Choosing a Boat
Are bilge keels safe and how do they affect performance?
Bilge keels draw less than a single deep keel and let the boat stand upright when she dries out — which is why they are common in British waters. They present no safety problem, but windward performance and sharp manoeuvring lag a single deep keel somewhat.
Why it works this way
What matters in a survey is whether both keels distribute load evenly into the hull and what condition the attachment bolts are in. Where the load is uneven, one side takes more than its share.
Related services
Serkan Kotel · independent yacht surveyor · IIMS · ABYC · MCA
