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Basic information about five or six keel alternatives for cruising boats, with their pros, cons, and safety issues. Illustrates some of possible failure modes non-fixed designs.
[SailNet, 5 May 2004]
The author says modern twin keels have lower wetted surface, better grip when heeled, increased hull form, reduced pitch and roll, and other advantages when compared to older twin keel and current single keel designs.
[Bray Yacht Design and Research Ltd., White Rock, BC, Canada]
The author spells out the advantages of owning a well-built trailerable pocket cruiser. He also shares his opinion on what qualities a good pocket cruiser should have.
[Perfect Pocket Yacht, USA]
At or beyond the racing edge of cruising, some boats are using keels that can be angled out to windward for greater righting effect. Here′s an update on their engineering. 4 pages with photos.
[Practical Sailor, 1 April 2004]
The arguments for and against twin keels by a man who believes the arguments against are overblown.
[Nels Tomlinson, USA]
Technical discussion of high-performance fin keel design, including foil shape, ballast configuration, sweep angle, end plates, etc.
[Sailing Anarchy, USA]
One person′s list of characteristics for various types of cruising boat, as defined by their keels, with examples and advantages and disadvantages of each type.
[Windpilot, Hamburg, Germany]
How to reduce draft by surgically removing the bottom of your fin keel and replacing it with a custom cast-lead bulb. 3 pages with photos.
[Cruising World, April 2002]
A 40-year-liveaboard couple use their keels to dry out, dampen rolling, store fuel. They also have disadvantages, but poor windward performance is not one of them.
[SetSail.com, Charlotte, NC, USA]
Quick tour of wing keels, Scheel keels, and other recent developments in keel design. No graphics.
[John F. Hughes, USA]
Wing keels have a shape similar to a Bruce anchor and can be very difficult to refloat when run aground in sand or mud.
John Neal
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