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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

First Sail and Wing Keel

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4306 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/28/2010 : 10:19:18

I finally got to go sailing yesterday after a 5 month layoff for various reasons! Temperature was in the low to mid 70's, winds 13-18 knots. I had the boat pulled Wednesday and had the bottom pressure washed so I finally had a clean bottom for the first time in awhile.

I decided to take it easy since the boat and I haven't been out for awhile. Stayed in Clear Lake just off Galveston Bay. You get all the wind without the waves.

I have to say I LOVE my wing keel! Clear Lake averages 4 - 5' with a very soft muddy bottom. Sailed for 2+ hours at 4-4.6 knots on a 110 jib alone and never touched bottom.

A really nice day to start the season off!

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GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 03/28/2010 : 10:37:49

Gary,

Did you own something other than a wing keel previously that you can compare/contrast to?

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4306 Posts

Response Posted - 03/28/2010 : 11:11:13

No. I really wanted a fin keel but my boat showed up almost in my baxkyard and I couldn't pass on the deal. Now I'm glad it worked out the way it did.

I've sailed a C27 and a Call 29 that both had fin keels and they did track a little better but the advantages of the shallow draft more than offset the slight difference in tracking. It's really not that much different. If I sailed in deeper water all the time I might go for a fin but I'm not sure.

IMHO I really think the wing is the best overall package. Coastal go with a standard rig, inland lakes go with the tall rig.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 03/28/2010 : 17:07:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I really think the wing is the best overall package<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
SHUSH. Keep it quiet, We don't want that to get around!

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/28/2010 : 20:32:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by islander
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I really think the wing is the best overall package<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
SHUSH. Keep it quiet, We don't want that to get around!

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 03/28/2010 20:33:09

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4306 Posts

Response Posted - 03/28/2010 : 20:40:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by islander
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I really think the wing is the best overall package<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
SHUSH. Keep it quiet, We don't want that to get around!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">WHY?? You own one! The C-25 wing, especially the '89-90, is the pick of the litter!

Gary--you have the best of all worlds for your shallow grounds! (If somebody says you should have a Hake with a dagger-board, they don't get the sailing part--the dagger-board has to be down to sail!)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I agree Dave! I want to let everyone know what a great boat they are. Helps keep the price up!

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NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 03/29/2010 : 06:31:58

I've been to Kemah twice now, and that's definately the first place I'm taking mine when the trailer gets put together. The whole family wants to sail the coast. We'll have to meet up. ;)

The last time I was there was when I picked up the trailer. My friend and I sat in Landry's (Boardwalk) watching the sailboats go in and out.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 03/29/2010 06:33:27

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 03/29/2010 : 06:42:38

I'm really happy with the wing as well. Had no idea I was getting the "pick of the litter" when I bought my 89 wk. My worst tracking problem is the original main I'm still flying. Very blown out and I need to bite the bullet and buy a new one

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jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 03/29/2010 : 18:56:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 ....

I decided to take it easy since the boat and I haven't been out for awhile. Stayed in Clear Lake just off Galveston Bay. You get all the wind without the waves.

I have to say I LOVE my wing keel! Clear Lake averages 4 - 5' with a very soft muddy bottom. Sailed for 2+ hours at 4-4.6 knots on a 110 jib alone and never touched bottom.
...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Many, many moons ago I worked as a NASA contract employee and lived in an apartment on Clear Lake. I had my first sailboat, a lateen rig Dolphin Senior. One time a squall line came through while I was at least a 1/4 mile from shore. The strong wind flipped my boat over and drove the mast into the soft bottom I couldn't get it out of the muck until a friend with a power boat came along.

When I lived there, 1966 to July, 1969, the underwater visibility in "Clear Lake" was less than 12 inches. What's it like now ?

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4306 Posts

Response Posted - 03/29/2010 : 20:50:54

NautiC25 -- Come on down! With our wing keels you can go almost anywhere in the lake or the bay. While the lake averages 4-5' the bay averages 8-9'.

Our boats are pretty close together, I'm 5862 and you're 5894. DaveR is in the middle at 5877.

I used to sail on Canyon Lake out of Canyon Lake Marina back in the 70's almost every weekend during the summer. Had a Hobie 16 at the time. Had a friend you might know now, Fred Lindsey. His dad Lloyd had a Cal 29 at the time and I got to go out with them a few times.

DaveR -- I have the same problem as you. My main needs to go. My 110 and 150 while not new seem to have decent shape. The boss just gave me the clearance to purchase a roller furler so I'll be doing some serious shopping over the next week or two.

jbkayaker -- I taught my self how to sail in the late 60's right across the bridge from Nasa. I had an old wooden Sailfish that leaked like a sive. In 1972 I bought a brand new Hobie 16 and learned how to sail a catamaran in the same spot. Second time I went out (in February)it was blowing about 15 and I accidently put my knee on the main sheet as I tacked. Needless to say I flipped the boat and immediately drove the mast deep into the bottom. I weighed about 140 pounds in those days and I believe it took a minimum of 175-200 #'s to get it righted. A guy on a Hobie 14 finally came by and helped me get the mast out of the mud and helped flip it back upright where it immediately flipped over in the other direction. After about 4 tries I kept it upright. By this time I was so cold (no wetsuit) I had to sit in the car with the heater on for almost an hour before I could take the boat apart and head home.

Visibility is not much better. In the marina when it's still I can see about half my rudder. Out in the lake it's not that good. I've been out in the middle of the bay a few times where I could see the bottom of the rudder which really surprised me.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.