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PDQ 34/36 Curved Keels?

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 10:00 pm
by aquavit362
Hello-
I’m looking at a PDQ 34/36 and looking for some information regarding the keels. This boat is an early boat without the sugar scoop walk off transoms. upon inspection, I observed the keels were curved from the hull down inward. From appearance they looked to be the same on both sides. I have seen a few PDQ’s out of the water and they are all symmetric centerline keels that I have seen, the same keel shape for both hulls. Does anyone know what is going on here? As an early boat there can be oddities, there often are design changes made for later models but I find it surprising to have a curved asymmetric keel. Anyone know anything about this or whom I may talk to for some insight?

Re: PDQ 34/36 Curved Keels?

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 12:41 am
by thinwater
If it were damage, there would be cracks, not such weird curves. I hope someone knows.

Certainly you want to pull up the floors and look at the bilge. It's hard to tell much from the photos, but I would certainly want to see how it pointed during a sea trial. If it is terrible and that matters to you, major reconstruction may be in your future, which may not be as bad as it sounds. Much depends on the rest of the boat. If the keels do need replaced, I probably would not duplicate the factory design (I think they can be improved). I modified mine, and it really helped. There was an article in Practical Sailor, and it is described here:

Image

Re: PDQ 34/36 Curved Keels?

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 9:36 pm
by James Power
We saw this boat hauled out at the Hinkley yard in Stuart. Not sure of the story with the keel shape but can confirm it was not done at the PDQ factory.

James

Re: PDQ 34/36 Curved Keels?

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 10:32 pm
by thinwater
Then if they were modified, the purpose is baffling. Harsh words, but look at the blunt trailing edge. If this were any kind of attempt at improvement, it would have been cleaned up and brought back to a square 1/4-inch edge.

It should com out more like this (lower right, PDQ 32):
Image

You need to take it out and see what kind of angle it tacks through.