Heaving To With a Fin Keel...

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

In my view most of the Pardeys advice is dated or specific to their boat. Modern hulls are light with virtually no immersed forefoot . In my experience reliable heaving to for any length of time , in bad seas, is almost impossible. It’s almost impossible to stop these boats forereaching as they’ll sail off their cabin tops , or they tack and fall off. ( or worse they end up effectively lying ahull. )

Para anchors put enormous strains on the forward deck holding point. Pardeys had a Samson post , most modern boats simply have a mooring clear up front. Hence having experienced first hand the forces involved , I’d never deploy them on a modern hull.

Modern hull forms and rudders are designed to be hydro dynamically efficient and efficient. Hence in my view “ active “ tactics work best , steam warps or a small series drogue ( often more then sufficient ) to prevent broaching. Spade rudders and canoe body hull will plane under control anyway so it’s not the end of the world. Broaching is much less of a risk then with traditional hull forms and rudders.

Hence , don’t stop sailing , that my advice.

Indeed.

[Althau]

In full keel boat with a center board, like Pearson 35, is it better heave to board down or up?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Althau

In full keel boat with a center board, like Pearson 35, is it better heave to board down or up?

During heavy weather conditions, the waves pose the danger and capsize is often caused by a broach in a breaker. The boat trips over the keel and freeboard and other vertical surfaces on deck like cabin sides, pilothouse etc. all help to skid down the face of the wave without being turned over.

Hauling up the centerboard would definitely help in that scenario but I don’t know how the boat behaves otherwise.