Fin keel

Last updated

The fin keel is a stationary foil positioned amidships and projecting downwards under the hull of a sailing vessel. A fin keel is relatively short in a fore-aft direction, and relatively deep, located near the center of the boat. A fin keel is a fixed element, unlike a centerboard, which is retractable. The design purpose of the fin keel [1] is to provide lateral resistance to wind forces applied to the boat via the sails and to facilitate the placement of ballast below the hull while presenting less wetted surface area than a full keel, which helps to reduce drag and leeway. The fin keel was invented by James Brown Herreshoff (1834–1930). [2]

Related Research Articles

Keel Lower centreline structural element of a ship or boat hull

The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element on a vessel. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose, as well. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in the construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event.

Nathanael Greene Herreshoff

Nathanael Greene Herreshoff was an American naval architect, mechanical engineer, and yacht design innovator. He produced a succession of undefeated America's Cup defenders between 1893-1920.

The Newport 16 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Bill Lapworth as a daysailer and a pocket cruiser and first built in 1965.

Bristol Yachts

Bristol Yachts was an American company which was among the first commercially successful production fiberglass sailboat boat builders. The company was founded in 1964 and closed in 1997.

The Tanzer 31 is a Canadian sailboat, that was designed by George Cuthbertson of Cuthbertson & Cassian and first built in 1984. The design is out of production.

Nash 26 Sailboat class

The Nash 26 is a Canadian sailboat designed by Joe Nash and first built in 1975.

Catalina 310 Sailboat class

The Catalina 310 is an American sailboat, that was designed by Gerry Douglas and first built in 1999.

Hunter 310

The Hunter 310 is an American sailboat, that was designed by the Hunter Design Team and first built in 1997.

The Marlow-Hunter 31 is an American sailboat that was designed by Glenn Henderson as a cruiser and first built in 2015.

The Parker Dawson 26 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Robert Finch as a cruiser and first built in 1972.

Beneteau First 26 Sailboat class

The Beneteau First 26 is a French sailboat that was designed by Jean-Marie Finot of Groupe Finot as a cruiser-racer and first built in 1984.

The Herreshoff Bull's Eye or Bullseye, is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff and first built in 1914.

The Stuart Knockabout is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed as a daysailer, by L. Francis Herreshoff and first built in 1932. The boat is L.F. Herreshoff design number 53.

The Bristol Caravel 22, sometimes called the Bristol 22 Caravel, Sailstar Caravel, or just the Caravel 22, is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Halsey Chase Herreshoff as a cruiser and first built in 1968. It is named for the class of sailing ship.

The Marlin 23, also called the Marlin Heritage, is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Nathaniel G. Herreshoff and first built in 1958.

The Chrysler 22 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Halsey Herreshoff and first built in 1975.

The Gloucester 19 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Stuart Windley and Harry R. Sindle as a daysailer and first built in 1983.

The Herreshoff Prudence, also called the Herreshoff Prudence 23, is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by L. Francis Herreshoff as a cruiser and first built in 1937. It was L. Francis Herreshoff's design number 71 and named for Prudence Island.

The Herreshoff Rozinante is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by L. Francis Herreshoff as a daysailer and cruiser and first built in 1952.

The Herreshoff Goldeneye is an American trailerable sailboat, designed as a day sailer and cruiser and first built in 1959. The hull lines were designed by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff and the rig by A. Sidney DeWolf Herreshoff.

References

  1. https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:737567/FULLTEXT01.pdf
  2. Hartford Courant (December 8, 1930). "Herreshoff, One of Noted Family Died – Inventor of Fin Keel for Racing Yachts Succombs at Home in Riverdale, N.Y., Aged 96" . Vol. 93. Hartford, Connecticut. p. 4. Retrieved February 14, 2021 via Newspapers.com.