtney,

We know hull #54 was built with a wing keel, but I don't have a photo of that. A local Frers 38 has a wing keel and it is very distinctly a wing keel with fairly large wings. It does sound like yours was an after-market modification. 

The draft of 4'11" as specified for the wing keel should have been from the waterline. 

I am not a naval architect so won't make a recommendation. It sounds like Bill Thompson did it the right way engaging Mars Keels and adding more weight than he removed. 

I don't see your name on our list on the web site. Which boat name and hull number?  Maybe someone has some background on this boat. You may need to go back to the owner who made the modification to find out what was really done.

Art

> On Dec 10, 2013, at 9:25 AM, Courtney Thomas <courtneycthomas@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> 
> Art,
> 
> Thanks for the data.
> 
> My understanding is that on the Frers33 a wing keel was an option whose draft apparently was  4' 11".  Is that from the keel root, waterline, or what ?
> 
> The keel depth on my boat, measured from the root front to the foot bottom, ... is about 40".
> 
> I don't know if a former owner  modified said keel, or if I have a "wing", though the foot shape is torpedo like and does not have a horizontal wing.
> 
> More importantly, I'm concerned that someone, not a marine architect, has sufficiently altered this keel so that it's ballast is insufficient, the boat's handling is impaired if not dangerous, or that it's performance is significantly reduced.
> 
> Please bear in mind my intended use is coastal cruising, not racing.
> 
> 1-What's your opinion on my boat's circumstance ?
> 
> 2-If of serious consequence, what's your recommendation regarding proper assessment and remedy ?
> 
> Hopefully I'm unnecessarily concerned    :-)    but with a 50' mast and sail capacity on such a small and light boat and it's intended 'below the belt' ballast I'm concerned.
> 
> Most appreciatively,
> 
> Courtney
> 
> PS - Anyone else that will weigh in is welcome, of course.
> 
> 
> 
>