Moore 24

warns⚙ keel⚙ keel to hull joint

Reading a message from Webb Chiles, who sailed a Moore 24 30,000 miles around the world: he met two 55 knot gales and three or four masthead-in-the-water knockdowns, and the boat "developed a crack in the keel at the lead keel to hull joint". He sought Ron Moore's advice, and Moore passed it to the boatyard that repaired the crack.

discusses

Ron Moore says George and Wayne Coker designed the boat by eye and feel, with no formal engineering. He says the keel position was a judgment call, with a move of six inches settled on after a foot was discussed, and that there was no structural consideration in how the keel was bolted on. Of the shape he says it was "easily driven" but "a little too skinny, little not enough sail".

discusses

Ron Moore says all 156 boats came out of the same tooling, and the lead keels were poured at the yard, which meant learning to cast lead. The first four hulls were built by individuals who finished the boats themselves, with a deck supplied later, and he says the boats weigh the same.

discusses

The builder says a prototype was built in 1969 and a production run of 156 followed, after one prototype and five kit boats. He says this boat has sailed to Hawaii double-handed once and singlehanded once, and will go again singlehanded.

recommends

The builder says owners fall in love with the handling: the ease of handling, the balance, the maneuverability and the feel at the helm, adding that the boat "almost sails itself" besides being fast. It is a one-design class governed by an owners' board, with one-design and handicap racing.

repairs⚙ cockpit drainage

For the refit on this boat the builder says the transom will be cut out so water taken over the bow washes out the back of the cockpit, and the cockpit drain through-hulls will be removed. The owner is also taking winches off the boat, so that halyards, jib sheets and spinnaker sheets run through stoppers and one winch does several jobs.