Keel

[Neil WinfieldParticipant @neilwinfield62501]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone can help out here. I have almost built my Themes barge as a scratch build but I am a bit lost on how to work out the size of a keel the weight and where it should be placed. Can anybody help out here especially if you are into building sail boats.

Thanks

Neil.

[Neil WinfieldParticipant @neilwinfield62501]

Ceiler Jane

[Amy jane SeptemberParticipant @amyjaneseptember49770]

Hi there Neil

Is your boat water tight yet? If so, then mark the correct waterline on the hull and float. Add all the bits and pieces,(masts, radio gear, batteries etc) in their intended location, then add enough heavy items untill the boat floats on the water line, level in all directions. Take the boat out of the water and find the fore and aft balance point. Take the extra weights out, (but not the bits that belong to the boat) and weigh them. This will be the weight of your keel. Position the keel fore and aft on the hull centre line untill the model balances at the point you marked. The keel should be just a touch foward of amidships. Should be bang on when finished. The size of the keel is a bit off a juggle, larger if the boat is intended to sail to windward ,smaller if not. The deeper the keel, the more righting power it will have for its weight. Keel area maybe a little less than half the hulls imersed area, as seen in the profile drawing could be a starting point? Draw it up and see how it looks, and play around till it seems about right.

[Kimosubby ShipyardsParticipant @kimosubbyshipyards]

Hello Neil,

have you been on the AMBO website – that's the Association of Model Barge Owners. You'll find all sorts of tips and suggestions in the building section as most barges are sailed empty, and not to any waterline. For instance, to take my 1/24 scale barge to her water line would require 25.5KG ballast and I'm not putting that in!

We sail empty, with as small a keel weight as possible (depending on expected wind conditions). The keel position is just foreword of the main mast, but is oft found by experiment as all barges are built different and all have their owners sail attached, by that I mean all to different dimensions too.

Here's the link **LINK** happy barging.

Kim

Edited By Kimosubby Shipyards on 09/12/2013 14:09:27

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