Twin keel

A bilge keel is a special form of the keel, mounted under the hull of a sailing yacht ballast body which gives this weight stability and heel, drift and capsizing reduced or prevented. It consists of a pair either side of the centerline of the boat -mounted, short keel fins.

Since Kimmkieler can Yachts with Kimmkielen dry out, this type of boat in the Wadden Sea and in coastal waters with a large tidal range is popular. Kimmkiele also allow for a shallower draft, which is why they are used in addition to swing keels, keel Hubkielen and swords in boat types for shallow water areas. As the above keel forms facilitate Kimmkiele also ship transport on a trailer.

Kimmkieler, double Kiel and Dreikieler

Sometimes we distinguish between a Kimmkieler and a double Kiel. While in the former, the main ballast amidships, is in a central shallow keel, housed, the ballast of the double Kieler is solely or mainly in the tail fins.

Dreikieler are yachts with a central keel and two lateral Kimmkielen.

Hydrodynamic lift

By profiling the keels and their optimal placement in the bilge of the hull hydrodynamic lift can be generated to windward when sailing on a close-hauled or half wind course. This principle has 1986 first applied the German boat designer Helmut Stöberl at the Boat Class Fighter.