aftermarket add on keel

[Tom C-Dory]

I have a 25' C-Dory Cruiser with 150hp Evinrude Tech. that we cruise on Lake Superior. The Lake usually has wind which seem to push the boat sideways. Has anyone ever added a keel to the flat bottom stern of the hull to prevent less sideways movement. Any thoughts. Thanks.

 

[ssobol]

I have a 25' C-Dory Cruiser with 150hp Evinrude Tech. that we cruise on Lake Superior. The Lake usually has wind which seem to push the boat sideways. Has anyone ever added a keel to the flat bottom stern of the hull to prevent less sideways movement. Any thoughts. Thanks.

One of the selling points of a C-Dory is shallow draft and fuel efficiency. Adding a keel would counter those goals. There are plenty of deep V boats or boats without deck houses that are better in a crosswind. If that is your priority, then a C-Dory might not be for you.

Pick your docks that are facing into the wind, or use the wind direction to push your boat against the dock. Yes, docking a C-dory in a crosswind is can be a challenge. On my 22, the bow wants to turn downwind smartly when the steerage way comes off.

Every boat design is a compromise.

FWIW, adding a keel (like a dagger board) may help in a crosswind, but wouldn't significantly change the hull shape to improve the ride. To be helpful, the keel needs to be at the center of rotation. Having one on the stern is not going to help much.

 

[thataway]

a keel would increase turbulence around the prop/ props Deep keel boats run fast--more semi displacement speeds.

The keel would increase issues in a cross current, but minimal resistance in drift from wind forces. ("Drift" is wind, "set" is current which cause leeway.)

A daggerboard forward might serve some purpose, but most boats use a bow thruster rather than a dagger board forward, How do you control the dagger board? (There are some expensive ways, but none cheap and simple, and you have lost a lot of functional space inside the boat.

 

[robhwa]

I live in South Puget Sound, and, I have to say, this area has the most inconsistent wind patterns of any other place I've lived (Gulf coast, Chesapeake Bay, New Hampshire). I gave up regular sailing here. It is just not much fun most of the time. I still sail a Hobie Tandem Island when I see steady wind (Windy is helpful), but often finish the trip motoring, peddling or paddling back. In order to dock easier in wind and "sit" in one place in wind while fishing, I put a Minn Kota front-mount trolling motor with "spot-lock" on my CD22. It helps a lot, and after you drop it, it can retrace a previous, saved route right into the slip. I don't know of many other people that have done this on CD's, but I'm quite a fan of front-mounted trolling motors now. Spot lock will hold you in one place, particularly if the wind, tide or current is mostly in one direction. Major downside is getting on the bow to deploy/stow it, and you have to be careful not to hit things with it when docking.