DSK wrote:
It's possible for it to be as strong, but you're right in
that this will require additional work in design &
construction... the biggest drawback IMHO is that it takes
away a notable amount of interior room.

That's propably true in most cases, though I wouldn't know since 27.7 is the
only lifting-keel boat I've sailed. In my opinion the design in 27.7 is such
that the keelmechanism doesn't take much additional space. The well serves
as a pedestal for the table and can be completely covered with it when the
keel is down.

A big plus. Simple is usually strong too. Question- is the
up/down button located so the helmsman can use it? That is
where it should be, I think.

Nope, the button is located in the control-panel inside the boat. When the
keel is down, it has to be secured in place by a pair of approx. 2" x 2"
steel beams that (of course) have to be removed when you hoist the keel. So
you have to go inside to hoist/lower the keel anyway. In my opinion it's
these beams that "bond" the keel into the hull. If one would leave those out
and ground the boat, the well would propably be damaged by the keel since it
would be more free to rotate. Btw I think 27.7 is also available with manual
hydraulic keel mechanism. I would go with the electric one

Around here, people say that shallow draft allows you to run
aground in much more interesting places. Our current boat
draws 1.1 meter and we like to explore.

Nicely put The 27.7 is around 65 cm keel up and 2,10 m keel down as far
as I recollect...

I started wishing people "Fresh Breezes" in my internet
correspondence about 11 years ago or so, it sounded
friendly. By now my fingers type it automatically.

It sounds very frendly indeed - I'll propably have to steel it and use it
myself...


--
Markus