My Intentions

My name is Tom Altee.  I live in Jacksonville, Florida on the beautiful St Johns river about 15 miles from the Atlantic Ocean.  This very large wide river is sub-tropical with alligators, manatees, dolphins and all types of tropical birds.  It is unlike the rest of Florida so prevalent in the advertisements you probably see in Great Britain.  

I am a soon to be retired school teacher, maritime artist (latest commission being the H.M.S. Surprise and Sophie from the Patrick O'Brian's novels), and writer.

I started out in larger boats and have worked my way down as I've aged.  I bought the SeaHawk because I'd never seen anything like her here in America and thought she would be a lot of fun to take downwind.  

I've got a number of questions concerning the boat especially the swing keel.  A cursory glance at the Kismet's raising and lowering apparatus was ugly.  Rusted.  I'll have to put her in a lift to see what I've got.  Also, the main nut and axle for the swing keel looks incredibly rusted.  I'll have to look at that also.

Once I have her up and sailing, I'll be dragging her around America.  Sailing Charleston Harbor (more English than anywhere in England almost), New York Harbor, the Maine seacoast, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence... Can't wait.  But first a lot of work...

Surfed (Tom Altee) wrote

My name is Tom Altee.  I live in Jacksonville, Florida on the beautiful St Johns river about 15 miles from the Atlantic Ocean.  This very large wide river is sub-tropical with alligators, manatees, dolphins and all types of tropical birds.  It is unlike the rest of Florida so prevalent in the advertisements you probably see in Great Britain.

I used to listen to the sailing podcast that came from that part of the world. Lots of stuff worth listening to can still be found at:
http://www.furledsails.com/

I am a soon to be retired school teacher, maritime artist (latest commission being the H.M.S. Surprise and Sophie from the Patrick O'Brian's novels), and writer.

And I've retired from semi-retirement as an Adult Education tutor for my local council - and used to write a column for a local newspaper and for a regional boating magazine.

I started out in larger boats and have worked my way down as I've aged.  I bought the SeaHawk because I'd never seen anything like her here in America and thought she would be a lot of fun to take downwind.

I guess a West Wight Potter is similar and popular over there, I gather, though it ceased production over here many years ago.

You'll find a SeaHawk is pretty good upwind too!

I've got a number of questions concerning the boat especially the swing keel.  A cursory glance at the Kismet's raising and lowering apparatus was ugly.  Rusted.  I'll have to put her in a lift to see what I've got.  Also, the main nut and axle for the swing keel looks incredibly rusted.  I'll have to look at that also.

You'll have seen the pages at:
http://www.seahawk17.org.uk/description/keel.htm
http://www.seahawk17.org.uk/description/issues.htm#sticking
http://www.seahawk17.org.uk/boatshed/keelcorengrato.htm
http://www.seahawk17.org.uk/boatshed/keelseaholly.htm
which together sdhould give you some clues on the approach to take.

Once I have her up and sailing, I'll be dragging her around America.  Sailing Charleston Harbor (more English than anywhere in England almost), New York Harbor, the Maine seacoast, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence... Can't wait.  But first a lot of work...

I spent most of 2011 working on my boat. the reports are all in my "Boating Biography" - the link in my sig. (Go to page 11 and work you way up through the pages!)

Best of luck. You'll find that it will be worth it. She'll surprise you!

For arguments sake, let's say the keel is stuck in the up position.  How does she handle in that configuration?  Obviously she won't point upwind as well....

Hi Tom,

As you say, apart from crabbing a bit, so not moving as well to windward, pretty much as with the keel down.

There's not a lot of extra weight lower down when the keel is down, so in terms of changes to the helm, angle of heel, and the rest you will barely notice any difference in performance.