>I measured 4' from the bottom of the bootstripe to the bottom of the keel. We've measured when the boat was of the water, too. From the bottom of the keel to the bottom of our bootstripe is just shy of five feet. When the boat's in the water and fully fueled and watered, the waterline is an inch or two below the bottom of the bootstripe. Could be the fact it's a twin plus a generator. Also, the '73 and early '74 fiberglass hulls built under the supervision of Howard Abbey are pretty stout. I believe the later ones are a bit lighter although the boat got bigger in 1988 and probably gained the weight back. ______________________________ C. Marin Faure GB36-403 "La Perouse" Bellingham, Washington