Very Shallow Draft Boats <3 feet

[hip82]

I recently acquired a new house with a slip on one of the rivers leading into the Chesapeake Bay.

However, I have a few constraints with the slip.

Length at the water line needs to be 25-26 feet or less.
Distance between the pilings is 12'9"
The major constraint is draft. Depth at MLLW at the bow is 3 feet. About 3.5 where the keel would be at its deepest point. Maybe a few inches more. It's a soft mud bottom, so I think touching bottom for a few hours should not be a concern on an exceptionaly low tide. Dredging is not likely due to permit issues.

I plan to use the boat for day cruises, some overnights to the Eastern Shore, and maybe a longer trip down the bay, and dreams of taking her to Florida in a few years. Therefore, must be able to accommodate 2 for longer trips, and up to four for overnights. Being able to accommodate up to 6 people in the cockpit is desired.

I've read the shallow draft thread, but need some advice on a really shallow draft of less than 3 feet. From my research, a swing keel is probably the best solution, and the best fit I've come up with is an Island Packet 27. Budget is up to 40k, but under 30k is preferred. I think a Catalina 30 shoal draft could be a nice choice, but too deep draft.

I may have to consider something in the 24-26 ft range, but I'd like to get as large of boat with less than a 3 foot draft I can into the slip for coastal cruising, with up to a 26 water line length max.

Thanks in advance.

[shimari]

Perhaps a MacGregor 26?

https://sailingmagazine.net/article-...gregor-26.html

Not sure how they sail though.

[GRIT]

My Dad had a MacGregor 26, circa 2003. It was a surprisingly good sailor. My dad used it for short trips, and most week-ends.

It was comfortable to sleep in, and a good value for the money. It wasn't an Island packet, by any stretch of the imagination.

The interior is a bit sterile looking, and everything is built very light. But that boat did it's job, and I wouldn't turn my nose up at one for "light duty" travelling.

Cheers, and good luck.
Paul.

[psk125]

This looks like it could fit the bill and accommodate further silting of the channel for a good bit: https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/clearwater-35 Friends of ours had one, but their interests shifted to racing instead of shallow-water cruising. A good-looking boat. Another option might be a '70's vintage Pearson 35. Though their board-up draft is 3'6", the cockpit is huge and the boat is generally well put-together.

[hip82]

Thanks for the early responses. I had a Macgregor 25 that I wasn't too fond of. I think a 26 would be much better, but agree the interiors are sparse.

The Clearwater is an interesting choice, but might be too long. My total dock length is 35' and it might be a tight fit at 11.8 feet where the distance between the pilings is 12.9

[Jim Cate]

I don't understand the limitation on LWL. Seems that LOA is more appropriate when trying to fit a boat to a dock length. Explain, please!

Jim

[hip82]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

I don't understand the limitation on LWL. Seems that LOA is more appropriate when trying to fit a boat to a dock length. Explain, please!

Jim

The total dock length is 35 feet. At the shoreline end of the dock there are rocks and zero depth. From the deep water end of the dock, 25 LWL I have 3' MLLW. At the 25' LWL from the deep end of the pier, the bottom slopes up sharply to zero depth at the shoreline. I'm figuring for a 27' boat with a 3' bowsprit I will be able to fit the boat into the slip and not overhang the pathway where the bow would be. At the bow worst case I will have 3' depth. At the deep point of the keel, I have a little over 3.5 depth. My margin under the keel while docked will be about 6-12"

[dfelsent]

https://smallboatsmonthly.com/articl...lk-islands-26/
Quite a few of these boats around. Draft under a foot.

[PaulCrawhorn]

Centaur 26, Med style nose in

[Secondshift]

Seaward (Hake Yachts) made a couple retractable keel offerings

A 32' and a 26' from memory but also some shoal draft fixed and maybe shoal with a board. All were trailerable.

https://sailboatdata.com/builder/hake-yachts-seaward


We had a 26' MacGregor 26C (not the motorboat) and were pleasantly

surprised with the way it sailed. With a Disp/length ratio of about 100 it

easily made hull speed and sometimes better. It was rather tender and early

reefing was best.

The build quality of a Hake Seaward is miles better than a Mac G.



Have a book, " The Sailor's Book of Small Cruising Sailboats" by Steve Henkel

Meticulously reviewing and comparing "cruise worthy" boats under 26'


Happy Hunting!

[Nekton73]

You may want to take a look at Southerly yachts. A swing keel design with a grounding plate designed to be beached or rest on the bottom and stay completely upright. Draft less than 3' on 30' models. New ones are pricey, older more affordable if you can find them.


This is one of the older 30' models:


https://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives...utherly100.htm

[psk125]

Originally Posted by dfelsent

https://smallboatsmonthly.com/articl...lk-islands-26/
Quite a few of these boats around. Draft under a foot.

You could do worse than a design by Bruce Kirby. (Norwalk Island Sharpie) There's also larger and smaller versions.

[Franziska]

A tad unconventional but from a reknown designer:

https://sailboat.guide/xlb7cc

The AS29 by Phil Bolger offers very little draft and lots of accommodation space.

It's larger sister the AS39 is more seaworthy as well.

[ohdrinkboy]

my boat could do it.https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/seaward-22

[Seabeau]

Chrysler 26. Rare. Presto 36. Extremely rare.