Keels....a necessity or option???

Hi Jim, I think keels are a good idea, I'd prefer that my keels hit bottom or coral heads instead of the props or shaft. There was a company called Cape Horn who made steel trawlers with bilge keels that not only provided stability, in roll dampening, but were lower than the prop tips, and the shafts. I don't know of any companies who employ bilge keels any more. ( I could be wrong and usually am). There are several production boats who have a full length keel, but based on your previous threads, and according to olderboater and others, keels are pretty much towards the bottom of your list in finding the "perfect" boat for you. If you can find what you need or want in terms of power, living space, redundant systems, etc. and still find a boat with a keel, more power to you. Just know that everything marine wise is a trade off. Nobody has EVER designed or built the perfect boat. Perfection is not attainable when it comes to boats. Having said that, while keels provide an increase in sea keeping ability, they can throw a monkey wrench slow speed handling, currents, wind, and other factors will impede the handling of a keeled boat vs. non keeled boat. And depending on the Sea state, a keel would help in inducing the "pitch pole" effect, where the boat wants to switch ends going down the back of a wave either up or following sea. Having a keel is not a deal breaker.

Shamrock used to make an inboard center console with a tunnel which protected both the prop and running gear. It was a single engine...but a nice design.

A keel is dependant on hull design and speed. Slower boats generally use keels for stability, however they can sometimes provide negatively handling characteristics in a following sea. The faster the boat, you generally don't see keels as they're counter productive.

As for coral heads. If you navigate properly they should never be an issue because you shouldn't be in an area where the depth is less than your draft and several feet of water in between.

While I've been told running aground is inevitable and been lucky enough not to experience it yet, there are also steps to minimize the likelihood and minimize any damage. Use all the available resources including several sites on line such as cruisersnet that update notices and alerts regularly. Also, avail yourself of local knowledge through other boaters, marinas and, perhaps the best source, tow captains. They have the latest.

Also, take potential trouble areas carefully. There is a huge difference between a soft grounding and a hard one. And then I recommend membership with one of the tow companies, either Towboat US or Sea Tow. And if you run aground do take steps to minimize any further damage but do not panic and make things worse. Sometimes it's even just a matter of waiting for high tide.

You'll also learn to read the areas of greatest risk, both visually and through your instruments and you'll study the area you're going to cover before going there.

Don't get glued to your depth finder. It tells you what's under you, not what's ahead (too late to do much). Learn to read the waters. Look for the changes in color and tecture. If you're in good water in the crinkel stay away from the glass and visa/versa. An extended keel is wondeful protection, but it's not a cure-all nor will you generally find it on many boats. You'll generally find it on slower boats. If you're running around 36" draft you'll be pretty good in most places. Some boats have tunneled prop pockets to add efficiency and reduce draft. Once you get near 5' draft a keel is nice. It also adds stability.
Sand bottoms tend to give you warnings. Color, texture, and also the bottom tends to rise gradually, so you'll generally see it coming like a countdown on your depth finder. But many place you'll travel up north and out west have rocks. They'll show up with no warning on your depth finder. They can also slide right alongside your keel and straight to your running gear or stabilizers (if you have them). That's why your best protection against grounding is your eyes looking at the water, and keeping track of your position on the charts.

Don't forget to check the local Tide Chart.

Any extra appendage you add under the water is going to have costs to go with the benefits. In some boats a keel is really nice, helping you keep your footing as it were and providing some protection. However a keel in the center (aside from having the benefits and drawbacks mentioned) will not protect your props with great efficacy if they are on the side and you encounter an obstacle that doesn't hit you symmetrically dead on, waterlogged wood is great for finding its way under one side of a boat. If you put on more complete protection in the form of a couple of skegs (or a single prop in the center behind the keel) your props aren't going to be biting clean water, which means more vibration, more noise, less efficiency, and more wear. Having some protection for your props is nice, but nothing is foolproof, and everything has its own costs.