We just purchased a 1986 #104 C34. We are seriously considering reducing the draft( fin keel) by adding a bulb. Has anyone done this ? How is sailing performance affected? What about the rudder? Any other suggestions on how to reduce draft apart from a chain saw?
I guess it's a bit late, but why'd you buy the boat if you need/want less draft?
I read a recent Sail mag article on this re: a Canadian C&C 28 or so, where they chain-sawed off a couple of feet of a 6' or so keel and bolted on a bulb. I'll look through my old issues tonight and see if I can find it. It was definitely a major operation.
Why not "just" get a wing keel from Catalina, unbolt your fin, sell it for the lead, and bolt on the wing?
I've also seen notes from people looking to swap keels. Can't remember whether the last one was from a 'winger' looking for a fin.
We looked into this a little. Seems the cost was quite high and performance was compromised somewhat. Regardless, the company we looked at was Mars Metal Company out of Ontario (http://www.marsmetal.com) (http://www.marsmetal.com)). Good luck...
I swapped the fin keel for a wing keel with the factory in 1990 before moving Excalibur 898 from So. Calif. to SW Florida.
Factory forgot to mention the need to shorten the rudder, but the boat yard here discovered the need and contacted Catalina directly. They recieved a fax the same day for "chopping" the rudder.
As far as performance, I've been happy and I sure like the shallower draft. It's a must here in SW Florida.
I have a wing keel that I would be interested in trading ... If you're interested drop me an e-mail message bsaad@twmi.rr.com
thanks