There are keels for maximum performance, swivelling keels for maximum flexibility, sporty deep keels, simple flat keels and chine keels. Ranking them according to performance is not difficult at first glance. But what can a deep keel really do and isn't the shallowest model enough for a pure cruising yacht? What do the different draughts mean not only for performance, but also for stability, overall weight and centre of gravity? Yacht designer Marc-Oliver von Ahlen has analysed an example boat with different configurations and the same stability characteristics and delivers some astonishing results. The short version: the performance keel brings speed advantages of up to one knot - but the differences are close to zero when the boat is under centre of gravity.
In addition: Sailing professional Tim Kröger explains the advantages of a telescopic keel, which enables variable draught without sacrificing interior space, and shows how it can be replaced relatively easily with a fixed keel.
Find out more in the latest YACHT, issue 10 (first day of sale on 27 April)
