What type of keel do you prefer?

[Curious Sailor]

With all of the different types of keels available, I'm curious as to which are the most popular.... What type of keel do you prefer and why?

[SailSC]

This should be good.


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[Moody46CC]

I have a shoal draft keel--a fin with a flattened bulb. I'm home-ported in the Chesapeake Bay, and a shoal keel opens up a lot of cruising area. The Bay is relatively shallow.

[MC2019]

the ones that stay on

But really I am a racer so of course my answer is going to be fin with a bulb.

[Lizzy Belle]

I prefer the ones that stay attached to the hull most too.
Other then that, it depends on the type of boat attached to said keel as well.

*takes a front row seat*

[boatman61]

Short fin if I am crew..
Long keel if I am the Skipper...

[Mike OReilly]

Deja-vu... The one that's on my current boat, of course .

But if you want a serious answer to the question as to which underbelly I think is the best, I'd say a modified fin with a skeg-hung rudder. But I love my current full keel b/c it's mine .

[Kenomac]

One that can take a few knocks and stay attached, like the one we have. Here's a picture of it from October '15... yup, still there.

[StuM]

One like this

[Don C L]

OK I'll bite: Molded in, lead encapsulated, long keel or fin and skeg.

[Stu Jackson]

Let's see how many different forums CS can ask this question on.

Here's what I said over on sbo.com:

There is no "most popular." It's like asking: "What is the BEST?".......anything. Doesn't work. All sailboats are compromises, whether it be tiller vs. wheel, inboard vs. outboard, placement of traveler, type of rudder or type of keel.

What you can do is be aware of the differences and their advantages and disadvantages.

[Don C L]

Of course you are right Stu, except that MY boat is the best one and it has the best keel, and rudder... But aside from that, of course you are right.

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by Curious Sailor

With all of the different types of keels available, I'm curious as to which are the most popular.... What type of keel do you prefer and why?

Generally I don't think it matters much. Most boats are designed with some intent and the keel is part of the overall intent.

If you are looking for truly bullet-proof boat that could take you into arctic waters then a full keel. The rudder will be very protected from ice strikes by the keel which is part of the intent.

If you want to go fast then a very deep keel with a T-bulb. This minimizes keel weight, optimizes keel efficiency upwind and minimizes wetted surface area.

If you want to go where the water gets thin a lot then you want a centerboard, swing-keel or lifting keel or a boat that is specifically designed from minimum draft.

All of these sacrifice some other desirable characteristic(s) to achieve the specific intent. Full keels generally sacrifice some pointing ability but also generally gain better tracking so steering is easier.. T-bulb boats have a comparatively narrow "groove" which takes significantly more skill and experience and effort to keep the boat sailing in. T-bulbs are more prone to collecting seaweed where is is prevalent and are more structurally complex. Centerboard and shoal draft boats generally need more ballast to maintain stability and shoal draft boat generally sacrifice some upwind performance. Centerboard, swing-keel and lifting keel boats add mechanical complexity to the boat which requires some consideration when sailing plus some additional maintenance.

For myself I prefer moderate keels, the Cal boats (25, 27, 28, 29, 34, 36, 40, 48) are good exemplars of what I like. My current boat (a Cal 20) has a bulb which probably collects more weeds than other wise but by compensation the boat is very stiff. The original intent of the boat was to be an affordable entry level boat for folks and the keel design was part of that.

[Pegu Club]

My Favorites would be either a fully encapsulated modified full keel or a fully encapsulated fin keel with a full skeg, shoal draft, at least at this point of my sailing life.

[Dick Moby]

Here's an interesting Design. I am told it is NOT called "Bilge Keels" but rather "Twin Keels" as it was designed by a man named Riverdale for performance and not standing upright.
Apologies in advance if the link don't work - me and computers don't get along real good.