My current boat is a trailer sailer, so obviously shallow (retractable keel). Over 90% of my sailing is racing. If I were buying a bigger boat I'd want a deep fixed keel for my current habits, but if I got bitten by the cruising bug I'd have to forego some performance for shallow draft (though multihulls can get the best of both worlds). Anchoring miles from shore seems to defeat the purpose of cruising. That reminds me, I've been meaning to ad to another thread...

In a mono I will always have a deep keel. Force 5 and above offshore I want everything in my favour.

MorningBird said..
In a mono I will always have a deep keel. Force 5 and above offshore I want everything in my favour.

I am right with you on that. A 2m (6ft) draught will get you into most places in the world in safety.
My seventh yacht that I now have is a fin keel with a good separation between keel and rudder which gives a very light helm.

Bundeenabuoy said..
https://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/feeling-326-shallow-draft/181330

That particular boat is called shallow draft but should probably be called a centreboarder. When most people think shallow draft yachts they think of fixed keel yachts with a shorter keel. There are a few yacht manufacturers that over the years have built both deep keel and shallow draft versions of the same hull. The shallow draft version will often have a heavier keel to make up for the loss in righting moment. There are some with wing keels on their shallow draft variants to keep the ballast low. Also some shallow draft versions will have a longer fin keel to present the same area of the fin keel. Some cruising yachts like the Swanson 36 have shorter keels than the racing version of the 36 so that they have a flat lower edge for easier slipping. Then how shallow is shallow keel? I reckon under 5 feet is shallow.

cisco said..
@ Bundeenabouy.
Your question and the answer really depends on where you want to go sailing.

We all know that the ultimate sailing/cruising area of Australia is the Queensland coast.

Shallow draught usually means reduced offshore capabilities depending on design and deeper draught gives better grip in the water.

Deep and shallow draughts work on the Queensland coast.

If I could afford it I reckon I would have a Farrier Tri for the Queensland coast.

I see what you mean by "Afford One":
www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/lorne/sail-boats/farrier-trimaran-f-25/1208059047