Seafra
08-28-2006, 02:31 AM
I'm coming at this as a sailing novice but I'm trying to put together an working concept of true ocean-going stability.
Would the ideally stable monohull sailboat have a relatively small amount of beam per length(enough to maintain static stability), a steel hull to increase it's displacement, a fiberglass/composite cabin construction to keep the COG low, and a shallow draft twin keel(in a 90 degree split at the beam), tall narrow fuel tank on port, and tall narrow freshwater on starboard. From what I can tell, this should result in a vessel with great dynamic roll stability but relatively poor handling characteristics
Talking about keels can be like talking about religion I'm sure- but the twin keel seems to offer some good advantages from a cruising aspect though I can't image a racer much appreciating the extra wetted surface. My only hangup is that a twin keel gives me the sense that once a boat has turtled it would contribute to it's inverted stability rather than self right. I very easily could be wrong though.
Also, could someone please attach a pic of a bilge keel so I can figure out what it is? Is it synonymous with full keel designs?
More questions to come....
Would the ideally stable monohull sailboat have a relatively small amount of beam per length(enough to maintain static stability), a steel hull to increase it's displacement, a fiberglass/composite cabin construction to keep the COG low, and a shallow draft twin keel(in a 90 degree split at the beam), tall narrow fuel tank on port, and tall narrow freshwater on starboard. From what I can tell, this should result in a vessel with great dynamic roll stability but relatively poor handling characteristics
Talking about keels can be like talking about religion I'm sure- but the twin keel seems to offer some good advantages from a cruising aspect though I can't image a racer much appreciating the extra wetted surface. My only hangup is that a twin keel gives me the sense that once a boat has turtled it would contribute to it's inverted stability rather than self right. I very easily could be wrong though.
Also, could someone please attach a pic of a bilge keel so I can figure out what it is? Is it synonymous with full keel designs?
More questions to come....