Hull & keel
What does Fin keel mean?
A fin keel is a relatively compact keel projecting below the hull rather than extending along much of its length.
Why it matters when choosing a sailboat
Fin keels are common on modern cruising and racing boats. Designs differ in depth, ballast placement, attachment and grounding loads. Do not assume that all fin keels are bolted on or that all have the same handling characteristics.
A practical example
A builder may offer a deep fin keel and a shorter shoal-draft fin for the same sailboat model.
A question to ask before buying
Is this the deep or shoal version, and what does the survey say about the keel-to-hull structure?
Related sailboat terms
Put the term to work.
Compare model specifications in our research library, then check the actual boat’s configuration, records and condition. Equipment and dimensions can differ between versions of the same model.
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