PhantMan wrote:
I especially like the fact that you don't have to jump overboard and
push when you run hard aground lol!
A swing keel can be a nice Depth Alarm when halfway down.

dougking wrote:
It's a Santana 23 with a 250# ballasted daggerboard. There is another
850# of lead in a slab along the bottom of the hull, where it is far
less effective as ballast. If I ever get the rest of the boat projects
done, I am thinking about building a new daggerboard with about a 600#
bulb that would increase righting moment and reduce dead weight.

The 23 seemed like a great design to me. I wish they'd built more of
them. They're perfect for my area but I seldom see one around here.
I'm no architect but your modification idea makes a lot of sense to
me.

Where we sail, there are lots of shoals & sandbars and being able to
just haul on the lifting tackle to get off is a great convenience.

Shoals and sandbars here too. Thats what I meant by my comment up top.
Running aground is never a worry even on a falling tide.
It's hard to even find pictures on the Web of a Santana 23 though. I
found yours but that was about it.

Rick