Hi Steve and Linda, thanks for all your great work over the years.
\nI have to qualify this question with a few things. I am young enough (45) to still be crazy, I have extensive (30+years) of offshore (big boat) distance racing experience from the Islands to Nova Scotia, both shorthanded and with full crew, and I am a designer and builder (Houses and Commercial Projects) by trade, who has previously applied skills I have learned to such insane projects as helping to rebuild an Alden 42\u2019 Cutter Rigged Yawl (replacing 77 out of 86 frames\u2026).
\nI am in the process of considering my next boat. The intended use of this boat will be to do the \u201creverse\u201d ARC, then bumping around Europe for some time, doing some races as desired, (Fastnet\u2026) ultimately (if the mood strikes) returning after a year or two, or not, as the case may be. In addition while I do like and intend to have creature comforts, I have no problem with an austere (looking) interior (bare carbon or aluminum is fine with me).
\nUnfortunately one of your boats is not in my budget (although I have coveted one since you started), so I have been looking at used Open 60\u2019s to convert to my idea of \u201cthe perfect cruiser\u201d. Fast.
\nMy logic (if you can call it that) is that from what\u2019s available on the market, like the old P&J \u201cBoomerang\u201d while a fantastic boat (I have raced her) for the most part could not be simply modified to my needs (also a bit big, I think 60+\/- is my max). My main issue is draft, so I am considering as part of my budget a lifting keel (or even canting\/lifting) with a target draft of 4\u2019. What is your opinion of the various lifting keel methods, and their relative strength\/safety? Having had a near miss with a partially submerged container on a night with no moon doing 20+ Knots, I have some concerns.
\nIn addition what are your thoughts on \u201cdetuning\u201d (reducing the sail area (slightly)) such a boat for the displacement that I would have, since I will not be carrying the sail inventory or supplies for a non-stop around the world trip (I will have a complete inventory, but carrying 9 chutes\/code-0\u2019s – 6 Jibs and – 4 Staysails is more than I would use). My goal is to have target speeds of about 20 KTS reaching and 13 KTS Beating in 15 KTS. I would like to eliminate the runners and struts associated with such a large rig.<\/p>\n
Thank you in advance.
\nCraig<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hi Craig:<\/p>\n
Thanks for the kind words. I agree Boomerang does not fit your bill.<\/p>\n
Draft is indeed a consideration. A lot of boats are being done with lifting keels, but the range of reduction is typically limited to five feet (1.5m) or so. And, these are tricky structures to get right and work into the interior (doubly hard with a low freeboard Open 60 type).<\/p>\n
Since I assume resale is an issue – you want to get paid for your efforts – maybe a radical rebuild of\u00a0 one of these go fast machines is not practical. How about a “sled” (like a Santa Cruz 70 or lesser known ULDB) with a shortened keel – say six foot – and reduced\u00a0 rig to suit? Lower cost, better interior, and a good cruising combo, albeit not nearly as quick as t he open 60.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"