Deep Keel vs Shoal Draft - Which Should You Buy?
Keel and Rudder Design Basics: https://www.practical-sailor.com/systems-propulsion/keel-and-rudder-design-basics/
Deep keel or shoal draft: which should you buy? In this episode, we look at one of the biggest sailboat buying decisions cruisers face. A deeper keel usually means better windward performance, better pointing, less leeway, and a more planted feel under sail. But a shoal-draft sailboat can open up shallow anchorages, skinny water cruising grounds, the Bahamas, the Chesapeake, Florida, the ICW, and places a deeper boat simply cannot go.
We compare the real-world trade-offs between deep keels, shoal-draft keels, wing keels, bulb keels, centerboards, lifting keels, and long-keel cruising boats. If you are shopping for a cruising sailboat, liveaboard sailboat, bluewater cruiser, coastal cruiser, or used sailboat, draft matters more than many buyers realize. Which would you choose for your next boat: the deep keel that sails better, or the shoal-draft boat that gets you into more anchorages? Leave your answer in the comments and tell us where you sail.
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