canting keels...

Doug Frolich,
Why 2 rams, a lot of the big boats are only using 1, Mari Cha IV, which is 140ft loa, 10 tonnes of canting keel only uses 1 ram, Skandia Wild Thing, which is only 100ft loa uses 1 ram

[dougfrolich]

2 rams for redundancy, designers piece of mind.

Well, my keel comes only 6 inches inside the boat, has no compressed air, and uses hydraulics to cant.

I believe (from speaking to Grant Wharrington) that the compressed air on Wildthinh is used not for the keel flood box, but rather for the engine drive leg - this is lifted, and a blanking plug inserted when sailing (like we do). They then pressurize this space to prevent water entering - we live with the few gallons that can seep in past the seals on the plug.

[OrionsSword]

well i duno about you but i personnally would not want to be crossing an ocean on something w a canting keel...they seem to something that would break right when you need it most (murfy's law) I still think though that they are a brilliant idea for in round the buoys
dylan

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by OrionsSword

well i duno about you but i personnally would not want to be crossing an ocean on something w a canting keel...they seem to something that would break right when you need it most (murfy's law) I still think though that they are a brilliant idea for in round the buoys

Doooood! Do you have it the wrong way 'round!
It takes forever (comparatively) to tack one of those things. Definitely an offshore, long tack kinda thing. You do NOT want to get into a tacking duel with an appendage that will cause you to heel 20 or more degrees in a flat calm on the wrong side when caught on port. Believe me.

Steve

I guess it depends on the system being used--if it is fast, reliable and has enough reserve power why not a tacking duel?

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by Lorsail

if

Big word, that

From what I hear Schock 40's do pretty well in a tacking duel; there was even a report of a tacking duel between Morning Glory and Pyewacket during Antigua Race Week.....

[SailDesign]

Having just read about "Genuine Risk" being able to tack her foil in 8 seconds, I can believe that tacking duels might work. IF (big word, that ) you are willing to put with all that hydraulic gobbledegook to make it happen. Amazing what technology and money can achieve

Steve

Yes, but I really like it! Back to the point for a second: I think there are applications for canting keels in very small keelboats as well as very large. And in the small boats it would be relatively easier to make the things work with electrical instead of hydraulic power with fairly small power draw. By small I mean keelboats from 12 -18'. And tacking duels could go on all day..

PS- one of the sorta humorous things to come out of the application of canting keels to some big boats-Z86's to be specific is the necessity on those boats of running the diesel when canting the keel! I can almost hear them on the starting line reving those things up....

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by Lorsail

Yes, but I really like it!

True - it is fun. One of my objections to the whole system, however, is the amount of power needed to do this stuff mechanically. On the WOC boats, it could be done manually fairly easily, especially if you let gravity help. No power needed, no danger if the diesel busts.

Steve

[Tim B]

then have a failsafe so the keel locks central if the generator goes down.

Interestingly, among all the canting keel patents there is one issued to a guy whose system specifically relies on gravity. He's approached many canting keel builders including me (I build just models so far) and CBTFco claiming that we MUST infringe on his patent when tacking. He has not been succesful in that line of thinking since the keels on powered systems(when properly working) are always "engaged" to the power source. I think every full size canting keel system should definitely be able to be locked in center and have "dampers" that prevent faster movement than what is possible under power.

[OrionsSword]

well in respoce to your dooood reply i feel it necisairy to point out as many others have that many of the round the bouys maxis have canting keels and use them really well. i would also like to point out the fact that many ocean boats have been known to have there canting keels fail or jam do to long tacks w the keel in the same possition for a long time. my main idea tho in not taking a canting keel on the long ocean runs is that WHEN they start to leak i'd rather be in shore not in the middle of the ocean
Orion

So many patents for nothing. is there any patents that say that i can't post on this website? Since i am not in the states it should be fine. What do u think about the way that patent are given? In my view the way they are given in the states will just make them worthless in a while. A patent for gravity canting keel, i dont know where we are going.

USA is great.