"cavelamb" wrote in message
m...
wrote:
If the purpose is just to present a surface, then it's a centerboard.
If the purpose is also to provide substantial ballast similar to what
a fixed keel would offer, then it's a swing keel.
Two different animals.
Maybe not the best crusing boat, but consider the Catalina 25.
It has been offered with ballasted swing keel, shallow draft wing keel,
and a deep fin.
I've not had the opportunity to sail any of the three, so I can't offer
any first hand comparisons.
My slip neighbor has a wing keel.
Looking back at some of the photos, his boat always seems to be reefed in
any wind. He also ran aground last year! But to be fair the lake was down
several feet then. 
The fin keel is fairly rare. But I would expect it to be the best
performer
to windward.
Which leaves the most popular swing keel.
Anybody have any real experience with any of these - for comparison
purposes?
Richard
I used to have a Catalina 22. What a great boat. Used it more than any other
boat I've owned, enough room for the Mrs and I to weekend and sailed good
too. As I recall, it drew something like 1 1/2' with the keel up. Had a
Ensenda 21 before that and there was huge difference between the 2. The
Ensenada was really lightly built with no "refinements" like not having a
deck (gelcoated headliner, may have the nom wrong) liner, just glass. Big
difference in sailing too.
I've sailed quite a bit on fixed fin and swing keel boats (above and a 22
Hunter) but can't compare as the smallest fixed keel was 27' and probably
3-4 times the weight of the Catalina.