Chrysler Sailors Forum

Just wondering how well the 22 would perform upwind if the keel is in the up position. I'm sure it will not point as well as if the keel is down, but it still extends from the hull a bit so it should create some lift and you won't just go sideways. Has anyone tried this?

Yes.
You will not point as well as you suggested and you will have a lot of sideways slip. Give it a try so you can see how she slides! Try rounding a triangular course with the keel up, then try it with the keel down. You will for sure understand the differences then!

Scott

I have forgotten to lower the keel, and it didn't take long to figure out why I was sailing sideways.

To that point the original manual suggest letting the keel down all the way and then bringing it back up about 1 turn on the winch. I was just curious if there is a best practice out there?

First time out with my Widgeon I pulled the wrong rope on the centerboard...yup, centerboard UP!!!...couldn't figger out why it seemed I was going the direction I wanted to go but kept sliding farther away from my destination. Felt like a complete dolt when I figgered it out. Boat was a lot more fun with the centerboard down.

I think you would get knocked down so fast in a stiff wind that it would make your head spin. It is unbelievable the difference in boat stability with keel up verses keel down just at the dock. Try it some time.
In reguard to the weight it is true it is all the same. The real difference is where the weight is located. That 3 to 4 foot dif is a major factor in the weights moment and righting force. You pull all that weight closer to the center line of axial rotation and you loose the power of the off setting weight. It's just simple weight and balance.

One less thing to worry about with having a fixed keel ...Although it does have its bennys

Although I will say that its a hinderence when you want to get close to the shore

I've done a Keel up sailing once by accident. Forgot to lower the keel but put the sails up. It was apparent right away something was wrong.

Not only was I making a lot of lee way. The boat rocked in a very disconcerting way. Much less stable then you would expect with the wind gusting off the beam. Lots of roll port to starboard and back fairly rapidly. I had that keel down in record time.

When motoring I keep the keel up and it's plenty stable. When the main is not up pushing you sideways and making you feel like your going to roll. I'm 100% sure it would not roll in anything but a real had blow but the roll was faster back and forth. I don't think the heel was more then 10 to 15 degrees in the gust. Its the speed it heeled from one side to the other that un-nerved me. Thoughts like "Oh God I dropped the keel!"

Thanks.
Alan